Occupational Therapists

Kia ora (hello) – are you ready for the opportunity of a lifetime? We're looking for Occupational Therapists to join our team in New Zealand - Aotearoa.

Occupational Therapists in New Zealand are critical in helping individuals improve or regain skills needed for their daily activities, such as physical, cognitive, and mental well-being.

Across a variety of inpatient and outpatient settings, they support patients in maintaining independence, improving quality of life, and adapting to changes in their condition.

Salary, allowances & leave

Occupational Therapists have a 10-step progression salary scale

Salaries range between NZ $77K - NZ $116K

Designated Occupational Therapists (e.g. Team Leaders, Professional Advisors etc.) have a 19-step progression salary scale

Salaries range between NZ $111K - NZ $151K

• On-call, call back and night rates
• Higher duties allowances

Leave:

4 weeks of paid annual leave (increases to 5 weeks after 5 years of service)

Shift employees are entitled to up to an additional 5 days' annual leave on completion of 12 months of employment on shift work.

A minimum of 10 days of paid sick leave per annum

6-12 months of parental leave, depending on the length of service

Up to 14 weeks of paid parental leave

12 paid public holidays + time in lieu/alternative holiday if rostered on

Occupational Therapists' Collective Agreement:

In New Zealand, the salary and other benefits of some roles are determined by collective agreements between unions and employers.

Benefits & development opportunities

Reimbursement of your Professional Registration costs and fees.

Health NZ covers your professional indemnity insurance.

Support with your Continuing Professional Development.

• If eligible, a minimum of a 3% superannuation contribution from Health New Zealand as your employer.

Access to a plethora of internal educational courses and regular in-house Continual Personal Development sessions.

• Coaching, mentoring and achieving learning outcomes for all staff.

Roles and responsibilities can include:

• Evaluate patients' needs of physical, cognitive, and environmental challenges to daily functioning.
• Create personalised interventions to restore skills and independence.
• Run rehabilitation programmes to help patients recover abilities lost due to injury or illness.
• Assist patients with their mental health using coping strategies for stress, anxiety, or trauma.
• Teach patients and caregivers about self-care and prevention.
• Work with doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to provide holistic care.
• Engage with local communities for better health outcomes.
• Assess and enable tūroro/patients at that stage in their hauora/health journey.
• Work with tūroro/patients from diverse social and cultural backgrounds and work collaboratively with whānau (family), the wider multidisciplinary team to ensure the best outcomes.
• Identify and contribute towards service improvement initiatives.

Required qualifications & experience

Occupational Therapy Qualification

You must hold an approved qualification in occupational therapy. Common pathways include:

• A Bachelor of Occupational Therapy or a similar recognized qualification from a New Zealand institution (e.g., Otago Polytechnic or Wintec).
• An overseas qualification that is assessed as equivalent to New Zealand standards by the OTBNZ.

Registration with the OTBNZ

All OTs must be registered with the Occupational Therapy Board of New Zealand to legally practice.

Applicants need to submit proof of their qualifications, personal identification, and evidence of fitness to practice.

Annual Practising Certificate (APC)

To practice as an OT, you must hold a valid Annual Practising Certificate (APC), which is renewed annually.

To maintain the APC, you must:

• Provide evidence of ongoing competence.
• Demonstrate participation in Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activities.

Our application processStep 1: SubmitStep 2: Review

Our Candidate Management Team will review your application and check your suitability.

Step 3: Contact

You will be contacted by our Candidate Management Team to discuss career and location options.

Step 4: Referral

We will refer you to a Recruitment Team in your preferred location(s) for further assessment.

Step 5: Progress

Your chosen Recruitment Team(s) will be in touch with you to continue the recruitment process.

Our commitment to you

We are dedicated to building a team that is representative of the communities that we are serving. We are committed to supporting health equity in our communities. Our kaimahi (staff) thrives on the diversity and inclusion of all perspectives and cultures, and we welcome individuals from all backgrounds and lived experiences.

Looking to move to New Zealand to work as an Occupational Therapist?

Great news Occupational Therapists are on Tier 1 of New Zealand's Green List which means you are eligible for a fast-tracked Straight to Residence Visa.

Explore Aotearoa

New Zealand - Aotearoa has been in the top 5 countries in the Global Peace Index every year since it launched in 2009, and has a broad range of places to call home, from the bustling metropolis of our main centres, to the easygoing vibe of our coastal or rural communities.

We'd love to help, reach out to us

Moving to New Zealand - Aotearoa is a fantastic opportunity and a big step, we're here for you Our dedicated team is here to provide guidance and support throughout your journey, so don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.

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