Clinical Psychologist - Pain Management at Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora Lakes, Bay of Plenty
Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role
Clinical Psychologist - Pain Management
Permanenet, full-time and part-time roles available
Rotorua and Taupo hospitals
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.
Join a small, multidisciplinary Pain Management Service where your psychological expertise will directly improve the lives of people living with chronic pain. This role offers clinical variety (individual therapy, group programmes, service development), strong interdisciplinary collaboration, and the chance to shape innovative, culturally safe care across Rotorua and Taupo.
About the Role
As a Clinical Psychologist in the Pain Management Service you will:
- Provide psychological assessment, formulation and evidence based interventions for people with chronic pain.
- Deliver individual therapy and contribute to multidisciplinary group pain management programmes.
- Develop and implement clinical management plans, complete timely reports, and liaise with referrers and Mental Health Services.
- Contribute to service review, audit, and innovation, including use of technology to extend reach and impact.
- Provide education to colleagues, supervise trainees (where appropriate), and support culturally safe practice that advances Māori health gain.
About the Team/Service/ Location
Our Pain Management Service is a collaborative, interdisciplinary team based across Rotorua and Taupo within Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora Lakes. You will work alongside medical, nursing, allied health and whānau support colleagues to deliver integrated care.
Health New Zealand |Te Whatu Ora Lakes provides healthcare from its two modern and progressive general hospitals in Rotorua and Taupo, New Zealand. The Lakes district is becoming the lifestyle destination of choice and is well known for its many outdoor recreational activities, family friendly beaches, and a growing multi-cultural community. Working at Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora Lakes provides a great opportunity to balance an amazing lifestyle with a rewarding professional experience. As well as a supportive, inclusive and diverse work environment, Health New Zealand |Te Whatu Ora Lakes offer competitive salary, free staff parking, free flu vaccination, discounts (with local businesses), and access to Employee Assistance Program.
For more information on living and working in Rotorua and Taupo click here
About you
Essential:
- Hold a practicing certificate from the New Zealand Psychologists Board registering them to practice under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003.
- Have a minimum of a Masters Degree in Psychology with a Diploma of Clinical Psychology, or equivalent qualification.
- Have experience in providing cognitive/behavioural therapy, group work and relevant adjunctive therapies, such as Mindfulness based stress reduction.
Desired:
- Experience in the area of health psychology, preferably in the evaluation and management of chronic pain, and have an awareness of the emotional and psychological effects of chronic pain.
- Experience in a rehabilitation setting working with psychologically and/or physically impaired people.
- Had experience within a consultation liaison psychiatry setting.
- Had experience with questionnaires used in the evaluation of chronic pain and be confident in the analysis and data systems the questionnaires require.
- Have experience in providing one or more of these treatment modalities: ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy); DBT (Dialectical Behavioural Therapy); Cognitive functional rehabilitation; hypnotherapy; Emotional Awareness and Expression therapy; Neurolinguistic programming; Biofeedback. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing).
- Having counselling skills and experience in family therapy principals would also be an advantage.
Click here for Position Description
Click here for Collective Agreement (if applicable)
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 before end of posting date. If you have any questions about the role, please contact vacancy@lakesdhb.govt.nz. The selection process starts from the date of advertising. Due to the fast-paced nature of our roles, the vacancy close date may be subject to change.
Ngā taipitopito tūranga mahi | Job details
| Employer: | Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora Lakes |
| Location: | Bay of Plenty |
| Position type: | Permanent Full time |
| Category: | Health |
| Date listed: | 05-Feb-2026 |
| Salary range: | |
| Closing date: | 19-Feb-2026 |
| Reference: | ROT03901 |
| Attachment: | No File Attached |
| File links: | |
| Website: | http://www.lakesdhb.govt.nz |
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