Oral Health Therapist

About the Company At Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora, we are committed to providing exceptional healthcare to all New Zealanders. Our organization is grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, focusing on partnership, equity, sustainability, and family-centered care. We believe in the power of integration and collaboration to create a health system that serves everyone effectively. About the Role We are currently seeking Oral Health Therapists to join our Waitaha Community Dental Service, which provides dental care to nearly 90,000 children aged 0-13 across Canterbury and South Canterbury. With a dedicated team of 110 front-line clinical staff, we utilize modern equipment in 22 mobile dental units and 13 dental clinics to deliver high-quality services to our young patients. This role offers a unique opportunity for mentorship and professional growth, especially for Oral Health students in their final year of study. We have permanent positions available in Christchurch, North Canterbury, and South Canterbury. If you are appointed to work in South Canterbury, you may be eligible to apply for the Te Whatu Ora Voluntary Bonding Scheme. As an Oral Health Therapist, you will work in community and school settings, engaging with children and their families. You will manage a wide range of oral health issues and collaborate with a team of skilled dental professionals. Full-time and part-time positions (four days per week) are available, and we encourage you to indicate your preference in your cover letter. In this role, your responsibilities will include: - Providing high-quality oral health care tailored to the physical, social, and cultural needs of pre-school and school-age clients. - Attending meetings, in-service training, and courses that align with the needs of the service and your professional development. - Actively participating in team meetings and contributing to the service quality improvement process. About You We are looking for passionate Oral Health Therapists who are dedicated to delivering high-quality patient care while fostering teamwork and innovation. The ideal candidate will have prior dental experience and familiarity with electronic patient management systems such as Titanium. However, if you are a New Zealand registered Oral Health Therapist with a current Annual Practicing Certificate, we encourage you to apply. We particularly value candidates who are: - Team players with excellent communication skills - Highly organized with strong attention to detail - Proficient in computer skills - Innovative, proactive, and adaptable - Hold a full, clean New Zealand driver's license - Competent in te ao Māori, tikanga, and te reo Māori, or committed to learning and growing in this area Working for Health New Zealand At Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora, we prioritize the well-being of our people. We are dedicated to being good employers and honoring our equal employment opportunity obligations. Our Equity Work Programme aims to ensure that equity is a core consideration in all our activities and to promote the cultural changes necessary for achieving equitable health outcomes. We warmly welcome applications from individuals in our diverse Māori, Pacific, disabled, and rainbow communities. How to Apply To view the position description or to apply for this role, please visit our online careers portal and click "apply now." Should you have any questions about the position, feel free to reach out to Alex Jay at alexandra.jay@tewhatuora.govt.nz. Please note that we will begin reviewing applications as they are received and may proceed with the recruitment process before the closing date of this advertisement.