Probation Officer - South Otago

'Kotahi anō te kaupapa, ko te oranga o te iwi' – ‘There is only one purpose to our work : the wellness and wellbeing of our people.'

Mō te tūnga | About the role

Probation Officers (Āpiha Matakana) work with people on community-based sentences, encouraging them to make positive changes in their lives, and motivating them to follow the conditions of their order or sentence.

Often working alongside whānau and social service agencies, Probation Officers will work to understand rehabilitation needs, assess and manage risk, and connect people with supports to reduce the likelihood of re-offending. Our Probation Officers also provide the courts and Parole Board with recommendations and reports to inform sentencing decisions.

All new Probation Officers are provided with role specific training to help them succeed in the role. This includes one week Ara Tika (induction week) at our National Learning Centre in Upper Hut, followed by 25 weeks Pou Hapori Iho training pathway which is completed on site.

Being a Probation Officer is an incredibly exciting opportunity. You'll have the chance to connect with people, build strong relationships, do something which really makes a difference in your community, and improve public safety. To learn more about the role, we have a short video and more information on our website which you can access via this link :

This is a full-time, permanent position, working Monday to Friday. It it based at Otago Corrections Facility in Milton.

Our ideal future Probation Officers are those who can align with our Hōkai Rangi strategy and have clear motivations for applying for the role. In addition to demonstrating your relevant skills and experience, please let us know your ‘why' in your cover letter and what's led you to apply for this role!

We are interested to hear from people who :

• Have the ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with a wide range of people.
• Are able to think critically, assess information, and make well-reasoned decisions based on data and reliable information.
• Have excellent spoken and written communication skills.
• Can remain positive and resilient in difficult situations.
• Can demonstrate effective time management and prioritisation skills and the ability to maintain a good balance between work and personal life.
• Are able to show initiative and take responsibility for learning and development.
• Can relate to people from a range of cultures and backgrounds.
• Have an understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and / or a willingness to learn.

A tertiary qualification in a related discipline is preferred but not essential.

You’ll also need a Full New Zealand Driver Licence and the legal right to work in Aotearoa without restriction for a minimum of 24 months.

Please note that the later stages of the recruitment process include pre-employment drug testing and police vetting. This criminal history check is exempt from the Clean Slate Act so please ensure you declare any offences (even those outside of 7 years) in your application.

The starting salary for this position is $67,359 - $ 71,748 per annum depending on skills and experience. Once in the role there are opportunities to increase your salary up to $86, 608 per annum. We are also able to offer :

• 5 weeks annual leave
• Learning and development opportunities and a clear pathway for career growth
• A supportive team-environment

Health and well-being benefits including access to EAP, eye care benefits, health checks and more.

Join Ara Poutama Aotearoa - Department of Corrections, where your work will contribute to improving public safety, reducing re-offending, and address the overrepresentation of Māori in correctional facilities. As a values-led organisation, we use the principles of rangatira (leadership), manaaki (respect), wairua (spirituality), kaitiaki (guardianship), and whānau (relationships) to guide our work and achieve the goals of our Hōkai Rangi strategy.

We value inclusion and diversity in our workforce, and as a Public Service organisation we are committed to building a workforce that reflects the public we serve. We strive to make our recruitment process fair, and we encourage you to discuss reasonable accommodations with us if required.

To submit an application and view the position description, click the apply link. All applications must be submitted through our careers site to ensure transparency – applications received via email will not be considered.

When applying, submit a tailored CV and a cover letter describing your motivation for joining the department highlighting relevant skills and experience and the alignment to our work.

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