Posted 25 August, 2026
Psychologist - Tai Aroha, Hamilton
Department of Corrections
Wellington, WGN, NZ
Full Time
Reference: d6045f7a0cef98f6
Job Description
Jora New Zealand will close on 9th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey. Department of Corrections – Waikato District, North Island $83,286 - $133,370 a year Ehara taku toa I te toa takitahi– my strength is not the strength of my own, but the strength of many Mō te tūnga | About the role Tai Aroha is a beautiful purpose-built 10-bed residential treatment facility for men considered to have a high risk of violent offending. It is run by a dedicated team of psychologists, reintegration coordinators, a programme facilitator, a Kaupapa Māori practitioner, and other support staff, who work together to help residents address the causes of their offending and build pathways for positive and crime-free lives. It incorporates therapeutic community principles and processes, tikanga Māori practises, and offence-focused psychological treatment. As a psychologist at Tai Aroha - your core tasks will be to recruit, assess and develop individualised treatment plans for new residents. You will help facilitate the 16-week Cognitive Self-Change rolling-group treatment programme, complete reports outlining their treatment progress, and consult on reintegration pathways for the men post-programme. All staff will have the ability to deliver bespoke individual treatment sessions as appropriate and take an active role in running the therapeutic community, and senior staff will have further opportunities to provide clinical supervision and training. This role is available as either a permanent position or a 6-month fixed-term contract , depending on your preference, with flexible hours ranging from 0.5 FTE up to full-time (1.0 FTE). We're looking for a skilled treatment provider capable of developing meaningful therapeutic alliances with men that have often been entrenched in the criminal world and had few safe relationships in their lives, who will work collaboratively with colleagues to maintain an environment that allows these men to let down their defences so real change can occur.It is essential that all staff have strong professional boundaries and understand the importance of proactively navigating transference issues to keep our residents and staff safe. This is a chance to be proactive and reflective, combining your expertise with the satisfaction of making a real difference in the lives of those we serve. To be considered for this role you must be registered with the New Zealand Psychologists' Board and hold a current Annual Practicing Certificate. We are seeking a Registered Psychologist with the New Zealand Psychologists' Board who: Has knowledge of, or shows a willingness to learn, about Māori culture and protocols Has experience in delivering therapeutic interventions, ideally group therapy with people who have a high-risk of violence Has life experience that means they can work effectively with people from diverse backgrounds and ethnic groups Is comfortable having their practice viewed and are receptive of regular feedback on their practice Has experience with report writing The salary range for this role is $83,286–$133,370 per annum, with appointment and remuneration based on clinical competency, skills, and experience. Frontline Psychologists may also access additional allowances, professional development funding, flexible working arrangements, and a range of benefits including: 5 weeks annual leave, increasing to 6 weeks Annual Departmental Day National psychology training and development opportunities APC reimbursement and Professional Indemnity Insurance contribution Expert Witness Allowance (where applicable) Health, wellbeing, and EAP support Join Ara Poutama Aotearoa - Department of Corrections, where your work will contribute to improving public safety, reducing re-offending, and address the overrepresentation of Māori in correctional facilities. As a values-led organisation, we use the principles of rangatira (leadership), manaaki (respect), wairua (spirituality), kaitiaki (guardianship), and whānau (relationships) to guide our work and achieve the goals of our Hōkai Rangi strategy. We value inclusion and diversity in our workforce, and as a Public Service organisation we are committed to building a workforce that reflects the public we serve. We strive to make our recruitment process fair, and we encourage you to discuss reasonable accommodations with us if required. Applications close on: Monday 24th August (We will respond to applications as they are submitted) If you have any questions or want to learn more about a career with us, contact ************@corrections.govt.nz, or visit careers.corrections.govt.nz. #J-18808-Ljbffr