New Graduate Occupational Therapist

• Based at Burwood Campus
• Hours are Monday - Friday 0800 - 1630
• Multiple 1.0FTE (40 hours per week) Permanent positions available, starting in January 2026 

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 excited for New Graduate Occupational Therapists to join our team within the inpatient’s services at Burwood Hospital commencing in 2026. In these roles you will work with patients to enable optimum safety and function during this phase of their recovery.

You’ll work with clients from diverse social and cultural backgrounds and need to bring your holistic skills, enthusiasm and passion to achieve the best outcome for your patients.

Burwood Hospital offers the opportunity to be part of both the ward team and the wider Occupational Therapy Department and take the opportunities to access professional development through, in-service training and clinical supervision. There is opportunity to support a rotation to the Christchurch campus to further your clinical development.

These roles are working with: 

• Older People needing a hospital admission and rehabilitation to enable them to return home and /or to  community facilities
• Orthopaedic surgical patients who have had surgical procedures from elective or traumatic event

You will work within a multi-disciplinary team to determine and meet the patient goals and outcomes. Your day would include, ADL assessment and rehabilitation, cognitive assessments and treatment and complex discharge planning.

New graduates or OT’s in their early years of practice will be supported by a dedicated Clinical Coach, enabling your learning and development in clinical practice.

About you

We are seeking enthusiastic New Graduate OT's who are ready to embark on their journey within our Public Health system. You will need to demonstrate your excellent communication skills and the ability to build rapport with patients and their whānau. The successful applicant will have excellent prioritisation skills, a team player attitude and will be able to manage a case load utilising time and resource effectively. 

You will also be able to demonstrate:

• Comprehensive clinical assessment and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work both autonomously and collaboratively, to develop positive interpersonal relationships, and work flexibly within the team
• Ability to establish and maintain relationships with service providers in the community
• 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
• Strong prioritisation, organisation and effective time management skills
• A positive attitude and enthusiasm for this area of work
• Enable NZ Equipment accreditation or willingness to obtain
• Registration with the NZ Occupational Therapy Board and current Annual Practicing Certificate
• As local travel is required, a full driver’s license is essential
• Competency with te ao Māori, tikanga, and te reo Māori or a commitment to starting your journey and taking ownership of your learning and growth
• Experience in projects / initiatives which give effect to Te Tiriti principals and frameworks, and the application of Mātauranga Māori and Kaupapa Māori approaches, particularly as they apply in healthcare settings. 

Working for Health New Zealand

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is ‘the weaving of wellnesses. We're dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of Aotearoa/New Zealand. The Equity Work Programme at Health NZ focuses on helping everyone in the health system think about equity when they do their work. It also promotes the cultural change needed for the whole system to reach equity in health outcomes.

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 particularly welcome applications from our diverse Māori, Pacific, disabled, and rainbow communities.

How to Apply

To view the position description and/or apply for the role please click “apply now.” All applications must be submitted through our online careers portal before 11:59pm on Monday 1st September. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Alex Jay at Alexandra.jay@tewhatuora.govt.nz