Residential Youth Worker

We currently have opportunities available at Puketai – Care and Protection Residence, based in Andersons Bay, Dunedin.

Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children is committed to putting tamariki and rangatahi at the heart of everything we do. Puketai Care and Protection Residence provide 24hour care for up to eight tamariki and rangatahi aged 8–17, within a safe, supportive, and structured environment.

Our residence focuses on rehabilitation, education, and trauma informed care, supporting positive and long-term outcomes for young people. We work alongside rangatahi to strengthen life skills, wellbeing, and connections, helping them reintegrate into their communities with confidence and resilience.

About the role | mō te tūnga

Our Residential Youth Workers play a vital role in the everyday lives of the young people in our care. You will provide care, guidance, and encouragement, helping rangatahi make positive choices and supporting them to build a better future

In this role, you will:

• Coach and support rangatahi through a structured daily routine
• Deliver innovative programmes including education, therapeutic interventions, and life and social skills development
• Participate in physical activities such as sports and gym sessions alongside young people
• Support learning and study, and teach practical life skills such as cooking, art, music, and cultural programmes
• Mentor rangatahi to build confidence, resilience, and positive decision-making skills
• Build strong, respectful relationships based on trust and consistency

About you | Mōu

This role may suit someone who brings life experience, emotional maturity, and confidence, and who is comfortable working in a dynamic, physically active environment with young people who need strong, consistent role modelling.

You’ll be someone who:

• Experience working with rangatahi (professional, cultural, voluntary, or lived)
• Resilience, empathy, and sound judgement
• Strong communication and relationship building skills
• Flexibility to work rostered shifts (including weekends and public holidays)
• A full, clean NZ driver’s licence and the right to work in NZ is mandatory for this role
• An understanding of tikanga Māori and Te Reo Māori

We welcome applications from people with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives, as we know this strengthens our team and better reflects the communities we serve.

What's in it for you | Nōu te rourou

As a shift worker, you’ll receive an annual salary starting between $57,760 and $65,334, dependant on your experience, plus a 20% penal rate on top of your salary for working shifts. Oranga Tamariki offers a structured remuneration framework with salary progression over time, along with ongoing training and professional development and access to wellbeing and counselling support through our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

Me pēhea te tuku tono | How to Apply

Apply online with your CV and Covering Letter. If you are an Oranga Tamariki employee already, please ensure you apply with a log in using your Oranga Tamariki email address. If you have any questions about role, please contact

Hurry as applications for this role close: Midnight 1st June 2026!

If you are interested in any of our vacancies, please ensure that you make yourself familiar with our code of conduct as it sets out our expectations for our kaimahi and requires you to present at work free from the influences of both drugs and alcohol.