Health Improvement Practitioner

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Fixed-Term Maternity Leave Cover (8 Months)

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Are you passionate about supporting the wellbeing of our community?

Whanganui Regional Health Network (WRHN) is seeking an innovative and motivated Health Improvement Practitioner to join our Primary Care and Wellbeing Team on an 8-month fixed-term basis commencing in September 2026 to provide maternity leave cover.

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This position is up to 24 hours per week (negotiable) and will be based at Whanganui Regional Health Network (WRHN). The role will provide services across Whanganui Accident & Medical and other general practices as required within the WRHN network.

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The ideal candidate will be a clinician or allied health professional who can provide evidence-based brief interventions for individuals, whānau, and groups. The Health Improvement Practitioner role works closely with the WRHN Primary Care and Wellbeing Team, General Practices, Health Coaches, iwi organisations, other NGOs, and community partners to increase access to brief interventions that improve patients' mental and physical health and support holistic wellbeing. You will also be a key part of the team providing feedback, education, and advice, with the aim of placing mental health and wellbeing at the heart of service delivery to support positive population health outcomes.

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This role is part of an integrated primary mental health and addiction model that aims to provide people experiencing mental distress or addiction challenges with access to convenient, high-quality, integrated, and person-centred care and support. The position will suit someone who is collaborative, adaptable, and passionate about improving health and wellbeing outcomes within primary care.

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The Ideal Candidate

• Holds current New Zealand registration as a health professional in Nursing, Psychology, Occupational Therapy, Counselling or Social Work.

• Demonstrates understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and commitment to its application within their practice and improving Māori health outcomes.

• Has experience building therapeutic rapport with clients and ideally providing evidence-based talk therapies such as FACT, ACT and/or CBT.

• Has highly developed interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships within Māori, Pasifika, youth and wider community networks.

• Has excellent computer skills and ideally experience recording notes in electronic patient records.

• Holds a current full NZ driver's licence.

• Is passionate about supporting people to improve their health and wellbeing and contributing to integrated primary care services.

• Is comfortable developing and delivering group education classes.

 

What We Offer

Successful applicants will receive training and ongoing mentoring, which will appeal to clinicians with an interest and expertise in behavioural health. National Health Improvement Practitioner training will be provided through Te Pou.