Unit Administrator - Surgical Assessment Unit at Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora Southern, Otago

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

Unit Administrator – Surgical Assessment Unit

Dunedin Hospital

Permanent, Part time (0.7 FTE)

Salary between $73,476 and $76,551 pro rata, depending on experience

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is firmly grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is committed to building a health system that serves all New Zealanders.

About the Role

We are seeking a highly organised and motivated Unit Administrator to join the new Surgical Assessment Unit at Dunedin Hospital. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a dynamic team focused on improving patient flow and delivering high-quality care to surgical patients.

The Surgical Assessment Unit receives surgical patients from Emergency Department and acute referrals, fast-tracking their triage, assessment, and transfer to inpatient surgical wards. As the Unit Administrator, you will play a vital role in ensuring the smooth day-to-day operation of the unit by providing flexible administrative support to nursing and clinical teams.

Key responsibilities include:

• Reception and frontline administrative duties
• Patient admission and transfer processing
• Data entry and record management
• Filing and document coordination
• Supporting patient flow and bed management processes
• Ensuring patient information is handled with confidentiality and professionalism

About you

To be successful in this role, you will demonstrate:

• Minimum NCEA Level 1 qualification
• Strong literacy and numeracy skills
• Excellent computer skills, including Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook
• Knowledge of office systems and administrative procedures
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced and dynamic healthcare environment
• Strong interpersonal and teamwork skills
• Initiative, adaptability, and a positive attitude
• Respect for patient privacy and confidentiality
• Commitment to implementing Te Tiriti o Waitangi in practice

Desired Skills and Experience

• Previous administrative or customer service experience
• Experience or knowledge within the health sector

Why Join Us?

At Te Whatu Ora, we are committed to creating a supportive and inclusive workplace where our people can thrive. You will be part of a dedicated healthcare team making a meaningful difference in the lives of patients and whānau every day.

If you are passionate about administration, patient care support, and working within a collaborative clinical environment, we would love to hear from you.

About the Team/Service/ Location

Health New Zealand - Southern has the largest geographical coverage of all the New Zealand regions, providing services to 350,000 people in diverse communities. We take pride in all the services we provide, and our aim is to improve, promote and protect the health of our region. We believe that our dedicated and passionate staff are a significant driving force behind the achievement of these standards, and we need more like-minded people to help us continue providing for our community.

Working at Health New Zealand

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of New Zealand. We embrace a workforce that is diverse and inclusive so that we are better positioned to understand and service our community. We welcome applications from our diverse Māori, Pacific, disabled, and rainbow communities.  

How to Apply

To apply please click “apply now.”  All applications must be submitted through our online careers' portal by 23 July 2026.     If you have any questions about the role, please contact Deborah McDonald deb.mcdonald@tewhatuora.govt.nz

We will review applications as received and may proceed with the recruitment process, before the closing date of this advert.