Residential Youth Worker Puketai

Do you want the chance to make a difference one moment, milestone and interaction at a time? Are you interested in helping tamariki develop the skills they need to be meaningful contributors to their whānau & communities? Would you like to share your interests, passions, and culture to help inspire and empower rangatahi? We would love to hear from you**

We currently have positions for Pukatai, Secure Care & Protection Residence based in Dunedin

Facilitate the integration of rangatahi back into the community by successfully delivering innovative program's including education, therapeutic interventions, life and social skills development

Inspire others, make connections and build relationships based on trust and respect

About the role | mō te tūnga

Our Residential Youth Workers have an important role to play. They provide care and support to the young people in our care and encourage and motivate them to make positive choices. This is a real opportunity to positively influence young people, help them grow and successfully transition back into the community. In this roles you will:

• Coach rangatahi through our structured day
• Participate in physical activity with our young people by playing sports and taking part in gym activities
• Support our rangatahi by helping them with their studies, teaching them life skills such as: cooking, art, music, and cultural programmes
• Mentor young people to make positive life choices
• Build rapport with rangatahi

About you | Mōu

We are looking for candidates that demonstrate the following:

• A full, clean, valid driver's licence
• A valid visa - New Zealand residency or citizenship
• A tertiary education within psychology, social sciences, social work, sports, music, arts or teaching would be an advantage
• Resilience, initiative and a proactive approach with a positive outlook
• Empathy, patience and ability to see past what someone may be struggling with
• Flexibility to work different shifts - mornings, evenings, weekends and public holidays
• Experience working with rangatahi
• Sound judgement with the ability to manage risk and make tough decisions
• Life experience and understanding of what rangatahi may be going through
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to adapt to your audience
• Understanding and confidence in tikanga Māori and te reo Māori would be a definite advantage

What's in it for you | Nōu te rourou

• As a shift worker, annual remuneration that starts between approximately $57,760 and $65,334 (depending on your experience) PLUS penal rates for working certain shifts. Oranga Tamariki has a remuneration framework gives pay increases based on tenure (time in the job).
• Regular training and professional development so that you can thrive and grow your skills and capabilities
• Access to counselling and support when you need it through our employee assistance programme which reflects our genuine commitment to supporting the wellbeing of our kaimahi

Me pēhea te tuku tono | How to Apply

Apply online with your CV and Covering Letter. If you are an Oranga Tamariki employee already, please ensure you apply with a log in using your Oranga Tamariki email address.

If you have any questions about role, please contact

Applications Close: 7th December 2025 Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and candidates may receive contact prior to the application close date

If you are interested in any of our vacancies, please ensure that you make yourself familiar with our code of conduct as it sets out our expectations for our kaimahi and requires you to present at work free from the influences of both drugs and alcohol.