Youth Worker - Otara (Fixed term until 10 February 2027)

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

Job summary

Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children at the Ōtara Youth Justice Site seeks a dedicated care-support role to help tamariki and rangatahi thrive. You will build relationships, support goal attainment, and work with Social Workers and partner agencies to create positive pathways for the future.

You will join a multidisciplinary team, contribute to care plans, and support participation in cultural and recreational programmes.

Qualifications

• Experience working with tamariki and rangatahi.
• Strong relationship-building and communication skills.
• Good judgement and confidence in managing risk and making decisions.
• Empathy, patience, and the ability to see potential in every young person.
• Understanding of tikanga Māori and te ao Māori.
• Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and public holidays.
• A full, clean New Zealand driver's licence.
• The ability to meet Children's Act safety checking and right-to-work requirements.

Responsibilities

• Support rangatahi to develop practical life skills such as budgeting, shopping, and independence.
• Build positive relationships with young people and their whānau.
• Assist rangatahi to attend appointments, programmes, and important meetings.
• Work alongside Social Workers to deliver care plans and achieve better outcomes.
• Support participation in recreational, cultural, and activity-based programmes.
• Coordinate appointments and provide administrative support to the team.
• Partner with professionals across education, health, police, and community organisations.

Skills

Rangatahi support

Relationship skills

Risk management

Empathy & patience

Tikanga Māori

Flexible shifts

NZ driver license

Right-to-work checks

Education

Relevant qualification advantageous

Job description

Make a Difference in the Lives of Rangatahi

Do you have the passion, energy, and life experience to inspire young people to thrive?

Are you motivated by helping tamariki and rangatahi build confidence, independence, and the skills they need to succeed in life? Do you want to share your culture, interests, talents, and strengths to empower young people and make a genuine difference in your community?

If this sounds like you, we'd love to hear from you.

• Based at our Ōtara Youth Justice Site
• Full-time, Fixed-term until February 2026
• Competitive salary ranging from $57,760 to $65,334, depending on experience.

Mō te tūnga | About the Role

At our Ōtara Youth Justice site, we're taking a fresh and collaborative approach to supporting tamariki, rangatahi, and their whānau. As a valued member of a multidisciplinary team, you'll play an important role in helping bring positive outcomes to life.

No two days are the same. You'll build meaningful relationships with rangatahi, support them to achieve their goals, help strengthen connections with whānau, and work alongside Social Workers and partner agencies to create positive pathways for the future.

In this role, you could be:

• Supporting rangatahi to develop practical life skills such as budgeting, shopping, and independence.
• Building positive relationships with young people and their whānau.
• Assisting rangatahi to attend appointments, programmes, and important meetings.
• Working alongside Social Workers to deliver care plans and achieve better outcomes.
• Supporting participation in recreational, cultural, and activity-based programmes.
• Coordinating appointments and providing administrative support to the team.
• Partnering with professionals across education, health, police, and community organisations.

Above all, you'll use your unique skills, experiences, and strengths to help rangatahi realise their potential and create lasting positive change.

Ngā pūmanawatanga ōu | What You'll Bring

We're looking for people who genuinely care about supporting young people and who can build trust, show resilience, and remain positive in challenging situations.

You will bring:

• Experience working with tamariki and rangatahi
• Strong relationship-building and communication skills
• Good judgement and confidence in managing risk and making decisions
• Empathy, patience, and the ability to see potential in every young person
• Understanding of tikanga Māori and an appreciation of te ao Māori
• Flexibility to work a range of shifts, including evenings, weekends, and public holidays
• A full, clean New Zealand driver's licence
• The ability to meet Children's Act safety checking and right-to-work requirements

A qualification in psychology, social sciences, social work, teaching, sport, music, arts, or a related field is advantageous. However, we recognise that valuable life experience, cultural knowledge, and real-world skills can be just as important.

Nōu te rourou | What's in it for you:

Oranga Tamariki offer a remuneration package that starts between approximately $57,760 to $65,334 (depending on your experience) which includes allowances for working shifts. Oranga Tamariki has a remuneration framework gives pay increases based on tenure.

We offer a vibrant and supportive team, flexible work options and a genuine commitment to wellbeing.

We offer significant training and professional development so that you can thrive and grow. We welcome diversity and are committed to working in an inclusive and respectful way.

To see all the benefits of working for Oranga Tamariki, please visit

Applications close: Tuesday 29th September 2026 and we will begin shortlisting candidates as we receive applications. Please note we do reserve the right to close the advert once all roles are filled.

If you are interested in any of our vacancies, 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.