Special Education Advisor

Ministry of Education; Ōtara-Papatoetoe; On-site; NZD 75,000 - 106,000; Full time

Job summary

Ministry of Education in New Zealand is seeking Specialist Education Advisors to join a community-focused team that maximises learning and promotes social inclusion for children and young people with learning support needs. The role requires a teaching qualification with a minimum of three years' teaching experience, a Postgraduate Diploma in Special Education, and a drive to support learners across diverse educational settings.

The position is full-time and permanent, with travel region-wide.

Qualifications

• A teaching qualification with a minimum of three years' teaching experience.
• Postgraduate Diploma in Special Education.
• Experience supporting children with learning needs and challenging behaviours.
• Ability to collaborate with educators, parents, whānau and agencies.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Experience in Māori-medium settings or Māori-informed practice.
• Understanding Te Tiriti o Waitangi and tikanga.
• Commitment to evidence-based inclusive education.
• Full current driver’s licence and willingness to travel.
• Commitment to Public Service Standards of Integrity and Conduct.

Responsibilities

• Identify patterns influencing learning, wellbeing and behaviour.
• Collaborate with the child and team to enhance understanding and planning.
• Support changes to learning environments to stabilise and manage behaviours.
• Assist the child to develop pro-social behaviours and participation.
• Facilitate access to services (e.g., speech therapy) and local agencies.
• Collaboratively assess, plan, develop, support and monitor learning plans.
• Enhance inclusive practices across early learning services, schools and settings.

Skills

Teaching qualification

Excellent communication

Collaborative mindset

Interpersonal skills

Education

Teaching qualification

Postgraduate Diploma in Special Education

Job description

Help shape the future of education in New Zealand

Help shape the future of education in New ZealandHelp shape the future of EducationWe work to shapeaneducationsystem that deliversequitableandexcellent outcomesOur organisation is made up of talented and committed people around Aotearoa, from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures. While we work in different groups and on different things, we all strive every day to make the biggest difference we can for our students in our education system.

About this role | Mō tēnei tūranga Specialist Education Advisors Full-time Permanent positions for South/Southwest

We are looking for Specialist Education Advisors to be part of a community-focused team that maximises learning and promotes social inclusion for children and young people with learning support needs.

• Identifying patterns or contributing factors that may be influencing learning, wellbeing and behaviour.
• Working collaboratively with a team around the child, including educators, parents, caregivers and whānau, to enhance understanding about the child and their behaviours.
• Helping the adults around the child to make changes to the learning environment so that their behaviour can be more effectively managed, and the situation can be stabilised/made safer.
• This includes supporting the child to develop more pro-social ways of responding, and improving their participation, wellbeing and learning outcomes.
• Facilitating access to wider services and support, in response to individual needs, for example speech and language therapy and local agencies.
• Collaboratively assessing, planning, developing, supporting and monitoring the implementation of effective individual (or group) learning plans.
• Enhancing inclusive practices in early learning services, schools and other educational settings.

Salary range: $75,116 - $106.016 per annum plus KiwiSaver. The successful candidate will be appointed at a salary which reflects individual skills and experience. For more details about the role, you can view the Job Description here.

About you | Mōhou ake

To be successful in this role, you will need to have the following capabilities and competencies: a teaching qualification with a minimum of three years' teaching experience a Postgraduate Diploma in Special Education extensive knowledge, experience and skills in supporting children and young people with severe and challenging behaviours and learning needs in a classroom or other relevant settings experience in and willingness to work collaboratively and support other education professionals and agencies to meet the needs of children and young people with additional needs excellent communication and interpersonal skills and an ability to work effectively with children, young people and their families/whānau and teachers across a diverse range of settings experience working in Māori-medium settings or the ability to work across Māori informed practice models would be advantageous the ability to understand and apply the principles of Te Tirirti o Waitangi and tangata whenatuan, including promoting tikanga and te reo Māori a genuine commitment to evidence-based interventions which demonstrate inclusive education practice and contribute to raising student achievement a full current driver licence as travel across the region is a requirement of this role The ability and willingness to adhere to the Public Service Standards of Integrity and Conduct

• a teaching qualification with a minimum of three years' teaching experience
• a Postgraduate Diploma in Special Education
• extensive knowledge, experience and skills in supporting children and young people with severe and challenging behaviours and learning needs in a classroom or other relevant settings
• experience in and willingness to work collaboratively and support other education professionals and agencies to meet the needs of children and young people with additional needs
• excellent communication and interpersonal skills and an ability to work effectively with children, young people and their families/whānau and teachers across a diverse range of settings
• experience working in Māori-medium settings or the ability to work across Māori informed practice models would be advantageous
• the ability to understand and apply the principles of Te Tirirti o Waitangi and tangata whenatuan, including promoting tikanga and te reo Māori
• a genuine commitment to evidence-based interventions which demonstrate inclusive education practice and contribute to raising student achievement
• a full current driver licence as travel across the region is a requirement of this role
• The ability and willingness to adhere to the Public Service Standards of Integrity and Conduct

About our group and team | Mātau rōpū ake

Learning Support is a critical part of Education Services in the Ministry. We are charged with leading the education sector in ensuring that children and young people with additional learning needs are supported to achieve their full potential through education.

Our Learning Support specialists work closely with families, whānau, caregivers, schools and early childhood educators in English and Māori medium settings and other agencies to help maximise learning outcomes and promote social inclusion.

Are you ready to make a difference? | Kua rite koe mō tēnei mahi?

For further information, please contact Recruitment Waka at [e-mail]

Applications close Midnight - 9 December 2026

We want our people to feel valued for their unique qualities and have a sense of belonging. If you require assistance or adjustments to fully participate in the recruitment process, please let us know.