Programme Facilitator - Wellington

Department of Corrections; Wellington; On-site; NZD 64,000 - 78,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fitness Passport

Eye exam & eyewear reimbursement

Access to EAP & Staff Support Networks

Subsidised medical insurance

Job summary

Department of Corrections, Wellington, is seeking Programme Facilitators to work with people in our care across Wellington Prisons (Arohata and Rimutaka) and six Community Corrections sites. You will deliver clinically designed therapeutic programmes, individually or with a co-facilitator, guided by manaaki, kaitiaki, wairua, rangatira, and whanau principles.

Ideal candidates demonstrate excellent listening and communication, resilience, and cultural awareness of Kaupapa Māori.

Qualifications

• Ability to actively listen and build relationships with participants and stakeholders.
• Strong communication skills and adaptability to changing situations.
• Understanding of Kaupapa Māori practices and ability to apply them in work.
• Experience in facilitating therapeutic interventions, group or individual.
• Having a current Full NZ Driver's Licence is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Deliver clinically designed therapeutic programmes individually or in groups.
• Support people in care to understand and address root causes of offending.
• Collaborate with colleagues to ensure respectful, mana-enhancing practice.
• Maintain wellbeing and resilience while managing caseloads and timelines.
• Attend Assessment Centre and participate in ongoing professional development.

Skills

Active listening

Excellent communication

Māori culture knowledge

Therapeutic intervention delivery

Driver's license

Education

Tertiary qualification in psychology/social work/counselling

Job description

Department of Corrections - Wellington, North Island

We are in the business of facilitating positive change, if that sounds like something you are interested in, please read on to learn about the requirements of this exciting role.

"Ehara taku toa I te toa takitahiengari he toa takitini" - Māori proverb My strength is not the strength of my own, but the strength of many

Mō te tūtā |About the role

Our Programme Facilitators work with the people in our care within our two Wellington Prisons Arohata and Rimutaka, as well as our six Community Corrections sites to support them to understand and address the causes of their offending and assist them in creating crime-free futures. Programme Facilitatorsdo this through delivering a range of clinically designed therapeutic programmes, either individually or in a group with a co-facilitator.

Using the principles of manaaki, kaitiaki, wairua, rangatira, and whanau, Programme Facilitators deliver a range of clinically designed therapeutic rehabilitation programmes. At Ara Poutama we work collaboratively to treat those in our care and management with respect to uphold mana and dignity.

We appreciate the different skill set within our team who come from different backgrounds, cultures, education, and experience - they all share the ability to motivate and work alongside others to support them to make positive changes in their lives.

Please note, this specific role willnotbe based in the Special Treatment Units although it is mentioned in the job description.

We will be holding an Assessment Centre for this role onTuesday 6th October 2026 at the Regional Administration Building, Freyburg Road extension, Trentham Upper Hutt- shortlisted candidates will be asked to attend in person.

We're looking for people who can actively listen and understand the people in our care and are keen to help them gain insight into their harmful behaviours. To undertake this role, you will need to be comfortable walking alongside people on their journey while consistently reflecting on your own practice.

Life experience is important to us, along with an alignment to our values, you will also be able to demonstrate the following:

Excellent communication skills with a natural ability to engage and build relationships

Resilience and flexibility - no two days will be the same

Self-insight, the ability to maintain your wellbeing and a healthy work/life balance

Understanding of de-escalation and conflict resolution

Ability to juggle a variety of things at one time, keeping to timeframes and adapting to different situations

Have a current driver's license

To support you in the role, it would be helpful, though NOT essential, for you to have an understanding of individual and group behaviour, and/or relevant tertiary education in psychology, social work, counselling or other relevant tertiary qualification along with demonstrated experience within this or a similar related area.

You will need a Full New Zealand Driver's License and a legal right to work in New Zealand, without restriction, for a minimum of 12 months.

So, what does a good Programme Facilitator look like? These are some of the qualities that will make you stand out:

An effective listener and communicator with the ability to build strong positive relationships with participants and other stakeholders

Knowledge of, or are willing to learn about Māori culture, protocols and peoples and apply Kaupapa Māori practice in your work

Ideally have experience in delivering and facilitating therapeutic interventions, either individual or, ideally, group therapy (not essential)

Comfortable having your practice reviewed and receptive to receiving regular constructive feedback with the confidence/maturity to grow and develop from this

Salary starts at $70,825 with opportunities to progress. Appointment and remuneration will reflect skills and experience relevant to the role.

• Fitness Passport offering discounted gym membership
• Eye exam & eyewear reimbursement for eligible staff (conditions apply)
• Access to EAP & Staff Support Networks
• Subsidised medical insurance

Join Ara Poutama Aotearoa - Department of Corrections, where your work will contribute to improving public safety, reducing re-offending, and address the overrepresentation of Māori in correctional facilities. As a values-led organisation, we use the principles of rangatira (leadership), manaaki (respect), wairua (spirituality), kaitiaki (guardianship), and whānau (relationships) to guide our work and achieve the goals of our Hōkai Rangi strategy.

We value inclusion and diversity in our workforce, and as a Public Service organisation we are committed to building a workforce that reflects the public we serve. We strive to make our recruitment process fair, and we encourage you to discuss reasonable accommodations with us if required.