Telephonist - fixed term at Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora Southern, Southland

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

Telephonist

Southland Hospital

Fixed-term, full-time role 

Salary band: $63,337 - $68,901, depending on experience

• First point of contact for all calls coming into Southland Hospital

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

Reporting to the Senior Telephonist, you will be responsible for:

• answering internal and external calls
• carrying out emergency procedures when required
• monitoring alarms
• documenting any faults in the phone system.

The calls you deal with will vary from emergency calls to general enquiries. You will be organised and able to complete data entry and other administration duties associated with the department.

You will be covering the below shifts:

• 6am - 2pm
• 9am - 5pm
• 2pm - 10pm

About the Team/Service/Location

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.

About you

As a Telephonist, you will be a key point of contact within the organisation.

You will need to demonstrate:

• excellent customer service skills
• prior experience within a customer service or administration role and call centre (not essential but desirable)
• basic computer knowledge, in particular with the Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, Outlook email)
• great interpersonal skills with the ability to listen actively and respond in a calm and considered manner
• a positive attitude and a team-focused approach to your work.

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 20 July 2026.  If you have any questions about the role, please contact Deborah McDonald deborah.mcdonald@tewhatuora.govt.nz

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