Youth Practitioner

Odyssey House NZ; Auckland; On-site; NZD 70,000 - 81,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual location allowance

Allocated pool car

22 days annual leave

5 days study leave

Ongoing professional development

Job summary

Odyssey House NZ is seeking a Youth Practitioner to join the Whakatakapokai Youth Justice Programme. You will deliver alcohol and other drug education and therapy, support rangatahi to identify goals, and work in partnership with the Odyssey team to provide aftercare and family engagement.

This role is ideal for those at the start of their career with a passion for youth development, addictions work, and cultural safety, with opportunities for professional development and supervision.

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualification (level 7) in Alcohol and Drug, Social Work, Youth Work or related field.
• Experience in social services, youth justice, addictions or mental health care including group facilitation.
• Registration with HPCA Act (or willingness to work towards registration).
• Excellent communication and motivational enhancement skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Experience with behaviour change.
• Knowledge of Māori and Pacific cultural practices and Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Responsibilities

• Deliver the alcohol and other drug programme through one-on-one and group mahi, using therapeutic approaches.
• Provide ongoing aftercare support for rangatahi and whānau.
• Collaborate with Odyssey team and health/community professionals.

Skills

Communication

Motivational skills

Group facilitation

Independence & teamwork

Behaviour change

Knowledge of Māori & Pacific customs

Education

Tertiary qualification (level 7) in Alcohol and Drug / Social Work / Youth Work

Job description

Jora New Zealand will close on 16th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey.

An exciting opportunity has become available for a full-time permanent Youth Practitioner to join Odyssey's Youth Justice Programme, Whakatakapokai.

Odyssey has the privilege of working collaboratively with Youth Justice to deliver an alcohol and other drug programme that focuses on education and therapeutic interventions for young people/ rangatahi.

The programme aims to create hopeful and safe spaces for young rangatahi to identify opportunities to reflect. As a Youth Practitioner, you will be a motivator for positive change and will support the rangatahi placed within the Whakatakapokai Youth Justice facility, to identify and achieve their own goals.

You will help deliver our alcohol and other drug programme through both one-on-one and group mahi, incorporating therapeutic practices alongside kaupapa Māori approaches where appropriate. You will also provide ongoing aftercare support for rangatahi and their whānau, working in partnership with the wider Odyssey team and relevant health and community professionals.

This role is ideal for someone who is at the start of their career and has a passion for working with young people and an interest in youth development and addictions issue. You will also have:

• A relevant tertiary (level 7) qualification e.g. in Alcohol and Drug, Social Work, Youth Work or other social service field
• Experience of working within a social service, youth justice, addictions and/or mental health care setting including group facilitation
• DAPAANZ, social work or other registration with a professional body under the HPCA Act (or be willing to work towards registration)
• Excellent communication and motivational enhancement skills
• The ability to work independently as well as part of a team
• Experience working with behaviour change
• Knowledge of the cultural practices and customs of Māori and Pacific peoples and a commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi

In return, we offer:

• A salary between $70,083 and $81,369 depending on registration and experience.
• A $2000 annual location allowance on top of salary
• Allocated pool car to use for transport to and from work
• 22 days annual leave and 5 days paid study leave
• Access to on-going professional development opportunities and support through regular clinical supervision sessions
• A lively team of youth practitioners with great passion for engaging with young people on their level and supporting them to uncover their potential

More about us:

Odyssey has supported thousands of New Zealanders whose lives are affected by alcohol, drug or other addiction challenges. We wholeheartedly believe that everyone living in New Zealand should have the opportunity to live life to the fullest, to feel hopeful about their future and to have meaningful relationships with friends and whānau.

Odyssey is an equal opportunity employer and a smoke free organisation. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We particularly encourage applications from Māori and pacific peoples.

For a copy of the Job Description visit 2026-sep---pd-youth-practitioner---whakatakapokai.pdf