Kaiwhakamahereora | Accommodation Wellbeing Adviser

Job Description:

• Can you provide mental health support to a diverse student population?
• Are you committed to the application of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in an educational context?
• Do you hold a qualification and current practicing certificate in a mental health or counselling related field?

Kōrero mō te tūranga - About the role

Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington is currently recruiting a Kaiwhakamahereora - Accommodation Wellbeing Adviser to join Mauri Ora - Student Health and Counselling team on a fixed term, full-time contract from September 2026.

This exciting opportunity is to be a part of our Accommodation Wellbeing Adviser Team which provides short-term counselling or therapeutic support to university students in our Halls of Residence.

The Kaiwhakamahereora - Accommodation Wellbeing Adviser (AWAs) are a team of six registered mental health practitioners who provide a confidential mental health service for hall residents, mostly first year students. They support students who are experiencing mental health or wellbeing issues that may impact on their ability to manage the demands of their living and academic environments. The AWAs liaises with Accommodation services staff, universities faculties, Student Support Services, and Community Services to ensure that residents receive the support they need.

Ō pūmanawa - About you

Key requirements:

• A University Degree or Post graduate qualification in a mental health or counselling related discipline.
• Be a registered member of a relevant professional board or organisation in New Zealand and hold a current practicing certificate.
• Proven/demonstrated experience in psychology, psychotherapy, social work, or counselling, and supporting people from a range of backgrounds and cultures, particularly young adults.
• Experience in providing holistic mental health assessments and delivering a range of therapeutic approaches including solution focused, brief / time limited models of counselling.
• Experience in mental health crisis management and intervention.
• Proven ability to counsel using an approach that is non-judgemental, flexible, empathic, and sensitive to cultural, religious differences, gender, and sexual orientation.
• Experience and interest in working in a culturally safe approach with Māori and Pasifika students and applying cultural models of wellbeing.
• Commitment to application of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in an educational context.
• Ability to work in a self-directed manner with a high level of organisational skills.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to prioritise competing demands.
• Ability to work in a flexible manner across different environments and engage with a variety of clinical and non-clinical partners.
• Willingness to be available for occasional out of hours work in evenings and weekends when required.
• Familiarity with the Microsoft Suite and experience of client record management software.

Ideally, you will have the following:

• Experience working in a community living environment or setting similar to hall of residence.
• Knowledge and experience in the university or tertiary education sector.
• Knowledge of The Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021.
• Experienced in the provision of consultation and mental health promotion/preventative services.

This role requires safety checking through the police vetting system under the Vulnerable Children Act 2014.

If you are curious, eager to work in a tight knit team and have a great sense of community you will fit right in!

Role Description: Click here to see further information, including salary details.

If this link is not available, click 'apply' to view this on the University career's page.

Close date for vacancy: 07 August 2026.

Contact details for vacancy: If you have any questions regarding this role, please get in touch with Emma Brown, Operations Administrator, ([email protected]).

How to apply: Please ensure you are applying for this role directly on our careers page and not via email. Candidates must submit supporting documents along with their resume, such as a cover letter.

We can only consider applicants who are citizens or residents of New Zealand or Australia or on a current working visa. Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and we may progress with suitable applicants prior to the application closing date.

About Us

Mō Te Herenga Waka - About Our University

Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington is renowned for its high-quality research and exceptional teaching. We attract people from around the world. Our university campus spans Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington - the creative, scientific and political centre of Aotearoa New Zealand - and our students thrive on the connections we have made here.

Explore the many benefits of working at Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington. Find out where you fit in our strategic direction and learn more about our research expertise.