Occupational Therapist - Military Style Academy

Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children; Palmerston North; On-site; NZD 95,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children seeks an experienced Occupational Therapist to join the Military Style Academy (MSA) Programme in Palmerston North. You will assess functional capability, develop targeted interventions, and support rangatahi to build independence and resilience within a multidisciplinary team.

You will deliver life skills and sensory regulation strategies, collaborate with Youth Workers and educators, and contribute to rehabilitation and reintegration outcomes.

Qualifications

• Qualified OT with current registration in NZ.
• Experience with at-risk youth and complex needs.
• Experience assessing functional capability.
• Experience delivering life skills, emotional regulation or rehab-focused interventions.
• Knowledge of adolescent development and independent living skills.
• Understanding of sensory processing and regulation approaches.
• Strong facilitation and communication skills.
• Ability to work in multidisciplinary environments.
• Commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and culturally responsive practice.
• Current NZ Driver Licence.
• Experience in Youth Justice, mental health, or disability services is highly regarded.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive assessments of life skills and functional capability.
• Develop individualised intervention plans based on strengths and rehabilitation goals.
• Provide sensory assessments and sensory regulation strategies.
• Deliver life skills, self-management and community participation programs.
• Support rangatahi in communication, problem-solving and emotional regulation.
• Provide specialist advice to Youth Workers, Social Workers and educators.
• Participate in multidisciplinary case reviews and rehabilitation planning.
• Contribute to continuous improvement through evidence-informed practice.

Skills

Communication skills

Facilitation

Relationship-building

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Education

Bachelor of Occupational Therapy

Job description

Palmerston North Location 12 Month Fixed Term ContractBuild life skills. Strengthen independence. Help rangatahi create positive futures.

Oranga Tamariki is seeking a passionate and experienced Occupational Therapist to join the Military Style Academy (MSA) Programme in Palmerston North. As part of a multidisciplinary team, you'll play a vital role in supporting rangatahi to develop the practical skills, confidence, and resilience needed to succeed both within the programme and beyond.

The Military Style Academy is an intensive therapeutic intervention for serious and persistent youth offenders. The programme combines educational, vocational, cultural, therapeutic, and physical activities designed to support sustainable behavioural change and positive long-term outcomes for rangatahi. Through a strengths-based, trauma-informed, and mana-enhancing approach, the programme seeks to address the underlying drivers of offending behaviour and support young people to build positive futures for themselves, their whānau, and their communities.

As an Occupational Therapist, you'll provide specialist assessment, intervention, and rehabilitation support, helping rangatahi strengthen their independence, emotional regulation, sensory wellbeing, and readiness for successful participation in everyday life.

Mō te tōnga | About the role

Reporting to the Te Ara Hou Programme Manager, you'll work closely with rangatahi and the wider MSA team to assess functional capability, identify barriers to participation, and deliver targeted interventions that support rehabilitation and reintegration.

• Conducting comprehensive assessments of life skills, independence, and functional capability.
• Developing individualised intervention plans based on strengths, needs, and rehabilitation goals.
• Providing sensory assessments and developing practical sensory regulation strategies.
• Delivering individual and group-based life skills programmes focused on independence, self-management, and community participation.
• Supporting rangatahi to develop skills in communication, problem-solving, emotional regulation, goal setting, and daily living.
• Providing specialist advice to Youth Workers, Social Workers, educators, and other team members.
• Participating in multidisciplinary case reviews, intervention planning, and rehabilitation discussions.
• Supporting continuous improvement through evidence-informed practice and professional development.

This role may require occasional weekend and public holiday work to support programme delivery and the needs of rangatahi.

He kōrero mōō | About you

We're looking for someone who is passionate about empowering young people to achieve greater independence and positive life outcomes.

You will bring:

• A qualification in Occupational Therapy and current registration with the Occupational Therapy Board of NewZealand.
• Experience working with young people who have complex behavioural, developmental, emotional, or psychosocial needs.
• Experience assessing functional capability and developing individualised intervention plans.
• Experience delivering life skills, emotional regulation, or rehabilitation-focused interventions.
• Knowledge of adolescent development, occupational performance, and independent living skills.
• An understanding of sensory processing and sensory regulation approaches.
• Strong facilitation, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• The ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary environments.
• A commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and culturally responsive practice.
• A current full New Zealand Driver Licence.
• Experience working in Youth Justice, mental health, disability services, or with high-needs young people will be highly regarded.

Why join the Military Style Academy?

This is an opportunity to be part of a unique programme that helps rangatahi develop the practical skills, self-belief, and resilience needed to achieve lasting positive change.

• Supporting independence and personal growth.
• Delivering evidence-informed rehabilitation services.
• Strengthening emotional regulation and life skills.
• Supporting successful reintegration into whōhau and community life.
• Making a meaningful difference in the lives of rangatahi every day.

Remuneration for this position starts between $95,224 - $104,814 depending on experience.

Applications close at midnight on 23rd of October 2026.