Kaiwhakamahereora | Counsellor (Piki Programme)

• Have you got experience in psychology, psychotherapy, social work, or counselling?

• Can you support people from a range of backgrounds and cultures, particularly young adults?

• Do you have a degree or postgraduate qualification in a mental health- or counselling-related discipline?

Kōrero mō te tūranga - About the role

Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington is currently recruiting a qualified and experienced Counsellor, Psychologist, Occupational Therapist, Social Worker, Psychotherapist, or Mental Health Nurse to join our passionate and motivated team on a permanent, full-time basis.

You will have a strong passion for working with young adults. If you are interested, read on.

Mauri Ora - Student Health and Counselling at Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington is seeking an experienced mental health clinician to join our team. This exciting opportunity is to be part of our Counselling Team, which provides short-term counselling or therapeutic support to university students aged 18 to 25 as part of the Piki Programme.

Counsellors support students’ wellbeing and academic success through short-term counselling or therapy. The Student Counselling Service works in a holistic and collaborative manner with our medical and nursing team and other student services, including Disability Services, Student Learning, Wellington International, and Student Interest and Conflict Resolution.

We are a collegial team from a variety of cultural and professional backgrounds. We cultivate regular professional and social connections to foster a supportive and warm atmosphere. We offer a competitive salary, and our team benefits include:

• 5 professional development days and individual professional development budget (FTE pro rata).
• In-house professional development sessions on cultural and clinical topics.
• Fortnightly external clinical supervision (FTE pro rata) & fortnightly in-house peer supervision.    
• Professional indemnity insurance and annual registration (FTE pro rata).

Ō pūmanawa - About you

You must have the following:  

• Be a fully registered member of a relevant professional board or organisation in New Zealand regulated by the Health Practitioners Competency Act (2003) or Social Workers Registration Act (2003) and hold a current practising certificate. For NZAC registered counsellors, Te Whatu Ora accreditation is a requirement for this role.
• University degree or postgraduate qualification in a mental health- or counselling-related discipline.
• 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 solution-focused, short-term models of counselling or therapy.
• Experience in mental health crisis management and intervention.
• Proven understanding of issues relating to late adolescence and early adulthood. 
• Experience and interest in working in a culturally safe way with Māori and Pasifika students and applying cultural models of wellbeing.
• Proven ability to counsel using an approach that is non-judgemental, flexible, empathic, and sensitive to cultural and religious differences, gender, and sexual orientation.
• Familiarity with client record software and Microsoft Suite.
• Ability to work in a flexible manner across different campus locations.

Desirable:

• Understanding of the Pastoral Care Code and responsibilities. 
• Knowledge and experience in the university/tertiary education sector.
• Experience in the provision of consultation and mental health promotion/preventative services.
• Knowledge of the support and developmental needs of university students and of equity issues. 

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 careers page. 

Close date for vacancy: 18 October 2026.

Contact details for vacancy: If you have any questions regarding this role, please get in touch with Emma Brown (emma.brown@vuw.ac.nz).

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 who hold a current working visa. Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and we may progress with suitable applicants before the application closing date. Applications from recruitment agencies are not accepted. 

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.