Neurodevelopmental Physiotherapist

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora; Timaru; On-site; NZD 30,000 - 45,000; Part time

Job summary

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora – South Canterbury, Timaru Hospital, is seeking a skilled Physiotherapist for a fixed-term 0.5 FTE position from November 2026 to November 2027, to support the Child Development Service. The role focuses on assessments, intervention planning, and evidence-based therapy for children with neurodevelopmental needs, working closely with whānau and a multidisciplinary team.

The successful candidate will provide person-centred care, build strong relationships with

Qualifications

• Registration with the Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand and current APC.
• Experience in paediatric, neurodevelopmental, or related settings.
• Strong assessment, planning, and clinical reasoning.
• Effective communication with children and whānau; evidence-based practice.

Responsibilities

• Conduct assessments and contribute to intervention planning.
• Develop and deliver evidence-based therapy plans.
• Support participation, movement and development in daily activities.
• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team and families.

Skills

Paediatric physio

Clinical assessment

Intervention planning

Family-centred care

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Job description

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora – South Canterbury

Timaru Hospital

Fixed Term 0.5 FTE (40 hours per fortnight)

November 2026 – November 2027

Child Development Service

Help Children Reach Their Potential Through Early Intervention and Family-Centred Care

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 have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Physiotherapist to join our Child Development Service on a fixed-term 0.5 FTE basis from November 2026 to November 2027, covering parental leave.

This rewarding role sits within our multidisciplinary Child Development team and focuses on supporting children and young people with neurodevelopmental needs to achieve their goals and reach their full potential.

Working alongside children, whānau, and a multidisciplinary team of health professionals, you will undertake assessments, develop intervention plans, and provide evidence-based therapy to support participation, movement, independence, and overall development. Building strong relationships and empowering families is a key part of this role, helping children achieve meaningful outcomes in their everyday environments.

This is an opportunity to make a genuine difference in the lives of tamariki and their whānau while working within a supportive and collaborative team environment.

About the Team / Service / Location

The Child Development Service provides community-based multidisciplinary assessment and intervention services for children and young people across South Canterbury. Our team works closely with families, schools, early childhood services, and community providers to support positive developmental outcomes and improve quality of life.

You’ll be joining a dedicated team that values collaboration, innovation, and family-centred care. We are passionate about helping children thrive and supporting whānau to achieve their goals.

Based in Timaru, South Canterbury offers an exceptional lifestyle with affordable housing, excellent schools, short commute times, and easy access to beaches, lakes, mountains, hiking, cycling, and skiing. It’s the perfect place to enjoy a rewarding career while maintaining genuine work-life balance.

About You

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• Registration with the Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand and a current Annual Practising Certificate
• Experience working as a Physiotherapist within a paediatric, neurodevelopmental, disability, or related setting
• Strong assessment, treatment planning, and clinical reasoning skills
• The ability to build effective relationships with children, young people, and their whānau
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• A commitment to evidence-based practice and ongoing professional development
• Strong self-management and organisational skills
• The ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team
• A current full New Zealand Driver Licence
• A commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and improving equitable health outcomes for Māori
• Experience working within Child Development Services
• Clinical experience in child disability, neurodevelopment, or child mental health
• Knowledge of family-centred and strengths-based approaches to care
• Experience working collaboratively with education and community providers
• Experience supporting children across a range of developmental stages and abilities

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 PSA Allied, Public Health and Technical Collective Agreement and salary will be paid in accordance with the applicable pay scale, dependent on experience.

Job details

Job Reference:

Job Reference: 1240

Location:

South Island - Canterbury - Timaru and South Canterbury