Occupational Therapist

• Based at Christchurch Health Campus
• Fixed-term, part-time role FTE) covering parental leave through to December 2026
• Hours of work are 70 hours/fortnight on a rotating roster

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 have an exciting opportunity to join the supportive Occupational Therapy team at Christchurch Hospital. We are looking for an experienced NZ Registered Occupational Therapist to join us on a fixed-term basis working within the Emergency Department. You will join the existing ED team which includes an Expert Occupational Therapy Practitioner. As part of the team, you will be further developing the ED service for Occupational Therapy and the wider Allied Health team.

The position is part-time and will be rostered over a 7 day week between the hours of 7.30am and 8pm, as 7 x 10 hour shifts a fortnight, we operate a 4 week roster.

You will:

• have a minimum of five years clinical experience
• have proven advanced clinical skills and knowledge of the acute hospital setting, and working with older people experiencing frailty related conditions
• be able to demonstrate clinical leadership expertise and experience in leading quality improvement initiatives.

In this role, you will be responsible for:

• working with patients in the ED area to deliver specific occupational therapy assessments which include a major focus on frailty and head injury assessment
• comprehensive assessments that will support the wider ED team to make sound decision on discharge to home or admission to the hospital for patients seen. You will work as part of an IDT Allied Health team and will support further development of IDT working in this area
• working with patients from diverse social and cultural backgrounds and working collaboratively with whanau, the wider multidisciplinary team to ensure the best outcomes
• identifying, contributing towards and leading service improvement initiatives
• being involved in transfer and discharge planning
• mentoring and supervision of students and other colleagues within the wider Occupational Therapy service.

About you

Your skills will include:

• comprehensive clinical assessment, clinical reasoning/interpretation within scope and competency, and problem solving skills
• five years of relevant clinical experience with experience/knowledge of working in acute care environment as well as older persons health
• the ability to work autonomously and collaboratively, to develop positive interpersonal relationships, and work flexibly within the inter-disciplinary team, with a team player attitude
• excellent communication and interpersonal skills, to liaise effectively with health professionals both within the in-patient services and in the community
• strong clinical reasoning skills and use of evidence informed practice
• effective time management and organisational skills
• strong prioritisation skills and experience with complex discharge planning
• registration with the NZ Occupational Therapy Board and current Annual Practicing Certificate (or eligibility to obtain)
• a positive attitude and passion for this area of work.

It is also expected that you will contribute to the ward weekend roster at times.

Working for 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 for the role please click 'apply now'. All applications must be submitted through our online careers portal by 11.59pm on Wednesday, 14 January 2026. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Alex Jay or Clinical Manager, Bronwyn Suzana on or

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

Click here to view the role description