Occupational Therapist For Regional Rehabilitation Service

Location: Intensive Rehabilitation Regional Rehabilitation Service- Tawhirimatea unit, Porirua.

Contract: Permanent, Full Time (1 FTE). Monday - Friday

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is firmly grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is dedicated to serving all New Zealanders. Through integration and collaboration, we're building a health system underpinned by partnership, equity, sustainability, whānau-centred care, and excellence.

About the role

We are looking for innovative and committed Occupational Therapist to join the Tāwhirimātea inpatient team within the Regional Rehabilitation Service (RRS). RRS provides people with specialised care with a focus on recovery and rehabilitation in both secure and open settings. Tāwhirimātea is a safe care 29 bed unit. The unit provides a range of both individual and group programs and activities that support recovery for clients who may require a stay in a safer environment. Clients are able to access services both on and off the unit. A multi-disciplinary team approach is provided to clients.

The Occupational Therapist are required to work collaboratively with the Multi-Disciplinary Team to support people as they transition from inpatient care to the community. The Occupational Therapist will offer specialised assessment and treatment for people with enduring mental illness.

About the Team/Service Location

Tāwhirimātea has established an Occupational Therapy (OT) team consisting of two Occupational Therapists (this vacancy is for the 3rd) and two Occupational Therapy Support Workers. You will be working alongside a dynamic team that work collaboratively to enhance the recovery process for people residing in the open inpatient setting. You will work alongside the nursing staff to ensure that individual care plans are supported. The Tāwhirimātea OT team also works in partnership with other rehabilitation and forensic units within our wider campus. These teams support the running of programmes that are unit based, Tangaroa based, (our activity center) and community based.

About you

You will need to be able to work collaboratively within a team; be able to support nursing staff to ensure that individuals are supported to engage in rehabilitation activities. You will bring your active listening skills, solution focus approach to fostering tangata whai ora to achieve their identified goals within their pathway journey. You will have the ability to take on new learning where required to support your role within the team as well as good communication skills with your team members, tangata whai ora and whānau. You will be proactive in ensuring all occupational therapy led documentation reflects a person-centered approach and promotes the enhancement of independence. This is an exciting opportunity to join a team of clinicians who are committed to promoting excellent public relations through positive interactions with tangata whai ora, whānau and their communities.

You must also hold:

• A relevant APC and board membership.
• Meet police vetting requirements.
• A full NZ Driver License.
• Experience working in Mental Health settings .

Working at Health New Zealand

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is 'the weaving of wellness'. We're dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of Aotearoa/New Zealand.

Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Health New Zealand are committed to being good employers and honouring our equal employment opportunity obligations. We embrace diversity and welcome application from all people, including all gender identities, ages, ethnicities, sexual orientations, and disability. A workforce that is diverse and inclusive means that we are better positioned to understand and service our community. We are pro-equity health organisation, with a particular focus on Māori, Pacific Peoples, and the Disability Community.

How to Apply

To apply please click 'apply now.' All applications must be submitted through our online careers' portal by 7th January 2026. 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 advertisement.