Residential Youth Worker - Fixed Term Contract

Residential Youth Worker - Fixed Term Contract

We're currently recruiting multiple fixed-term opportunities at Te Puna Wai , a secure youth justice residence in Rolleston, Christchurch. If you're passionate about supporting rangatahi and want to make a tangible difference in their lives, this is your chance to be part of something meaningful. These opportunities will run through to the 30th June 2026.

Mō te tūnga | About the role :

Te Puna Wai operates 24 / 7 to support rangatahi who are either awaiting sentencing or serving their sentence. As a Residential Youth Worker, you'll be part of a dedicated team providing wraparound care and mentorship to help rangatahi re-engage with education, build life skills, and make positive choices. You'll get involved assisting our rangatahi to re-engage with school / vocation, attending appointments, having visits with their family, connecting with peers, and managing themselves within the residence.

This is not a 9-to-5 role. Our kaimahi work rostered shifts, including weekends and public holidays, to ensure consistent support for our rangatahi.

Typical duties of the role can involve :

• Coaching rangatahi through our structured day and through all life necessities
• Participating in activities with our rangatahi
• Supporting our rangatahi by helping them with their studies, teaching them life skills such as cooking, art, music and cultural programmes and mentor them to make positive life choices
• Establishing rapport with rangatahi who have experienced trauma and assist with redirecting behaviour

We want to call it out upfront - this role will be challenging at times. Our residence is dynamic and, at times, high-risk environments. Despite the challenges, this work is deeply rewarding and offers you the opportunity to make a tangible difference for rangatahi.

Nōu te rourou | What's in it for you.

Our Youth Workers receive full-time, on the job paid training and meals on shift.

We also provide ongoing development for our people. Oranga Tamariki is an organisation with great career development opportunities, in meaningful lines of work. A lot of our leadership team started with us as Youth Workers themselves.

Oranga Tamariki offer an impartial remuneration package, that offers progression annually for experience through tenure. We welcome diversity and are committed to working in an inclusive and respectful way.

The starting salary for these fixed term contracts are between $57,760 - $65,334 plus 23% penal rates.

Our tamariki and rangatahi deserve to feel safe, have their voices heard, and be surrounded by loving whānau. At Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children, we're on a journey to ensure that it happens. We are a leading social work practice that is child-centred, trauma-informed, and effective for all cultures. We are a Ministry with a commitment to putting tamariki and rangatahi at the heart of everything we do and say.

Me pēhea te tuku tono | How to apply :

Apply online with your CV and Covering Letter, please include in your application your work availability. If you are an Oranga Tamariki employee already, please ensure you apply with a log in using your Oranga Tamariki email address. If you have any questions about role, please contact

If you are interested, 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.

Reference # 37871

Posted on 03 Sep 2025

Closes on 28 Sep : 55

Location(s) Christchurch

Expertise Social Work, Care Services, Management, Other, Services for children and families, Youth Justice

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