Casual Hospital Guard

Casual Hospital Guard

• Are you seeking casual part-time work?
• Do you have prior experience within a security oriented role e.g. Police, Corrections or Ministry of Justice?
• Position based at Whanganui Prison

Mo te tunga | About the role

We have a duty of care to all those in our custody. Everyday life brings different challenges and there will be times when the people in our care require more specialist medical intervention outside of our facility, from accident and injury to serious illness and palliative care.

We seek committed individuals to undertake hospital guard duties on an "as and when required" basis - usually at short notice, day or night. Your main focus will be the close supervision and security of individual prisoners while inside a hospital facility. While on duty you will be working alongside a Corrections Officer.

This is a critical role as it allows us the comfort of knowing the safety and security of the community is in capable hands while we focus on operational requirements back in the prison environment.

As part of our recruitment process you will be required to complete a full disclosure criminal history check and undergo a pre-employment drug test. Full induction and training will be provided.

Mou | About you

The people we are looking for will ideally have experience from within other agencies including Police, Defence, Corrections, Security (or similar) to be a successful Hospital Guard.

In addition, we are looking people with the following attributes:

• Clear and concise communication skills
• A calm and measured approach, even in a pressured situation
• Strong affinity to adhering to policies and procedures while also maintaining protocols
• The ability to work as a team member as well as independently as required
• Take an objective, non-judgemental approach to prisoners, demonstrating a degree of empathy in upholding rules and regulations
• Hold a current full NZ drivers licence
• Have the legal working rights to work in NZ, without restriction, for a minimum of 24 months

Working on a casual basis, the successful applicant will possess a flexibility to be available at very short notice. Some travel may be required, for example if a prisoner is transferred to Wellington Hospital. Travel and expenses will be covered in-keeping with policy.

Nga painga | The benefits

The hourly rate for this casual position is $33.66 per hour.

Mo matou | About us

Join Ara Poutama Aotearoa - Department of Corrections, where your work will contribute to improving public safety, reducing re-offending, and address the overrepresentation of Maori in correctional facilities. As a values-led organisation, we use the principles of rangatira (leadership), manaaki (respect), wairua (spirituality), kaitiaki (guardianship), and whanau (relationships) to guide our work and achieve the goals of our Hokai Rangi strategy.

We value inclusion and diversity in our workforce, and as a Public Service organisation we are committed to building a workforce that reflects the public we serve. We strive to make our recruitment process fair, and we encourage you to discuss reasonable accommodations with us if required.

Tono inaianei | Apply Now

To submit an application and view the position description, click the apply link. All applications must be submitted through our careers site to ensure transparency - applications received via email will not be considered.

When applying, submit a tailored CV and a cover letter describing your motivation for joining the department highlighting relevant skills and experience and the alignment to our work.

Applications close on Wednesday 7th January 2026.

If you have any questions or want to learn more about a career with us, contact , or visit