Mental Health & Addictions Advisor

Whakarongorau Aotearoa // New Zealand Telehealth Services; Auckland; On-site; NZD 38,000 - 46,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible/hybrid working

Professional development opportunities

Healthcare and wellbeing benefits

Job summary

Whakarongorau Aotearoa is seeking a Mental Health and Addictions Advisor to join a collaborative 24/7 telehealth service addressing alcohol and drugs, depression, gambling, and counselling.

You will provide brief emotional support, risk assessment, and care planning, while working with tāngatawhaiora in a trauma-informed, culturally safe manner. Shifts include overnights and weekends, with 0.6–1 FTE availability.

Qualifications

• Minimum Level 4 Health and Wellbeing qualification (Mental Health and Addiction strand or equivalent).
• Experience working with people experiencing mental distress and addiction challenges.
• Experience providing assessment, brief emotional support, and risk identification.
• Experience supporting people to access urgent services when required.
• Understanding of traumainformed, wellbeing-oriented, and values-based practice.
• Ideally three to six months experience in telehealth or similar roles.

Responsibilities

• Provide mental health and addictions support including assessment, interventions, support planning, referrals, risk identification and escalation for support, while respecting backgrounds and cultural needs.
• Work alongside tāngatawhaiora to identify strengths, protective factors, and practical next steps.
• Support individuals to access urgent services when needed.
• Deliver culturally responsive, traumainformed support aligned with Te Tiriti Waitangi.
• Communicate effectively with tāngatawhaiora via phone, SMS, email, and online chat platforms.
• Accurately document information using organisational IT systems.
• Contribute to continuous quality improvement and uphold ethical and professional standards.

Skills

Empathy

Cultural humility

Trauma-informed practice

Strong communication

Education

Level 4 Health and Wellbeing qualification (Mental Health and Addiction)

Job description

• Compensation: NZD 27.65 - NZD 33.25 - hourly

Company Description

Our kaimahi (employees) are passionate people, committed to improving health and social outcomes for communities across Aotearoa, especially for those experiencing inequity. We are focused on building a workforce that reflects the communities we serve and brings a deep understanding of local needs, cultures and experiences. At Whakarongorau Aotearoa (Whakarongorau), our commitment to mana taurite begins with understanding ourselves - how we think, behave and show up each day as health professionals serving the people of Aotearoa.

Whakarongorau is a social enterprise and virtual health and social services organisation, connecting people with care when they need it. We provide consistent, clinically supported access to health and social support, particularly when in-person services are not available or when location, time of day, cost or cultural needs create barriers. Our role is to make care easier to access, more connected and responsive for people across Aotearoa.

Job Description

The Mental Health and Addictions Advisor role is both dynamic and diverse and will see youworking as a part of a collaborative 24/7 shift team, supporting a range of essential services as part of the National Telehealth Service. These servicesinclude alcohol and drugs, depression and mental health, gambling and counselling.

In this role, youwill providebrief emotional support,identifyrisk, develop support plans, andsupport tāngatawhaiora (service users) in the moment. You Will have experience supporting people experiencing mental distress and addiction challenges, and experience supporting individuals to access urgent services whenrequired.Your practice will be traumainformed, recoveryoriented, culturally safe, and grounded invalues-basedpractice.

As a 24/7 service, flexibility to work a variety of shifts is essential. We are looking for kaimahi who are available to work 0.6–1 FTE, with most shifts being overnights and early mornings, including weekends (shifts available between 10:30pm– 11:00am).This position is aiming to commence on Monday 9 November 2026 for a two week induction.

• Provide mental health and addictions support including assessment, interventions,support planning, referrals,risk identification and appropriate escalation for support, while respecting backgrounds and cultural needs
• Work alongside tāngatawhaiora toidentifystrengths, protective factors, and practical next steps
• Support individuals to access urgent services when needed
• Deliver culturally responsive, traumainformed support aligned with TeTiritio Waitangi
• Communicate effectively withtāngatawhaioravia phone, SMS, email, and online chat platforms
• Accuratelydocument informationusing organisational IT systems
• Contribute to continuous quality improvement and uphold ethical and professional standards

Ngāhuamōu| What's in it for you

• A supportive and collaborative working environment
• Ongoing professional development and reflective practice opportunities
• The opportunity to contribute toequitablewellbeing outcomes across Aotearoa
• Meaningful mahi within avaluesled organisation
• Opportunity for flexible/hybrid working
• Access tokaimahibenefits and retail discounts

Qualifications

You are compassionate, curious, and empathetic, with a strong sense of cultural humility. You know how to balance warmth and genuine care with accountability and professional boundaries.Calm, organised, and responsive, you thrive in a fast-paced environment and can hold space fortāngata whai ora to achieve positive outcomes collaborativley. You are confident using digital systems, committed to continuous learning, and consistently demonstrate values-led practice in your work.

You will bring a strong professional judgement, and an understanding of how trauma and inequities impact wellbeing. You have provenexperience working alongside people experiencing mental distress and addiction challenges, while upholding Te Tiriti commitments and our organisational values.

Ōuwheakoōumātaurangahoki| Qualifications and Experience

• Minimum Level 4 Health and Wellbeing qualification (Mental Health and Addiction strand or equivalent)
• Demonstrated experience working with people experiencing mental distress and addiction challenges
• Experience providing assessment, brief emotional support, and risk identification
• Experience supporting people to access urgent services whenrequired
• Understanding of traumainformed,wellbeingoriented,andvalues-basedpractice
• Ideally three to six months experience working in telehealth or similar role (e.g. Helplines/eTherapy/F2F Counselling or Volunteering)
• Strong listening and communication skills with the ability to build rapport quickly in virtual environments
• Sound assessment capability and decisionmaking
• Confidence using digital systems and communication platforms
• Ability to work within established protocols, documentation standards, and clinical governance frameworks
• Cultural responsiveness and commitment to equity
• Professional resilience, accountability, and reflective practice

Additional Information

E kimi ana mātou i ētahi tangata e kaha whakanui i ēnei uara - We are looking for people who align naturally with these values and will champion them

• Mahia te mea tika / Do the right thing
• Hihiri e te kounga / Motivated by quality
• Pokohiwi ki Pokohiwi / Shoulder to shoulder