Occupational Therapist - Acute

Location:  Wellington Regional Hospital 

Contract: Permanent, full time 

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is firmly grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is dedicated to serving all New Zealanders. Through integration and collaboration, we’re building a health system underpinned by partnership, equity, sustainability, whānau-centred care, and excellence. 

About the Role 

Every day as an Acute Occupational Therapist at Wellington Hospital is dynamic, fast paced, and rewarding. You’ll start your day embedded within a supportive multidisciplinary team, contributing your expertise to ward rounds and clinical planning. Your caseload is varied and stimulating—assessing patients with complex medical, surgical, and neurological needs, supporting early discharge planning, and helping people regain independence at a critical point in their recovery. From functional assessments and cognitive screening to equipment recommendations and whānau education, your work makes a difference to patient outcomes and hospital flow.

This role offers the opportunity to work in a large tertiary hospital, where collaboration, innovation, and equity focused care are valued. You’ll be trusted to think on your feet, prioritise effectively, and bring a strong occupational therapy lens to clinical decision making—while being supported by colleagues. If you enjoy variety, teamwork, and making a meaningful impact, acute OT at Wellington Hospital is a rewarding place to build your experience. 

About the Team/Service Location 

Our team is currently made up of 20 occupational therapists, with 9 team members in the rotational group. We work in the acute setting, assessing and treating patients to contribute to successful discharges and acute hospital flow. We are part of a wider ORA team that has occupational therapists working across community, outpatients and rehabilitation settings.

In the inpatient service we work closely along other allied health professionals and share a home base with physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, social workers and dieticians. It is a dynamic, experienced and supportive team. 

About you 

We are seeking an experienced Occupational Therapist with a commitment to person  and whānau centred acute care and an interest in service improvement. You will deliver high quality, evidence informed interventions within an inter professional team, supporting patients with complex needs and contributing to positive hospital outcomes.

We welcome applications from all backgrounds and strongly encourage Māori, Pacific peoples, disabled people, and rainbow communities to apply, as we work to build a workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

Requirements:

• Minimum five years’ clinical experience
• Registration with the Occupational Therapy Board of New Zealand and current APC
• Commitment to mentoring rotational staff
• Participation in a weekend cover roster (approx. once every 8 weeks, 8 hours)

Working at Health New Zealand 

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is ‘the weaving of wellness’. We're dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of Aotearoa/New Zealand. 

Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Health New Zealand are committed to being good employers and honouring our equal employment opportunity obligations. We embrace diversity and welcome application from all people, including all gender identities, ages, ethnicities, sexual orientations, and disability. A workforce that is diverse and inclusive means that we are better positioned to understand and service our community. We are pro-equity health organisation, with a particular focus on Māori, Pacific Peoples, and the Disability Community. 

How to Apply 

To apply please click “apply now.” All applications must be submitted through our online careers’ portal by 26 April. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Philip.Adamson@tewhatuora.govt.nz

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

Position description Apply now

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