Youth & Peer Support Workers – Multiple Opportunities

Your Career - For People, For Purpose

Apply your skills and make a difference every day at Ka Puta Ka Ora Emerge Aotearoa.

He kōrero mō mātou | About Us

Ka Puta Ka Ora Emerge Aotearoa is a national provider of mental health, addiction, disability, offender rehabilitation, wellbeing, and housing services. We believe that everyone is capable of living full and rich lives in their communities of choice. In every aspect of our work, we are committed to supporting whānau be the best they can be.

He wāhi hei tiaki, hei tupu, hei piki ake, hei tū rangatira.

A place to be cared for, to grow, to rise, and to stand with mana.

At Te Whare o te Kaahu, our mahi is to create a safe and nurturing space where rangatahi are supported to reconnect with their mana, strengthen their hauora, and discover their own pathway forward.

We walk alongside each rangatahi, recognising their strengths, their whakapapa, their aspirations and their potential. We create space for connection, growth and renewal, while supporting each rangatahi to find their own place to stand.

He kōrero mō te tūranga | The Role

Join a passionate team delivering a Youth Residential Respite Service in Hawke's Bay, supporting rangatahi experiencing mental health distress.

We are currently recruiting for multiple positions, including Support Workers and Peer Support Workers, to support, shape and deliver this unique service. We welcome applications from people with professional experience, lived experience, or a combination of both.

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a specialist youth service that provides more than short-term respite. We're building a therapeutic, strengths-based programme that supports young people to navigate periods of distress, strengthen resilience, and remain connected to their whānau, community, education, and support networks.

As a member of our team, you'll work alongside experienced Youth Practitioners, Peer Support Workers, and Health Professionals to create a safe, welcoming environment where young people can learn new skills, build confidence, and move towards their wellbeing goals.

We are particularly interested in hearing from people who have Personal Lived Experience of mental health and/or addiction challenges and who can draw on their recovery journey to inspire hope, connection, and positive outcomes for rangatahi. For Peer Support Worker roles, lived experience will be a key strength and asset.

This is the only dedicated Youth Residential Respite service of its kind in Hawke's Bay and offers the opportunity to contribute to an innovative model of care while helping shape the future of youth mental health support in the region.

He kōrero mōu | About You

What you’ll be doing

• Providing compassionate, youth-focused support in a residential respite setting.
• Building trusting relationships with rangatahi
• Supporting young people to develop coping skills, confidence, and independence.
• Working collaboratively with peer workers, lived experience practitioners, clinicians, and external partners.
• Contributing to a therapeutic programme that may include wellbeing activities, life skills coaching, sensory modulation, CBT and DBT-informed approaches, and community engagement.
• Maintaining a safe, supportive environment during periods of distress and recovery.
• Participating in the ongoing development of this innovative service model.

You'll also need:

• A full valid driver's license
• A level 4 NZ Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (or equivalent)
• Must hold and maintain First Aid certification including CPR (or be willing and able to complete this).
• Sound judgement with the skills to manage risk
• Meet our vetting requirements
• Eligibility to work in New Zealand

Ngā Hua| We offer

• Rate $25.67 - $30.52 + Kiwisaver
• Additional paid leave like 3 wellbeing days per annum, 5-10 days study leave and cultural leave days for permanent roles
• Access to company pool vehicles, company phone and laptop
• Discounted health insurance through Southern Cross Health
• Wellbeing subsidies and access to the use of our other services such as counselling, budgeting, and mental health workshops
• Store discounts with selected brands