Activities Assistant

Oceania; Christchurch; On-site; NZD 45,000 - 60,000; Part time

Job summary

Oceania is seeking a part-time Activities Coordinator for Addington Gardens Village in Christchurch. You will work with our Diversional Therapist to plan and deliver meaningful activities, getting to know residents as individuals and supporting those living with dementia to participate in meaningful ways.

You will help foster social connection and belonging, ensuring an inclusive environment that respects diverse backgrounds. Weekend availability is required as part of the role.

Qualifications

• Experience coordinating activities in aged care, health or community settings.
• Experience working with people living with dementia and person-centred support.
• Good communication and empathy towards older people.

Responsibilities

• Plan and deliver engaging activities for residents alongside the Diversional Therapist.
• Build genuine relationships with residents and learn what matters to them.
• Support residents living with dementia to participate in activities that suit their strengths and preferences.
• Create opportunities for social connection, enjoyment and belonging.
• Maintain an inclusive environment that respects residents’ identities, cultures and backgrounds.

Skills

Activity coordination

Dementia care awareness

Interpersonal communication

Creativity

Tools

Basic IT skills

Job description

At Oceania, we believe meaningful moments and genuine connection can make a real difference to the lives of our residents.

Our Addington Gardens Village in Christchurch is looking for a part-time Activities Coordinator to join our team and help create engaging, inclusive and meaningful experiences for our residents, including those living with dementia.

Working alongside our Diversional Therapist, you’ll get to know our residents as individuals and support activities that reflect their interests, abilities, cultures and life experiences. Whether it’s encouraging someone to try something new, helping them continue something they’ve always enjoyed, or simply creating an opportunity to connect, you’ll play an important part in supporting residents to live well.

What you’ll be doing:

• Working closely with our Diversional Therapist to plan and deliver engaging and meaningful activities for our residents
• Building genuine relationships with residents and getting to know what matters to them
• Supporting residents living with dementia to participate in ways that recognise their individual strengths, preferences and abilities
• Creating opportunities for social connection, enjoyment and a sense of belonging
• Supporting an inclusive environment that respects residents’ individual identities, cultures and backgrounds
• Following our policies and procedures to help create a safe and supportive environment for everyone.

What you’ll bring:

• Previous experience supporting or coordinating activities, ideally within aged care, health or community settings
• Experience working with people living with dementia and an understanding of person-centred support
• A warm, patient and empathetic approach, with genuine respect for older people
• The ability to connect and communicate with people from a range of backgrounds, cultures and experiences
• Creativity and enthusiasm for finding activities that are meaningful to different people
• Good communication and basic IT skills
• The flexibility to multitask and adapt to residents’ individual needs
• A clean NZ driver licence
• The ability to work weekends

Why join Oceania?

At Oceania, we're proud to be one of New Zealand's leading providers of retirement living and aged care. Across more than 30 villages, we support over 4,000 residents by creating communities where people feel at home, connected, and well cared for.

Our purpose is simple: to make a difference in every task, every challenge, every day.

It's a purpose that's brought to life through the way we work:

• We're one team – We collaborate across teams and functions because together we're stronger than any individual effort.
• We're finding better ways – We challenge ourselves to think differently, find creative solutions, and continuously improve.
• We're committed to care – We put safety and care at the centre of everything we do, creating environments where everyone feels supported.
• We're proud to deliver – We follow through on our commitments because every task matters, and our residents and families count on us to get it right.

When you join Oceania, you'll become part of a supportive team where you'll be encouraged to learn, grow, and make a meaningful contribution every day. In return, we offer competitive pay, ongoing learning and development opportunities, free and confidential wellbeing support, and the chance to build a rewarding career with an organisation that's making a real difference.