Counsellor : Student Success

Ko wai mātou | About us as an organisation

At Te Kura Matatini ki Otago/Otago Polytechnic, a business division of Te Pūkenga, we are committed to attracting, developing and retaining kaimahi (staff) who are passionate, creative, future-focused and dedicated to help set the direction for quality vocational and applied learning to meet tomorrow’s needs.

We are guided by our values and we are proud to be Rainbow Tick certified. We aspire to create a working environment that is inclusive and meets the aspirations of mana whenua ensuring equity for Māori and increasing access for all.

Mō te tūraka mahi | About the role

As part of the Student Success Team, you would provide a variety of counselling interventions including a focus on brief interventions and/or seeking consultation with other health professionals as appropriate as well as promote awareness and education of counselling services to all ākonga (learners) and participate in the development and facilitation of educational programmes and workshops.

This fixed term position is 0.2 FTE (8 hours per week) is focused on providing clinical counselling support for students. The fixed term period is October to December 2026.

Ko wai koe | About you

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• Membership to NZAC or appropriate/relevant professional body

• A relevant professional tertiary qualification at Bachelors level or above

• Counselling and mental health experience ideally within the tertiary sector or in a community service preferably with young adults

• Experience working with Māori and Pasifika clients, demonstrating cultural competency and an understanding of the unique needs and aspirations of these communities

• Experience in working with a range of brief interventions

• A passion for learner health and wellbeing and working with young adults.

The successful applicant will uphold our organisation’s commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi by continuously developing and upholding your understanding of our obligations and connection with Te Tiriti as an individual and as an organisation

Through recognition, empowerment and inclusion, you will give greater acknowledgement to the unmet needs of Māori, Pasifika and disabled people and their whanau.

You will have demonstrable health and safety best practices and enjoy being part of a team who support each other.  You will easily be able to build and maintain relationships and communicate well via email, phone and face-to-face.

Tono ināianei | Apply now

For a copy of the Job Description visit counsellor-pd-sept-2026-fixed-term.pdf