Allied Health Assistant - Occupational Therapy

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 a motivated Allied Health Assistant to join our Occupational Therapy Team at Whanganui Hospital.

Allied Health Assistants are an integral part of the healthcare team.

These roles are aimed to support our Occupational Therapists, when working alongside patients and whanau / family during their journey at Whanganui DHB.

The ideal candidate ideally has experience and knowledge in the use of personal functional equipment e.g. bathing and toileting equipment, manual handling and patient care.

They will need to have excellent communication skills, being able to work within an MDT to assist effective client / patient care planning and effective discharge and promoting an empowerment model of care and maintain great working relationships with key members of the team.

This role will be predominantly based on the Acute Stroke and Rehab ward.

You will be under the daily direction of the ward Occupational Therapist and report to the Clinical Manager of Occupational Therapy.

You will also work closely alongside Physiotherapists and their Allied Health Assistants.

Hours of work are 32 hours per week and will be Monday, Wednesday and Friday – 0800-1430 Tuesday and Thursday – 0630-1400

The role will involve some interviewing and information gathering from clients, issuing basic equipment, liaison with ACC as required, rehabilitation, handling and mobilisation of patients as directed, administrative work and assisting the Occupational Therapist as required.

This allows you to work with a wide range of people across their health journey with varying determinants of health and wellbeing.

You will be supported by an integrated multi-disciplinary team.

The salary range for this role is : $72,064 – $86,719 pro rata.

Check out / to see what your new home could look like.

About you

Our ideal candidate will have :

• Excellent communication skills – both written and oral.
• Have 2-3 years experience working within a hospital or a rehabilitation setting.
• Demonstrate initiative and reliability
• Have computer skills and be able to competently use basic computer systems required by the hospital.
• Enjoy working alongside other MDT members with a transdisciplinary team approach.
• Able to build strong relationships with the clients and whanau and community networks.
• Be flexible and willing to learn.
• Motivated to maintain high level of knowledge and skill
• Cultural sensitivity
• Have experience or demonstrate potential for working in a hospital / healthcare setting
• Hold the legal right to work in New Zealand
• Physically fit and able to lift (as per patient handling guidelines)
• Motivated to maintain high level of knowledge and skill
• Hold a Full New Zealand Driver's License

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 Maori, Pacific, disabled, and rainbow communities.

How to Apply

• To apply please click "apply now." All applications must be submitted through our online careers' portal by 27 October 2025.

If you have any questions about the role, please contact Recruitment Coordinator by emailing

• or phoning +6463488911.

We will review applications as received and may proceed with the recruitment process, before the closing date of this advert.