Physiotherapist | Spinal Injuries Unit

Canterbury District Health Board; Christchurch; On-site; NZD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Canterbury District Health Board in Christchurch is seeking a NZ registered Physiotherapist to join the Spinal Injuries Unit at Burwood Hospital. The role is a fixed-term parental cover, full-time (40 hours per week), providing care in a dynamic multidisciplinary team.

The successful candidate will assess and treat patients, develop interventions with the team, and communicate effectively with colleagues while contributing to quality care and ongoing learning.

Qualifications

• NZ registration with the Physiotherapy Board is essential.
• A current APC is required.
• Fixed term parental cover until 4 February 2026.
• Full time role (40 hours per week).

Responsibilities

• Carry out patient assessment, evaluation and treatments according to policies and standards of practice.
• Formulate treatment interventions in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team.
• Communicate effectively with the physiotherapy team and delegate to therapy assistants.

Skills

Spinal injuries expertise

Respiratory management

Team player

On call experience

Māori health knowledge / te reo Māori

Education

NZ Registered Physiotherapist

Job description

• Full Time opportunity (40hr per week) as a Physiotherapist in theSpinal injuries Unit at Burwood Hospital
• Fixed term parental cover until Feb 2028
• Registration with the NZ Physiotherapy Board is essential along with a current APC

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is the country’s largest employer, delivering universal public healthcare to 5 million New Zealanders. We provide essential hospital, specialist, and community health services across 80+ locations from large urban centres to rural towns and remote communities.

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora isfirmly grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is committed tobuilding a health system that serves all New Zealanders.

About the role

Our Older Persons Health and Rehabilitation team at Burwood Hospital islooking for a motivated, experienced NZ registered Physiotherapist to join ourteam of enthusiastic, energetic and dedicated multidisciplinary professionals!

This is a fixed term, full time role providing parental cover until 4th February 2026. This role offers a varied caseload andthe opportunity to grow your skills working alongside a team of healthcareprofessionals who are committed to the provision of quality care. This positionwill see you working 40 hours per week in our Spinal Injury Unit Physiotherapyteam.

In this role, you will be responsible for:

• Carrying out effective patient assessment, evaluation andtreatments in accordance with policies, procedures and standards ofpractice;
• Formulating treatment interventions to meet individual needs incollaboration with the wider multi-disciplinary team;
• Effective communication with other members of the physiotherapyteam and appropriate delegation to our therapy assistants.

About You

Your skills willinclude:

• The ability to develop a close working relationship withphysiotherapy assistants and the wider physiotherapy team;
• Experience in Spinal Injuries essential
• Expertise in respiratory management of Spinal Cord Injury essential
• Participation in the on call and weekend roster
• Good team player/ fits in well to a team
• Knowledge of te ao Māori, tikanga,and te reo Māori or a commitment to starting your journey andtaking ownership of your learning and growth
• It is essential that you are a New Zealand RegisteredPhysiotherapist with a current practicing certificate to be considered forthis role;
• You will either be an existing ENABLE assessor or eligible forregistration.

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.

16th October 2026.

To be eligible forthis role you must hold the legal right to work and live in New Zealand, if you do not hold the legal right to live andwork in New Zealand your application will be declined.