Working at Hōhepa, is different from the average, you become part of our community of people, staff, volunteers, and contractors who all have a common goal - helping people to reach their full potential and lead enriched and meaningful lives in a holistic, supportive environment. We are a community leader providing services and support for people living with an intellectual disability to live their best lives and find a valued place in our society. Inspired by Dr Rudolf Steiner’s principles of anthroposophy, we seek to understand each person and situation as unique, not a one size fits all philosophy.
Our beautiful newly refurbished Willow Service, located on our main campus in Somerfield, is home to five women in their 50s and 60s. We are looking for enthusiastic and experienced Support Workers to join our team and help provide a safe, caring, and enjoyable home environment.
A key part of this role is supporting the women to lead fulfilling and meaningful lives, both at home and in the community. This includes helping them participate in activities across Hōhepa and the wider community, such as picnics, movies, walks, and social outings, while maintaining and strengthening their valued relationships and connections.
You will be energetic, empathetic and able to work alongside this person focussing on creating a life of rich and diverse experiences while being able to read situations, problem solve and apply boundaries or offer space. Daily tasks include supporting with daily routines while encouraging independence to develop skills and personal growth. You will have the confidence to support personal cares, cooking, medication administration, and household tasks. You will be passionate about supporting and extending people’s ability to access and be part of their wider community. If you are looking for a new challenge this could be the opportunity for you.
This position's salary scale is set by pay equity and dependant on qualification level, pays between $23.95 and $30 per hour.
Hands on hours: 30 | Sleepover hours: 19
Total hours per fortnight: 49
Hands on hours: 19 | Sleepover hours: 19
Total hours per fortnight: 38
Please state which position you wish to apply for in the screening questions
You will either be an experienced Support Worker looking for a change or you are simply looking for a career where your enthusiasm and passion for helping others will make a real difference in people’s lives. To thrive in a Support Worker role at Hōhepa you will be:
Nga hua o te mahi ki a Hōhepa | Benefits of working at Hōhepa
At Hōhepa, as part of our team you will:
Applications close on 2 August 2026; however, applications will be reviewed as they are received. If this sounds like you, don't wait—apply today!
Applicants must have a NZ full driver’s licence and ability to work in New Zealand.
Please note that the 90-day trial period will apply to any successful applicant who hasn’t previously worked for Hōhepa Canterbury
At Hōhepa the role of a Support Coordinator is what is often referred to in the wider healthcare sector as a Support Worker. We feel that the title Support Coordinator better reflects the nature of the role, which requires working in partnership with the people receiving support to ensure we are achieving our organisation mission of every life fully lived.
Hohepa Canterbury is a well-established provider of services and support to people with an intellectual disability and/or autism. Our practices, anthroposophical inspiration, and commitment to the Treaty of Waitangi Te Tiriti o Waitangi creates our distinctive approach to working with people with disability. We are led by the needs of people we support - tangata whaiora - and their families/whānau and communities.
Founded on an intentional community model we know that the safe and supportive environments give the people we support a foundation for reaching their potential. We offer a rich cultural experience, originating from Steiner’s anthroposophy, which gives people with a disability the opportunity to explore their creative talents, be nurtured through our therapies, and establish a rhythm to their life.
Hohepa Canterbury is a registered charitable trust and started life in 1965 as a Home School for nine young children. We have grown to support 130 youth and adults across our programmes on two sites and in the wider community. We employ over 150 staff in 35 homes, our learning and activity day services, and in management and administration.
The homes provide a variety of settings catering for people from their late teens
to their seventies, while supported opportunities vary from voluntary to paid work,
further study, artistic and craft endeavors, agriculture and community activities. In all ways we are seeking for the people we support to live a life fully lived.
All these services are enriched by a cultural life based on the principles of the
teachings of Rudolf Steiner. Each person we support has the right to reach their potential, to be safe, and to be supported to build the life they see for themselves.
“Our highest endeavors must be to develop free human beings who are able of
themselves to import purpose and direction in their lives”
Rudolf Steiner
