Occupational Therapist - Medical and Surgical Acute Services

Location: Wellington Regional Hospital 

Contract: Permanent, Part Time and full time positions available (Please state on your cover letter what hours you are seeking)

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 

Are you an Occupational Therapist looking for a rewarding role where your expertise can make an immediate difference? We are excited to offer multiple permanent opportunities across our acute inpatient services at Wellington Regional Hospital, with both full-time and part-time positions available within our medical and surgical streams.

This is an exciting time to join our service. With Occupational Therapists in high demand across New Zealand, you'll be joining a profession that is highly valued and recognised for its critical role in supporting patient recovery, safe discharge planning, and hospital flow.

Working within our dynamic acute teams, you'll provide assessment and intervention for patients with a wide range of medical and surgical conditions. No two days are the same. You'll work alongside an experienced multidisciplinary team, helping patients achieve their goals, maximise independence, and transition safely from hospital to home.

Whether you are an experienced acute clinician seeking your next challenge or an Occupational Therapist looking to further develop your expertise in a fast-paced hospital environment, we have opportunities that can support your career aspirations.

You'll be part of a well-established Occupational Therapy team that values innovation, collaboration, clinical excellence, and ongoing professional growth. We are committed to creating an environment where our staff thrive through comprehensive orientation, regular supervision, strong clinical leadership, and access to professional development opportunities.

Why join us?

• Multiple full-time and part-time vacancies available
• Opportunities across both acute medical and surgical services
• Work in a supportive, highly skilled multidisciplinary environment
• Be part of a respected profession that plays a vital role in patient outcomes
• Ongoing professional development, supervision, and career progression opportunities
• A chance to positively influence patient care and health equity for our communities
• Join a fun, welcoming, and passionate Occupational Therapy team

If you're looking for a role where you can develop your skills, make a meaningful impact every day, and be part of a team committed to delivering exceptional patient care, we'd love to hear from you

About the Team/Service Location 

Our acute Occupational Therapists are integral to supporting successful patient journeys through assessment, intervention, rehabilitation, discharge planning, and early mobility initiatives. We foster a supportive team culture where knowledge sharing, innovation, and clinical excellence are encouraged and celebrated.

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

• Preferably three or more years’ experience
• Have registration as an Occupational Therapist with the with Occupational Therapy Board NZ with a current annual practicing certificate
• Sound clinical reasoning skills and use of evidence informed practice
• Ability to work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary setting
• A clear understanding of the health needs of our Māori and Pacific Island communities 
• Mentor and support rotational Occupational Therapists as required.
• Effective time management, prioritization and organization skills

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.

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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