This is a fixed-term, part-time position working Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8.30am to 5:00pm, based in Rotorua. Fixed term contract is from 4 January 2027 to 30 August 2027.
You’ll join our Whetū Marewa service — meaning ‘rising star’ — our access and choice programme for young people. The name reflects the potential within every taiohi and our belief that young people can achieve healthy, connected and fulfilling lives.
Whetū Marewa is a community-based, brief and early intervention service supporting taiohi who may be experiencing mild to moderate mental health challenges, or social stressors.
What you can bring | He aha tōu ki tēnei tūranga
You’ll bring your experience, creativity and passion for working alongside taiohi, with a genuine belief in their strengths, potential and ability to create positive change.
You will bring:
We’re looking for an experienced Occupational Therapist or HPCA-registered health practitioner (RN, Social Worker, DAPANZ, or similar). You’ll be confident working within a brief and early intervention model and comfortable balancing clinical responsibility with a flexible, youth-centred approach.
Our preferred candidate will have:
We want our people to feel valued and supported, so you’ll have access to a range of benefits, including:
Why REAL?
At REAL, connection matters. We’re looking for someone who recognises each young person’s strengths, adapts when the usual approach isn’t working, and celebrates every step forward.
If you’re an Occupational Therapist or HPCA-registered health practitioner who brings expertise, creativity, humour and a passion for helping taiohi flourish, we’d love you to join us.
Closing Date | Rā katinga: 12 November 2026. Please note, this job ad may close earlier if a suitable candidate is found.
Position Description: please copy and paste this link to your browser -https://www.wisegroup.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Real-Social-Worker.pdf
Please contact us at recruitment@wisegroup.co.nz for the relevant position description if your clinical registration is a different discipline to the available position description.
Contact | Whakapā mai: Katy Roberts, Team Coach – Social Worker at Katy.Roberts@real.co.nz
For further information, visit www.real.org.nz
Real is supported by Pathways Health Limited, part of the Wise Group. Pathways are committed to healthy lifestyles and actively support a smoke-free environment.
Note: The Criminal History Check is exempt from The Clean Slate Act. In other words, the Clean Slate Act does not apply to this position. Please declare any offences (even outside 7 years) in your application.
All new appointees into Pathways require background checking. Under the requirements of the Children's Act 2014, new employees that are identified as coming under this act are required to undergo further safety checks as part of the recruitment process.
At the Wise Group we believe in creating new opportunities for the wellbeing of people, vulnerable populations, organisations, and communities.
We operate in New Zealand's mental health and addictions sector, are one of the largest non government providers in the sector
From humble beginnings over 35 years ago, today we employ over 1,500 staff throughout the country, working in areas from frontline service to software development. We have a parent and subsidiary structure encompassing a family of charitable entities, all linked by a common dream. Our structure nurtures synergy and innovation, and means we’re transparent and accountable.
Our whānau includes:
• Wise Management Services
• Pathways
• Real
• Te Pou
• Le Va
• Workwise
• Wild Bamboo
• LinkPeople
• The People's Project
• Housing First Auckland
Here's what drives us:
Each year our Group works with thousands of New Zealanders and their families. We provide people with a broad range of community-based mental health and wellness services. In doing so we dramatically reduce their need for high-cost hospital and acute services and help people have happier, more fulfilling and more productive lives.
Each year the Group's housing services help people find and live in affordable homes, also helping them appreciate the rights and responsibilities of being tenants and managing homes.
Each year the Group's employment agency helps people who experience a serious mental health condition get off benefits, become financially independent and reclaim their self-esteem by finding and retaining paid jobs.
Each year people throughout the country attend professional development programmes through the Group's NZQA certified training organisation.
Each year thousands of mental health professionals in the public and private sector are supported and developed via the Group's national workforce development organisation.
Together we make a real difference by creating connections to support people to find and live their dreams.
