Play Specialist

Hospital Play Specialist (Core), Starship Children's Health About the Company Starship Children's Health is New Zealand's premier children's hospital, dedicated to providing exceptional healthcare to neonates, children, and young people across the country and the South Pacific. As part of Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora, we adhere to the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and strive to create a health system that effectively serves all New Zealanders. About the Role We are seeking Hospital Play Specialists to join our team in a permanent, full-time or part-time capacity. In this role, you will engage with infants, children, and young people, helping them become confident and capable learners during their hospital experiences. Using a strong educational and psycho-social framework, you will promote family involvement and facilitate children's ongoing development while assisting them in coping with the challenges associated with their hospital visits. Your responsibilities may include normalizing the hospital experience through play, familiarizing children with medical equipment or procedures, providing support during procedures such as blood tests, and developing coping strategies to help manage difficult times. While this role can be challenging, it is deeply rewarding as you work closely with children, their families, and our multidisciplinary team. About the Service Our team of highly-trained play specialists collaborates with nurses, doctors, and allied health professionals—including dietitians, physiotherapists, and psychologists—to support children throughout their hospital journey. You may work with children and their families at the bedside, in a playroom, in treatment areas, or in the Children's Emergency Department. About You We invite applications from candidates who possess the following qualifications and experience: - A recognized early childhood teaching qualification (mandatory), such as a Bachelor of Teaching (ECE) or an equivalent qualification - Current registration and certification with the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand - Experience working as a teacher or support worker in the health or education sectors - Eligibility to gain registration with the Hospital Play Specialist Association Registration Council Please note that while we serve all age groups, this role specifically pertains to hospital-based Early Childhood Services and requires ECE qualified teachers. For further details, please refer to the Position Description. For more information about this role, please reach out to the Hiring Manager, Nicola Woollaston, at NWoollaston@adhb.govt.nz. Working at Health New Zealand At Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora, we are committed to providing excellent healthcare for all New Zealanders. Our diverse and inclusive workforce better positions us to understand and serve our community. We encourage applications from our diverse Māori, Pacific, disabled, and rainbow communities. Starship Child Health is a major teaching center that focuses on family-centered care for children and young people throughout New Zealand and the South Pacific. As the only comprehensive children's hospital in New Zealand, we serve a population of approximately 1 million children. How to Apply We will be reviewing applications and conducting interviews on a rolling basis, which means the position may close before the listed deadline. If you are interested, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible. To apply, please click on the 'Apply' tab below, outlining your experience and motivation for this role, and attach your updated CV and Covering Letter. If you encounter any accessibility or technical issues with the online application process, please contact Anél Foord, Recruitment Consultant, at Anel.Foord@TeWhatuOra.govt.nz, quoting ADHB22810 to discuss how we can best support your application.