MSK Advanced Clinical Practice Physiotherapists in Orthopaedics

• Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora - Whanganui District
• Physiotherapy
• Permanent, Part-Time, 20 hours 0.5 FTE

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is firmly grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is committed to building a health system that serves all New Zealanders.

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced musculoskeletal physiotherapist who is looking to develop your skills as an Advanced Clinical Practice Physiotherapist (ACPP) in the field of Orthopaedics.

As an ACPP you will be responsible for the clinical assessment, diagnostic workup, and identification of appropriate management pathways for patients referred to the Orthopaedic service. This is a non-interventional role focused on assessment and management. You will provide timely and equitable access to comprehensive First Specialist Assessments (FSA), working collaboratively with the Orthopaedic team to support best practice and efficient care delivery across the district.

This role operates at an advanced clinician level, focussed predominantly on the four pillars of clinical practice. It requires an advanced level of diagnostic expertise and plays a pivotal role in advancing physiotherapy services in Orthopaedics via the musculoskeletal (MSK) pathway, ensuring clinical excellence, patient-centred care, and driving system-wide improvements across the district.

In this role you will be:

• Providing advanced-level clinical assessments with high autonomy
• requesting investigations and formulating differential diagnoses.
• identifying serious, urgent, or emergent pathologies and escalating care as needed.
• utilising evidence-based practices to guide management recommendations for surgical and non-surgical options.
• promoting and demonstrating quality in clinical practice and service delivery through continuous quality improvement.
• Working collaboratively with the Orthopaedic team, this role ensures timely and equitable access to comprehensive First Specialist Assessments (FSA), supporting best practice and efficient care delivery across the district and contributing to achieving HNZ health targets.
• contributing to service development, clinical governance, innovation, and research within the district. The role also plays a pivotal part in shaping musculoskeletal care with influence spanning clinical practice, workforce development, and service delivery.
• demonstrating a strong commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and culturally responsive care is integral, ensuring services are safe, accessible, and effective for Māori and all communities.

About the Team/Service/ Location

This advanced physiotherapy role is the pivotal link between the Orthopaedic and Physiotherapy departments. Your role is primarily working with Orthopaedic patients under Orthopaedic SMO oversight, but your clinic will be located in the Physiotherapy Department (which is co-located with Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Dietitians, Social Work and Community Assessment & Rehab team). This will allow you both access to orthopaedic specialist knowledge and diagnostic imaging whilst working alongside the non-surgical management teams in a newly refurbished location. This offers you the unique opportunity of being able to have oversight of the whole patient journey on the MSK pathway. You will be able to build professional relationships with patients and whanau along with other medical professionals involved in their care and integrate the patient care from specialist, allied health and community services through to primary care.

About you

You are an experienced musculoskeletal physiotherapist who is looking to develop your skills as an advanced clinician in the field of orthopaedics.

• A minimum of five years' experience working in the specified service field [of which a minimum of 3 years in Orthopaedics and Musculoskeletal physiotherapy]
• Hold a post-graduate qualification [PGCert, PGDip or MSc in an area relevant to field of clinical practice] level 9 equivalent [or working towards]

OR

• A minimum of 10 years' experience in the field of musculoskeletal and orthopaedic physiotherapy and be able to demonstrate a highly developed or expert level of proficiency as per competence descriptors.

AND

• Has the potential to lead change.
• Can evidence an understanding of, and ability to interpret research and implement its' findings as it pertains to the diagnosis and management of specific conditions.
• Can evidence ability to evaluate service delivery through audit and quality improvement activities.
• Is willing to mentor and coach others in the role.
• Understands their role in enacting Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

You demonstrate the key attributes and behaviours:

• Responsible, accountable and reliable
• Patient-centred
• Self-reflection [recognises limits of their personal and professional knowledge/skills], knows when to ask for help and receptive to feedback.
• Ability to develop collegial and effective working relationships.
• Respects the expertise of other health professionals and communicates in a collegial manner.
• Organised with a systematic approach to delivering and monitoring care.
• Time management and prioritisations skills.
• Completes tasks including clinical assessment, documentation, and referrals within acceptable timeframes.

In addition, you are:

• NZ Registered Physiotherapist with current Annual Practicing Certificate (APC).
• Member of Physiotherapy New Zealand - Professional Association (desirable).
• Hold a full NZ driver's licence.
• proficiency in using technology within the workplace
• A high standard of written and spoken English.

Support structures provided

As an advanced clinician, you will have access to:

• National learning & development network
• Regular and ongoing peer review
• An Allied Health [ACPP] mentor and a Senior Medical Officer [SMO] mentor in their field of practice and/or any other relevant professional who can support clinical practice, learning & development.

Working at Health New Zealand

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of New Zealand. We embrace a workforce that is diverse and inclusive so that we are better positioned to understand and service our community. We welcome applications from our diverse Māori, Pacific, disabled, and rainbow communities.

How to Apply

To apply please click "apply now." All applications must be submitted through our online careers' portal by 1st December 2025. If you have any questions about the role, please contact

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