Senior Physiotherapist - Orthopaedics

North Island - Auckland; Auckland; On-site; NZD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is seeking an experienced NZ Registered Physiotherapist to join Auckland City Hospital as Senior Physiotherapist in Orthopaedics. You will lead a clinical team of physiotherapists, coordinate day-to-day operations, and drive evidence-based practice across two orthopaedic wards.

You will develop junior staff, promote Te Tiriti o Waitangi in care, and contribute to service development in a dynamic acute surgical setting.

Qualifications

• New Zealand registration as a Physiotherapist with an Annual Practicing Certificate.
• 6+ years post-graduate experience with 2+ years in Orthopaedics/Trauma.
• Excellent clinical reasoning and evidence-informed practice.
• Flexible, proactive, can-do attitude with staff development ability.
• Understanding Te Tiriti o Waitangi and culturally safe care.

Responsibilities

• Manage a clinical caseload and provide day-to-day coordination for a ~4 physiotherapists orthopaedics team.
• Lead quality improvement and service development initiatives.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams in a bicultural environment.
• Provide preceptorship to staff and students.
• Lead weekend orientation and participate in weekend/on-call rosters.

Skills

Clinical reasoning

Evidence-based practice

Leadership

Time management

Cultural safety

Education

NZ Physiotherapist registration / APC

Job description

Jora New Zealand will close on 9th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey.

North Island - Auckland – Auckland, North Island

• Expand your acute orthopaedic and trauma knowledge and clinical skills?
• Support others in developing skills in managing complex patients, with an emphasis on evidence based practice?
• Develop your clinical and operational leadership skills?
• Participate in service evaluation and development?

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

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced NZ Registered Physiotherapist to work as a Senior Physiotherapist within Orthopaedics. This role is based at Auckland City Hospital and is a permanent, 1.0FTE (40 hours/week) position.

In this role, you will carry a clinical caseload while providing day to day coordination and leadership across both the Orthopaedic and wider Acute Surgical team. The caseload includes providing a comprehensive multidisciplinary service to patients undergoing both planned and acute care admitted across two orthopaedic wards at Auckland City Hospital.

This role requires a dynamic and autonomous practitioner who thrives in a fast paced environment. At Te Toka Tumai we promote team working and therefore you will also have the opportunity to work across other specialist surgical services such as trauma, Sarcoma, vascular, general surgery, liver transplant, renal, urology and neurosurgery.

This key role is an ideal opportunity for an experienced physiotherapist wanting to develop their leadership capabilities and advance their skills in:

• Implementing evidence-based practice and service development
• Motivating, guiding and developing junior staff and physiotherapy students
• Clinical expertise and leadership
• Support equity of health outcomes by incorporating Te Tiriti o Waitangi into practice

This role will see you performing the below duties:

• Manage a clinical caseload while supporting with day to day coordination and leadership for a team of approximately 4 physiotherapists with orthopaedics
• Play an active role in quality improvement and service development
• Work collaboratively with a range of professional groups in a multidisciplinary bicultural environment
• Provide preceptorship to static and rotational staff
• Complete monthly 1:1 meetings with junior staff across the surgical teamncile
• Lead the physiotherapy weekend orientation for orthopaedics
• Engage with key stakeholders within orthopaedic service
• Take on delegated leadership responsibilities and tasks from the Practice Supervisor
• Participate in our weekend and on-call roster

About the Team

Our team is made up of passionate and supportive Physiotherapists motivated to improve the quality of life and health outcomes of the communities we serve. In orthopaedics we have 4.5 FTE- 1 senior physiotherapist, 1 static physiotherapist and 3 rotational physiotherapists. You will also work closely with the Advanced clinician for Sarcoma services. Our wider acute surgical team consists of 15.5 FTE

For more information on living and working in Auckland click here

About you

As the ideal person for this role, you will have the following skills and attributes:

• New Zealand registration as a Physiotherapist with a current Annual Practicing Certificate
• 6+years post-graduate experience with 2+ years experience in Orthopaedics/Trauma
• Excellent clinical reasoning skills and use of evidence informed practice
• A flexible, pro-active and can-do approach
• Experience supporting staff and students
• Evidence of establishing and developing working relationships within the wider MDT
• Effective time management, prioritisation and organisation skills
• Understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and how to provide culturally safe care

Click here to view the position description

For more information about this role please contact Erin van Bysterveldt (Clinical Lead Physiotherapy) on ***************@tewhatuora.govt.nz

Advertising closes: Wednesday 15th July 2026 at 11.59 (New Zealand standard time).

If you have any queries about accessibility, or technical issues with the online process, please contact Vaidehi Sharma on **************@tewhatuora.govt.nz quoting ref #ADHB24718 to discuss how we can best support your application.

Working at Health New Zealand

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