Occupational Therapist

**Occupational Therapist**
- **Permanent, part-time (0.6 FTE)**:

- **Taupō, Bay of Plenty**
- He mea _**_tārai _**_e mātou te _**_mātauranga_**_ kia_**_ rangatira_**_ ai, kia _**_mana taurite_**_ ai ōna _**_huanga_**
- We work to _**_shape_**_ an _**_education_**_ system that delivers _**_equitable_**_ and _**_excellent outcomes_**

Our organisation is made up of talented and committed people across Aotearoa | New Zealand from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures. While we work in different groups and on different things, we all strive every day to make the biggest difference we can for every child, young person and adult student in our education system.

Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga recognises the partnership founded under Te Tiriti o Waitangi between Māori and the Crown. We are committed to having Te Tiriti o Waitangi at the forefront of our work for and with Māori students, their whānau, hapū and iwi.

**Mō tēnei tūranga | About this role**

We are looking for a Occupational Therapist to be part of a close-knit, community-focused team that maximises learning and promotes social inclusion for children and young people with learning support needs.

As an Occupational Therapist, you will play a critical role in our region's Learning Support team by:

- building and strengthening the capability of those who are best placed to support learning such as parents, teachers and families
- identifying, setting-up and providing advice about the environmental changes, support, equipment and technology a child or young person may need
- developing and maintaining collaborative relationships with a range of professional partners, community and sector groups and support agencies to ensure that services are coordinated and effective
- enhancing inclusive practices in schools and other educational settings
- working effectively as part of a transdisciplinary team
- providing high quality learning support in line with the practice framework, He Pikorua's guiding principles and content of the curricula delivered in Aotearoa New Zealand.

For more information on this position, please read through the attached Job Description.

This role is based at our Taupō office offering a fantastic lifestyle and work-life balance opportunity working in one of New Zealand's great outdoor adventure locations. Applicants who live in the surrounding South Waikato, Rotorua or wider Bay of Plenty areas and are willing to commute may also be interested in this role.

**We also offer**:

- Flexible working arrangements where everyone feels valued and supported
- The ability to purchase extra days leave
- A range of employee network groups
- An inclusive environment that encourages your personal cultural competency journey
- Development and learning, including mentorship programmes and internal secondments
- Wellness initiatives to support your overall health and wellbeing

**Mōhou ake | About you**

To be successful in this role, you will need to have the following capabilities and competencies:

- a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy or equivalent as approved by the Occupational Therapy Board of New Zealand
- be registered with the Occupational Therapy Board of New Zealand and to hold a current practicing certificate
- the ability to translate specialist knowledge of occupational theory and practice in the development of appropriate interventions in inclusive educational settings
- the ability to co-ordinate service provision in a multi-agency, trans-disciplinary setting
- excellent communication and interpersonal skills and an ability to work effectively with ākonga/learners, whānau/families and kaiako/teachers across a diverse range of settings
- the ability to develop and interact effectively with people of other cultures focusing on relationship and recognising their identity, language and culture as a source of strength
- a full driver licence.

You will demonstrate knowledge of, or a willingness to gain an understanding of Te Ao Māori and promote tikanga and Te Reo Māori. You will also have knowledge of, or a willingness to gain an appreciation of te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi) as it applies in the public sector.

**Mātau rōpū ake | About our ministry, group, and team**

At Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga, we work to provide services and support nationally, regionally and locally to the education sector, and in some cases, directly to ākonga and whānau.

Te Mahau | Te Tai Whenua (Central) is a frontline group that collectively provides leadership and integrated services to the sector and others.

Learning Support is a critical part of the Te Mahau | Te Tai Whenua _(Central)_ group in the Ministry. We are charged with leading the education sector in ensuring that children and young people with additional learning needs are supported to achieve their full potential through education.

Our Learning Support specialists work closely with families, whānau, caregivers, schools and early childhood educators in