Occupational Therapist - Acute Inpatient Services at Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora Lakes, Bay of Plenty

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

• Live and work in Whakatāne, a welcoming coastal town with a gorgeous coastline and strong community spirit
• Full-time position 1.0 FTE
• A varied acute role across medical, surgical, paediatric, and emergency settings

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

Bring your Occupational Therapy skills into a dynamic acute hospital environment where variety and clinical challenge are part of every day. This role rotates across medical, surgical, and paediatric wards, with opportunities to contribute to service development within the Emergency Department and Acute Care Unit.

Working as part of an interdisciplinary team, you will complete assessments, deliver interventions, and support discharge planning for patients with orthopaedic, neurological, and general medical needs. The focus is on enabling patients to return safely to their home environment, with strong coordination between hospital and community services.

This position offers the opportunity to expand your clinical scope while contributing to the growth of acute occupational therapy services in Whakatāne.

About the Team/Service/Location

You will part of the Acute Occupational Therapy team within Te Koru Rehabilitation, a well-connected allied health service that includes rehabilitation, dietetics, pelvic health, outpatient physiotherapy, speech language therapy, podiatry, and hand therapy. The team is supportive, collaborative, and focused on delivering high quality, patient centred care across the Eastern Bay of Plenty. Based in Whakatāne, the area is surrounded by beaches, rivers, native bush, offering a lifestyle that supports both wellbeing and professional fulfilment.

Click here to learn more about the Bay of Plenty

About You

You will be a New Zealand Registered Occupational Therapist who brings adaptability, sound clinical judgement, and a strong focus on patient outcomes. You work confidently across a range of clinical settings and value both independent practice and teamwork. Whether early in your career or experienced in acute care, you are motivated to develop your skills, contribute to service improvement, support patients and whānau through meaningful rehabilitation.

What you will bring:

• Registration with the Occupational Therapy Board of New Zealand and a valid Annual Practicing Certificate
• Experience in rehabilitation and or acute hospital settings, preferred
• Strong clinical reasoning and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work both autonomously and within an interdisciplinary team
• Excellent communication skills with colleagues, agencies, patients, and whānau

To view the Position Description please click here

Working for 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 Māori, Pacific, disabled, and rainbow communities.

How to Apply

To apply for the role please click apply now.  All applications must be submitted through our online careers portal before 11:59pm on 27 April 2026. If you have any questions about the role, please contact bp-Careers@tewhatuora.govt.nz

Please note, we will be reviewing applications when received and may proceed with the recruitment process, before the closing date of this advert.