Special Education Advisor

Ministry of Education; Whanganui; On-site; NZD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Ministry of Education in Whanganui is seeking a Special Education Adviser to join the region's Learning Support team on a fixed-term basis until 30 June 2027. The role collaborates with educators, parents, and whānau to implement personalised learning plans and to enhance inclusive practices across educational settings.

You will support pro-social behaviour, wellbeing, and learning outcomes, while coordinating access to wider services and working within bicultural frameworks in Aotearoa New

Qualifications

• Relevant Diploma qualification or higher in education or psychology.
• Experience with children and young people with learning and behavioural needs.
• Experience supporting education professionals to meet the needs of children and young people with additional learning needs.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and an ability to work effectively with children, young people and their families and teachers across diverse settings.
• Ability to understand and apply the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and tangatawhenuatanga.
• Integrate Te Ao Māori and use knowledge to strengthen cultural solutions for the learner and whānau.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with a team around the child, including educators, parents, caregivers and whānau, to enhance understanding about the child and their behaviours.
• Develop, implement, and monitor an effective personalised learning plan.
• Help adults around the child make changes to the learning environment to manage behaviour and improve safety.
• Support the child to develop pro-social behaviours and improve participation, wellbeing and learning outcomes.
• Facilitate access to wider services and supports (speech and language therapy, local agencies) as needed.
• Enhance inclusive practices in schools and other educational settings.

Job description

Help shape the future of education in New Zealand Help shape the future of Education We work to shape an education system that delivers equitable and excellent outcomes Our 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

This is a fixed term opportunity until 30 June 2027. As a Special Education Adviser, you will play a critical role in our region's Learning Support team by doing the following:

• Working collaboratively with a team around the child, including educators, parents, caregivers and whānau, to enhance understanding about the child and their behaviours.
• Collaboratively develop, implement, and monitor an effective personalised learning plan.
• 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 improve 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.
• Enhancing inclusive practices in schools and other educational settings.

About you

To be successful you will need:

• Relevant Diploma qualification, Bachelor of Education or Teaching, Post‑graduate Diploma in Early Intervention / Special Education / Educational Psychology.
• Experience working with children and young people with learning and behavioural needs in a classroom or other relevant setting.
• Experience of supporting education and other professionals to meet the needs of children and young people with additional learning needs.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and an ability to work effectively with children, young people and their families and teachers across a diverse range of settings.
• The ability to understand and apply the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and tangatawhenuatanga.
• Integrate Te Ao Māori and use subject matter knowledge and experience to strengthen cultural solutions for the learner and whānau.
• Have a level of competence in Te Reo Māori me ōna tikanga and be able to link this expertise to work alongside colleagues and specialists in a bi‑cultural way.
• Ability to work effectively in Māori settings including the auraki education system and Māori education from kohanga reo, kura kaupapa, wharekura and whare wānanga.
• The ability and willingness to adhere to the Public Service Standards of Integrity and Conduct.

About our group and team

The Education Services Group provides well‑designed, integrated education services that support the impactful and effective operation of education settings to support student achievement and participation. The services help to remove barriers to participation and learning and provide regulatory advice, support and oversight to early learning providers, schools and kura.

• Practice & Guidance: Managing practice and guidance to improve national coordination and consistency, whilst enabling regional autonomy for education service delivery.
• Integration & Delivery: Providing education support directly to education settings via integrated regional and national services. This includes intervening when necessary to ensure a high standard of operation to support student outcomes and owning key stakeholder relationships to support schooling improvement and stronger outcomes for learners.
• Monitoring & Improvement: Monitoring and advising on improvements to the effectiveness, efficiency and equity of services for achievement and progression, and attendance and participation. This includes monitoring education provider performance against regulations and intervening as required.

Are you ready to make a difference?

For further information, please contact Jullian Watt at Jillian [e-mail]

Applications close Midnight - Friday 30 October 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.