Intern Psychologist - Waikato

JobSpace; Hamilton; On-site; NZD 72,000 - 88,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vibrant team culture

Professional development and Super-\n'

Criminal-justice psychology training

Mentoring

Diverse regional placements

Competitive salary with structured Adv

Job summary

Ara Poutama Aotearoa (Department of Corrections) invites applications for a twelve-month fixed-term Clinical Psychology Internship commencing January 2027. Positions are available across several Waikato sites, including Hamilton and prisons, with eligibility for PGDip Psych (Clin) or equivalent.

You will provide high-quality psychological services, build relationships with services, and work in a collaborative environment with supervision and professional development opportunities.

Qualifications

• Must be a student currently studying PGDip Psych (Clin) or equivalent at NZ universities.
• Intern psychologist will provide high-quality psychological services including assessment and treatment.
• Work across multiple sites within Ara Poutama Aotearoa (Department of Corrections).
• Committed to best practice and ongoing professional development.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality psychological services including clinical assessment, treatment, and referral to appropriate agencies where necessary.
• Develop working relationships with other services, agencies and groups.
• Reliable and committed to best practice approaches.
• Demonstrate strong problem solving and communication skills (verbal and written).
• Work in a collaborative professional environment.
• Committed to beginning or progressing your career in a development focused service.

Skills

Clinical assessment

Treatment

Communication skills

Collaboration

Problem solving

Referral to agencies

Professional development

Education

PGDip Psych (Clin) or equivalent

Job description

Jora New Zealand will close on 9th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey.

Twelve-month fixed-term Clinical Psychology Internship position (commencing January 2027). Positions would be based at multiple sites, including the Hamilton South Psychology office (Hamilton Hub), Karaka STU (Waikeria Prison), Puna Tatari STU (Spring Hill Prison), Waiariki Psychology Office (Tauranga), and Tai Aroha Residential Community STU (Hamilton). Open to students currently studying PGDip Psych (Clin) or equivalent at New Zealand Universities.

There are opportunities for Intern Psychologists to work at Ara Poutama Aotearoa (Department of Corrections) in the Waikato area. Reporting to the Manager Psychological Services, you will assist Psychology teams to achieve positive outcomes. Embracing the scientist-practitioner framework, the teams provide specialist clinical services focused on assisting individuals who have offended (some with complex mental health needs as well) to develop the awareness and skills to reduce re-offending. Our teams undertake clinical assessment and treatment (individual and group treatment), provide supervision, advice, and training within Ara Poutama Aotearoa and allied agencies, provide specialist risk assessment to the NZ Parole Board and the Courts, and participate in a range of service initiatives including research projects. Our work across Ara Poutama Aotearoa sites gives these roles ongoing clinical and professional variety, and a range of development opportunities.

As an Intern Psychologist you will be:

• Responsible for providing high-quality psychological services including clinical assessment, treatment, and referral to appropriate agencies where necessary
• Developing working relationships with other services, agencies and groups
• Reliable and committed to best practice approaches
• Able to demonstrate strong problem solving and communication skills (verbal and written)
• Working in a collaborative professional environment
• Committed to beginning or progressing your career in a development focused service

In return we can offer you:

• A vibrant supportive team culture (comprised of other Psychologists)
• Career-long professional development and supervision
• An environment in which psychology informs organizational practices
• A competitive salary and structured advancement opportunities
• World class highly specialized criminal justice psychology training, mentoring and supervision
• A chance to work in a culturally diverse region

The position is salaried for $79,751 per annum.

Join Ara Poutama Aotearoa - Department of Corrections, where your work will contribute to improving public safety, reducing re-offending, and address the overrepresentation of Māori in correctional facilities. As a values-led organization, we use the principles of rangatira (leadership), manaaki (respect), wairua (spirituality), kaitiaki (guardianship), and whānau (relationships) to guide our work and achieve the goals of our Hōkai Rangi strategy.

We value inclusion and diversity in our workforce, and as a Public Service organization we are committed to building a workforce that reflects the public we serve. We strive to make our recruitment process fair, and we encourage you to discuss reasonable accommodations with us if required.