Hospital Play Specialist, Play Specialist Service

About the Company Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is dedicated to providing excellent healthcare services to the people of New Zealand. We are committed to the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and strive to create a health system that serves all New Zealanders. Our organization values diversity and inclusivity, which enables us to better understand and meet the needs of our community. We actively encourage applications from diverse groups, including Māori, Pacific, disabled, and rainbow communities. About the Role We are currently seeking a Play Specialist for Kidz First Children's Hospital, located at Middlemore. This part-time position, at 0.7 FTE, offers an exciting opportunity to work with children and young people in the unique and often challenging environment of a hospital. As a Play Specialist, you will help children grow and develop while they are hospitalized. Your role will involve supporting their developmental goals and aiding them in coping with the challenges of illness and hospitalization. We are looking for someone who has experience working with children and young people in a diverse community and who possesses flexibility, a good sense of humor, strong organizational skills, and effective communication abilities. The ideal candidate will have a minimum of three years of tertiary education in fields such as education, specifically a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) or Bachelor of Teaching (B.Tchg) in Early Childhood Education or Primary Teaching. A current full or provisional Teachers Council Practicing Certificate is also required, and qualifications in special education or early intervention would be advantageous. This position primarily involves working from Wednesday to Saturday, with potential opportunities to work on Mondays. Requirements - Relevant experience in an early childhood or primary school setting - Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) or Bachelor of Teaching (B.Tchg) in Early Childhood Education or Primary Teaching, along with current teacher registration or registration with HPSAANZ - Excellent written and oral communication skills - Ability to design and implement appropriate play programs for children of mixed age groups - Experience working within multicultural communities - Demonstrated capability to work effectively as part of a diverse team Benefits At Health New Zealand, we value our workforce and are committed to ensuring our team reflects the population we serve. We are an inclusive and values-based organization focused on achieving the best health outcomes for our community. We strongly encourage applications from all backgrounds, particularly those from Māori and Pacific communities. We also uphold our Disability Strategy, which emphasizes the importance of accessibility for individuals with disabilities, including our patients, whānau, community members, and staff. Our core values—Valuing Everyone (Whakawhanaungatanga), Kindness (Manaakitanga), Togetherness (Kotahitanga), and Excellence (Rangatiratanga)—guide our mission. If these values resonate with you, we invite you to join our team. How to Apply If you are interested in this opportunity, please click "apply now" to submit your application through our online careers portal. For more information about the position, please contact Amy Lin at the Recruitment Centre via email at amy.lin@middlemore.co.nz. Job Number: CMH202515446 Applications Close: 01 August 2025