Administrator- Emergency Reception

Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora - Southern; Timaru; On-site; NZD 48,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is seeking an Administrator for the Emergency Reception team at Timaru Hospital. You will provide reception, administrative and customer service support, ensuring patients and whānau are welcomed and information is accurately managed.

In a busy hospital setting, you will coordinate enquiries, appointments and clinic information, maintain patient records and perform data entry while upholding privacy requirements. Teamwork and calm professionalism are essential.

Qualifications

• Excellent customer service and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication abilities.
• Experience in administration, reception, or customer service.
• Strong data entry, organisational, and time management skills.
• Good computer literacy and confidence using digital systems.

Responsibilities

• Provide professional reception, administration and customer service support.
• Coordinate enquiries, appointments and clinic information.
• Maintain accurate patient records and complete data entry.
• Support availability of treatment and demographic information through record management.

Skills

Customer service

Interpersonal communication

Data entry

Organisational skills

Time management

Computer literacy

Confidentiality

Te Tiriti o Waitangi knowledge

Healthcare administration experience

Reception experience

Education

Admin or customer service qualifications

Tools

Hospital administration systems

Job description

Jora New Zealand will close on 16th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey.

Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora - Southern – Timaru, South Island

Support Patient Care Through Exceptional Administration and Customer Service

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora

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 seeking a motivated and customer-focused Administrator to join our Emergency Reception team at Timaru Hospital.

As a key member of the Administration Team, you will work collaboratively with clinical and non-clinical staff to support the delivery of quality patient care. You’ll provide professional reception, administration, and customer service support, ensuring patients, whānau, and visitors are welcomed in a courteous and professional manner while contributing to the smooth operation of hospital services.

This varied role includes managing enquiries, coordinating appointments and clinic information, maintaining accurate patient records, completing data entry, and supporting the availability of treatment and demographic information through effective record management practices. You’ll play an important role in ensuring information is handled accurately, securely, and in accordance with privacy requirements.

Working in a busy healthcare environment, you’ll need to be able to communicate confidently, respond appropriately to a wide range of enquiries, and maintain a calm and professional approach during periods of high workload and emergency situations.

About the Team / Location

The Administration Team provides essential support services across Timaru Hospital and works closely with clinical teams to help ensure the delivery of high-quality patient care. You’ll join a supportive and collaborative team committed to providing outstanding service to patients, whānau, visitors, and staff.

Located in the heart of South Canterbury, Timaru offers an enviable lifestyle with affordable housing, short commute times, excellent schools, and easy access to beaches, mountains, lakes, and outdoor recreation. It’s a fantastic place to build your career while enjoying genuine work‑life balance.

About You

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• Excellent customer service and interpersonal communication skills
• Strong verbal and written communication abilities
• Experience in administration, reception, or customer service
• Strong data entry, organisational, and time management skills
• Good computer literacy and confidence using digital systems
• The ability to manage competing priorities in a fast‑paced environment
• A calm, professional, and empathetic approach when dealing with patients, whānau, and visitors
• The ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team
• A commitment to maintaining confidentiality and professionalism at all times
• A commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and improving equitable health outcomes for Māori
• Previous healthcare administration or reception experience
• Knowledge of hospital administration systems and processes
• Relevant administration or customer service qualifications
• Experience working in a busy customer‑focused environment

Internal Applicants Only

This vacancy is open to current employees of Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora only.

Working for 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. 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.

Salary Range

This role is covered by the terms and conditions of the relevant collective agreement and the salary will be in accordance with the applicable pay scale and dependent on experience.