Alcohol and Other Drug Practitioner

New Zealand Government; New Zealand; On-site; NZD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora in Wairoa is seeking an experienced Alcohol and Other Drug practitioner or Registered Nurse to join the Wairoa Community Mental Health and Addiction Service on a permanent, full-time basis. You will deliver assessment, intervention, treatment, and recovery support within a trauma-informed, recovery-focused framework.

You will work autonomously within a Hawke's Bay multidisciplinary team, collaborating with tangata whai ora, whānau and local community services to

Qualifications

• Current professional registration and Annual Practising Certificate relevant to your discipline.
• Experience working within addiction, mental health, or community health services.
• Strong assessment, intervention, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Knowledge of recovery oriented practice, harm reduction approaches, and co-existing mental health conditions.
• A commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and delivering culturally responsive care.

Responsibilities

• Provide assessment, intervention, treatment, and recovery support to people affected by alcohol and other drug use.
• Deliver evidence-based interventions, screening and brief interventions.
• Undertake comprehensive assessments, support withdrawal management and recovery planning.
• Build strong partnerships with community agencies, healthcare providers, and whānau.
• Work autonomously while being supported by a wider Hawke's Bay multidisciplinary team.

Skills

Professional registration

Addiction & mental health experience

Assessment & intervention

Recovery oriented practice

Cultural responsiveness (Te Tiriti)

Education

Postgraduate qualifications in addiction/mental health

DAPAANZ registration or eligibility

Job description

Alcohol and Other Drug Practitioner, Wairoa Community Mental Health and Addiction Services, Wairoa HospitalPermanent, Full Time, 80 Hours per fortnight (1 FTE)

Make a real difference in a rural community by supporting people on their recovery journey and helping them build healthier, more connected lives.

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 are seeking either a Registered Nurse or Alcohol & Other Drug practitioner to join our team in Wairoa. In this rewarding community based role, you will provide assessment, intervention, treatment, and recovery support to people whose lives are impacted by alcohol and other drug use. Working from a trauma informed, recovery-focused, and culturally responsive framework, you will support tangata whai ora and their whānau to achieve positive health and wellbeing outcomes. This role will partner closely with community initiatives working to reduce methamphetamine harm. This is an opportunity to work autonomously while being supported by a wider Hawkes Bay multidisciplinary team. You will deliver evidence based interventions, screening and brief interventions, undertake comprehensive assessments, provide harm reduction and health education, support withdrawal management and recovery planning, and build strong partnerships with community agencies, healthcare providers, and whānau. No two days are the same, and your work will have a direct and meaningful impact on individuals, families, and the wider Wairoa community.

About the Team/Service/ Location

Wairoa Community Mental Health and Addiction service is based in the Wairoa community and provides specialist mental health and addiction support. We are committed to delivering equitable, person centred care and work closely with primary care, community organisations, NGOs, hospitals, and mental health services to provide integrated support for tangata whai ora and whānau. Based in Wairoa, you will enjoy the benefits of working within a close knit community while being part of the wider Hawke's Bay Mental Health and Addiction Service. For more information on living and working in Hawkes Bay click HERE

About you

• Current professional registration and Annual Practising Certificate relevant to your discipline.
• Experience working within addiction, mental health, or community health services.
• Strong assessment, intervention, communication, and relationship building skills.
• Knowledge of recovery oriented practice, harm reduction approaches, and co - existing mental health conditions.
• A commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and delivering culturally responsive care.

Desirable

• Postgraduate qualifications in addiction, mental health, or a related field.
• DAPAANZ registration or eligibility.
• Experience working in rural, community, or specialist addiction services.
• Experience with evidence based interventions such as motivational interviewing, CBT, or other psychosocial approaches.

Working at 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.

All applications must be submitted through our online careers portal by 5th October 2026.