Health and Safety Advisor, Southern

• Permanent, Full Time
• Based in Southland or Otago

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is the country's largest employer, delivering universal public healthcare to 5 million New Zealanders. 

We provide essential hospital, specialist, and community health services across 80+ locations - from large urban centres to rural towns and remote communities. 

Our goal is to improve health outcomes for all New Zealanders by delivering equitable, accessible and innovative care. 

About the Role 

This role supports day‑to‑day health and safety operations across the district. Working under the guidance of Health and Safety Business Partners and Senior Advisors, the Health and Safety Advisor ensures compliance with Health NZ expectations, legislation, regulations, and industry standards. The position also contributes to the local delivery of Health NZ's strategic and operational initiatives and partners closely with District Operations Managers to ensure services align with operational needs.

The Advisor provides practical support to Health and Safety Delivery teams and collaborates with District Occupational Health Teams. The role models Health NZ values and behaviours, helping to embed national and district initiatives and fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

About you 

To be successful in this role you will have the following:

• Relevant graduate or postgraduate qualification.
• Up to five years' health and safety delivery experience, including:
  • Contributing to compliance with HSWA 2015, ACC AEP, and ISO45001.
  • Supporting local implementation of organisational programmes.
  • Assisting with incident investigations and sharing learnings.
  • Contributing to risk management activities.
• Strong problem‑solving and relationship‑building skills.
• Knowledge of the health sector, health and safety legislation, regulations, and standards.
• Commitment to a culture of care, collaboration, and excellence.
• Basic understanding of occupational health and safety principles, including:
  • Legislation and duty holder responsibilities.
  • Hazard identification, inspections, and risk assessments.
  • Risk register management and injury prevention.
  • Safety audits and monitoring.
• Working knowledge of the hierarchy of controls and how to apply it.

Working for Health New Zealand

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of New Zealand. We embrace a workforce that is diverse and inclusive so that we are better positioned to understand and service our community. We welcome applications from our diverse Māori, Pacific, disabled, and rainbow communities.    

How to Apply 

To apply please click “apply now.”  All applications must be submitted through our online careers' portal by Monday, 6 April. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Matt Kelly at matt.kelly@tewhatuora.govt.nz