Occupational Therapist at Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora Te Matau a Māui Hawke's Bay, Hawkes Bay

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

• Occupational Therapist - Hawkes Bay Fallen Soldiers Hospital
• Permanent, Full Time, 80 hours per fortnight (1 FTE)
• This is a fantastic opportunity to join a supportive and forward - thinking inpatient Allied Health team, where no two days are the same.
• The chance to enjoy Hawkes Bays outstanding lifestyle, with a strong work - life balance

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 have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Occupational Therapist to join our inpatient Occupational Therapy team, with a primary focus in acute medical services and supporting patients experiencing frailty. In this role, you will work collaboratively with whaiora, whānau, and the wider multidisciplinary team (MDT) to deliver highquality, personcentred care within the hospital setting.

You will bring clinical confidence and sound reasoning to support patients through assessment, intervention, and complex discharge planning often requiring innovative and adaptable approaches to meet individual needs. Your expertise will play a key role in enabling safe, meaningful recovery for people with complex medical presentations, including those living with frailty.

While your primary base will be the medical inpatient team, you will also be part of our flexible Allied Health workforce. This provides opportunities to contribute across other inpatient areas and services as needs evolve, supporting a dynamic and responsive model of care that values teamwork, adaptability, and continuous improvement. A key aspect of this role includes supporting and mentoring rotational Occupational Therapists across the inpatient wards, helping to build capability, confidence, and clinical excellence with the team. 

If you have a passion for acute medical care, frailty pathways, and delivering interventions that make a tangible difference, this role offers the scope to grow your expertise while contributing to a supportive and forwardthinking service.

Key responsibilities include:

• Deliver comprehensive occupational therapy assessment and evidencebased intervention for medical inpatients, including those experiencing frailty and complex medical presentations.
• Drive safe, timely, and creative discharge planning, working collaboratively with whaiora, whānau, and the MDT to enable meaningful transitions of care.
• Mentor and guide rotational Occupational Therapists and students, contributing to a positive learning environment and supporting clinical growth across the team.
• Participate in service development, quality improvement initiatives, and innovation projects that enhance patient outcomes and strengthen Allied Health practice.
• Actively contribute to a collaborative, adaptable Allied Health workforce, supporting flexible models of care across inpatient services as needs evolve.

This role offers variety, professional growth, and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact across inpatient services.

Please click here to view the position description

About the Team/Service/ Location

You will join a diverse and supportive team of Occupational Therapists working across acute, subacute and rehab inpatient services, as part of a wider Allied Health team.

We are committed to fostering a culture of continuous learning and development, and offer:

• Regular clinical supervision and mentoring
• Access to in - service training and professional development opportunities
• Special interest groups and service development projects
• Support from an experienced Occupational Therapy Professional Lead and Occupational Therapy Coach

Our team values innovation, collaboration, and adaptability, and we actively support staff to grow their clinical, cultural, leadership, and quality improvement capabilities.

For more information on living and working in Hawkes Bay click HERE

About you

We are seeking an Occupational Therapist who:

• Holds a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (or equivalent qualification)
• Is registered in New Zealand with a current Annual Practising Certificate (APC), or eligible to obtain one
• Has a minimum of three years clinical experience, ideally within an inpatient or acute setting
• Demonstrates strong clinical reasoning, adaptability, and problem - solving skills
• Enjoys working as part of a multidisciplinary team and contributing to a flexible service model
• Is committed to ongoing professional development and delivering equitable, culturally responsive care
• Demonstrates the ability to support, guide, and mentor rotational Occupational Therapists, fostering professional growth and maintaining high standards of care across the medical wards

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 18th June 2026. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Yvette MacDonald - Yvette.MacDonald@hbdhb.govt.nz

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

Whilst Health New Zealand is undergoing change, affected employees will be given preference and priority for this position.