Residential Youth Worker - Military Style Academy

Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children; Palmerston North; On-site; NZD 58,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

20% shift allowance

Rotating roster

Job summary

New Zealand Government Joba is recruiting for a frontline role in Palmerston North, delivering care and supervision within a 24/7 residential Military Style Academy Programme. You will mentor rangatahi, deliver a range of educational and therapeutic activities, and work with whānau and professionals to support positive life outcomes.

The role requires resilience, compassion, and commitment to culturally responsive practice, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and a rotating shift roster.

Qualifications

• Experience building positive relationships with young people, including those with complex needs and challenging behaviours.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• The ability to remain calm, professional, and effective in challenging situations.
• Experience supporting behaviour change, personal development, or wellbeing programmes.
• A commitment to culturally responsive practice and Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
• Strong teamwork skills and a positive, solution-focused approach.
• A current full New Zealand driver's licence, including the ability to drive a manual vehicle.

Responsibilities

• Building positive, professional, and trusting relationships with rangatahi.
• Supporting rangatahi to develop life skills, resilience, confidence, and positive behaviours.
• Delivering and supporting educational, cultural, vocational, recreational, physical, and therapeutic programme activities.
• Reinforcing programme expectations through positive role modelling and therapeutic engagement.
• Monitoring wellbeing, behaviour, and participation, and maintaining accurate reports and records.
• Supporting a safe and secure environment through effective risk management and de‑escalation practices.
• Working collaboratively with whānau, mentors, education providers, clinicians, and other key stakeholders.

Job description

Palmerston North Location 12 Month Fixed Term Contract

Make a difference where it matters most.

Are you passionate about supporting rangatahi to realise their potential and create positive futures? Do you thrive in a structured, dynamic environment where every day presents new opportunities to influence change?

Mō te tūnga | About the role

Working as part of a dedicated multidisciplinary team and under the guidance of the Team Leader Practice, you will provide day-to-day care, supervision, mentoring, and support to rangatahi participating in the Military Style Academy Programme.

• Building positive, professional, and trusting relationships with rangatahi.
• Supporting rangatahi to develop life skills, resilience, confidence, and positive behaviours.
• Delivering and supporting educational, cultural, vocational, recreational, physical, and therapeutic programme activities.
• Reinforcing programme expectations through positive role modelling and therapeutic engagement.
• Monitoring wellbeing, behaviour, and participation, and maintaining accurate reports and records.
• Supporting a safe and secure environment through effective risk management and de-escalation practices.
• Working collaboratively with whānau, mentors, education providers, clinicians, and other key stakeholders.

This is a frontline role operating within a 24/7 residential environment, including shifts, weekends, public holidays, and occasional additional hours to support programme delivery.

He kōrero mōu | About you

We're looking for resilient, compassionate, and motivated individuals who are committed to helping young people achieve their potential.

You may come from a background in:

• Youth Justice Residential care
• Education
• Social services
• Health
• Sport and recreation
• Military-style training
• Community youth development
• Or another environment working with young people and supporting positive change.

You'll bring:

• Experience building positive relationships with young people, including those with complex needs and challenging behaviours.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• The ability to remain calm, professional, and effective in challenging situations.
• Experience supporting behaviour change, personal development, or wellbeing programmes.
• A commitment to culturally responsive practice and Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
• Strong teamwork skills and a positive, solution-focused approach.
• A current full New Zealand driver's licence, including the ability to drive a manual vehicle.

Why join the Military Style Academy?

This is an opportunity to be part of a unique programme that supports rangatahi to develop the confidence, skills, and resilience needed to build a better future.

You’ll be part of a team that: Supports meaningful and lasting behavioural change. Works alongside rangatahi during critical stages of their development. Champions strengths-based, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive practice. Values teamwork, integrity, leadership, and continuous learning. Makes a genuine and lasting impact on young people's lives every day.

We offer a remuneration package that starts between approximately $57,760 and $65,334 (depending on your experience). On top of this, we also apply a 20% allowance to your base remuneration for working shifts/a roster pattern. The 20% allowance is applied once you have completed your initial induction and are placed onto a rotating roster that covers days, evenings and weekends. Base remuneration plus the 20% allowance works out to be between $69,332 and $78,400 (depending on your experience). Applications close at midnight on Friday 29th of October 2026.

If you are interested, please ensure that you make yourself familiar with our code of conduct as it sets out our expectations for our kaimahi and requires you to present at work free from the influences of both drugs and alcohol.