Physiotherapist Advanced Practitioner – Paediatric Respiratory Outpatients

Canterbury District Health Board; Christchurch; On-site; NZD 108,000 - 132,000; Part time

Job summary

Canterbury District Health Board is seeking a skilled Physiotherapist Advanced Practitioner to deliver a Paediatric Respiratory Outpatient Service based at Christchurch Hospital. The role is part-time (0.6 FTE) with the Wednesday–Friday preference and a salary starting at $120,356.

You will provide specialist assessment, treatment, and education for children with respiratory conditions, work within a multidisciplinary team, and develop services while empowering whānau to manage long-term

Qualifications

• 5+ years clinical experience with 3+ relevant to role.
• New Zealand Registered physiotherapist with current APC.
• Demonstrate understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its application.
• Strong communication skills with children and whānau.
• Clinical experience in respiratory or paediatric physiotherapy is highly desirable.
• Compassion, cultural responsiveness and family-centred approach.
• Good clinical reasoning and ability to work autonomously and in a team.

Responsibilities

• Provide physiotherapy assessment and intervention for tamariki with chronic and acute respiratory conditions, primarily in an outpatient setting.
• Deliver education on airway clearance techniques, breathing retraining and exercise programmes.
• Support families and caregivers to understand treatment, equipment use, and home-based management.
• Complete individualised Respiratory Physiotherapy escalation plans for home and community use.
• Work collaboratively with In-patient paeds Physio team, paediatricians, nurses, dietitians, and other MDT members.
• Provide phone telehealth and where appropriate outreach follow up care, including communicating plans with other health providers, schools and services.
• Contribute to care plans, annual reviews, and long-term respiratory management pathways.
• Develop the Paediatric Outpatient Physiotherapy Service, including referral criteria waitlist triage, KPI monitoring, trial of new or alternative respiratory devices.
• Supervise and mentor rotational physiotherapists and final year physiotherapy students.
• Participate in peer review and supervision structure.

Skills

Paediatric care

Respiratory care

Communication skills

Te Tiriti o Waitangi understanding

Education

NZ Registered physiotherapist with APC

Job description

Physiotherapist Advanced Practitioner – Paediatric Respiratory Outpatients

• Christchurch Hospital, Parttime 48 hours a fortnight (0.6 FTE) permanent role, ideally Wed - Fri
• Designated role –Salary starting at $120,356
• Join a specialist paediatric respiratoryservice supporting tamariki and whānau to manage chronic and acute respiratoryconditions in a variety of outpatient and telehealth settings.
  

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is firmly grounded in theprinciples of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is committed to building a health systemthat serves all New Zealanders.

About the Role

We are looking for askilled and compassionate Physiotherapist to implement and deliver a PaediatricRespiratory Outpatient Service, primarily based out of Christchurch Hospital.This Canterbury | Waitaha regional role provides specialist assessment,treatment, and education for children and young people with a wide range ofrespiratory conditions, including cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis, protracted bacterialbronchitis, neuromuscular and neurological conditions along with breathingpattern disorders.

Working closely withthe paediatric multidisciplinary team, you will deliver outpatient care thatsupports long‑term respiratory health, empowers whānau, and helps tamarikimaintain activity, participation, and wellbeing. Our outpatient servicescurrently operate Monday to Friday, 0800- 1630. Applicants will need to beavailable Thursdays to support a weekly multidisciplinary clinic.

This is a rewardingand relationship‑focused role with opportunities to develop advanced skills inpaediatric respiratory therapies, exercise prescription, airway clearancetechniques, and family‑centred care.

KeyResponsibilities

• Provide physiotherapy assessment andintervention for tamariki with chronic and acute respiratory conditions,primarily in an outpatient setting.
• Deliver education on airway clearancetechniques, breathing retraining and exercise programmes.
• Support families and caregivers to understandtreatment, equipment use, and home‑based management.
• Complete individualised RespiratoryPhysiotherapy escalation plans for home and community use
• Work collaboratively with In-patient paedsPhysio team, paediatricians, nurses, dietitians, and other MDT members
• Provide phone telehealth and where appropriateoutreach follow up care, including communicating plans with other healthproviders, schools and services.
• Contribute to care plans, annual reviews, andlong‑term respiratory management pathways
• Develop the Paediatric Outpatient PhysiotherapyService, including referral criteria waitlist triage, KPI monitoring, trial ofnew or alternative respiratory devices, integrate evidence based clinical careand establish appropriate processes and procedures for regular practices
• Supervise and mentor rotational physiotherapistsand final year physiotherapy students
• Participate in peer review and supervisionstructure
  

About the Service

This role is part of the Christchurch Hospital Physiotherapyteam, with over 60 roles across a large range of specialties and morespecifically sits within the Musculoskeletal & Paediatric cluster, a teamof approximately 20 physiotherapists. This cluster is a skilled andcollaborative team that prides itself on high‑quality, evidence‑based care anda culture of mutual support delivering effective physiotherapy across diverseclinical settings.

Why You’ll LoveThis Role

• Supportive and experienced paediatricphysiotherapy team
• Opportunities to further develop your specialist skills in respiratory care and paediatric physiotherapy
• Access to structured supervision, mentoring, andongoing development
• Meaningful, relationship‑focused work withtamariki and their whānau
• A friendly and collaborative workplace with astrong commitment to clinical excellence
• Live in a region offering an amazing lifestyle
  

For more information on living and working in Canterburyclick here

About you

• 5+ years clinical experience with 3+ relevant torole
• New Zealand Registered physiotherapist withcurrent APC
• Demonstrate an understanding of the significanceof and obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi, including how to apply Te Tiritiprinciples in a meaningful way in your role
• Strong communication skillsand the ability to engage confidently with children and whānau
• Clinical experience inrespiratory or paediatric physiotherapy (highly desirable)
• Compassion, culturalresponsiveness, and a family‑centred approach
• Good clinical reasoning andthe ability to work both autonomously and as part of a team

If you have strong respiratory skills and are enthusiasticabout developing paediatric expertise, we welcome your application — Supportwill be provided, including supervision, collaboration with peers working inthe Adult Respiratory Outpatient service and professional development opportunities.

Working at Health New Zealand

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is dedicated to ensuringexcellent healthcare for the people of New Zealand. We embrace a workforce thatis diverse and inclusive so that we are better positioned to understand andservice our community. We welcome applications from our diverse Māori, Pacific,disabled, and rainbow communities.

Applications sent viaemail will not be accepted. We encourage you to apply early as we will bereviewing applications as we receive them and reserve the right to close thisadvertisement early.