Occupational Therapist - Lakes District at Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora Southern, Otago

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

• Central Lakes Community Mental Health team, Dunstan Hospital
• Permanent, full-time role (1.0FTE)
• Salary band $74,000 - $107,000 p.a pro-rata, Kiwisaver
• Competitive salary, discounted health insurance and free on-site parking
• Have variation and satisfaction in your work!

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

Our Central Lakes Mental Health team is looking for a senior experienced and enthusiastic Mental Health - Occupational Therapist to join our busy Central Otago team, based in Dunstan Hospital, Clyde while working across the Central Lakes region.

Joining our multi-disciplinary team, you will:

• have proven mental health experience
• be a DAO (Duly Authorised Officer) or be willing to undertake training
• have a current, full driver's licence
• maintain best practice standards and your model of practice will be inclusive of the seven Real Skills of Let's get real
• collaborate in a dynamic multidisciplinary team that supports people from a large geographical area
• be passionate about your work and hold an unwavering belief in client recovery
• participate on an after-hours on call roster crisis roster
• care for a wide range of people with moderate to severe mental health issue
• conduct assessment, intervention/therapy and transition planning skills for adult consumers
• have a willingness to hold colleagues accountable for high standards of clinical practice
• be resourceful and resilient - able to apply critical thinking to solve complex problems
• have the ability to work constructively with others to resolve conflict
• have current registration with the Occupational Therapy Board of NZ and a current APC
• be lexible, adaptable and a strong team player.

View position description.

About us

Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora - 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. If you are ready to contribute to our community's well-being and be part of a collaborative and supportive team, we invite you to apply for this rewarding opportunity.

Benefits include the following:

• Contribute to enhancing clients' health and well-being
• Enjoy variability in day-to-day tasks
• Experience the beauty of Central Otago and a family-friendly community
• Access training and development opportunities
• Access a range of retail discounts and Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

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 Sunday, 1 March 2026. If you have any questions about the role, please email our Recruitment Advisor, Katie Procter katie.procter@tewhatuora.govt.nz

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

We only accept online applications. Please apply via our website.