Psychologist

Role overview

This is a permanent, full-time psychologist position based in the Mt Eden office in Auckland. The position sits within Learning Support and focuses on helping children and young people with additional learning needs through equitable, effective psychological support.

The Ministry of Education works to build an education system that achieves excellent and fair outcomes for all learners. Its teams are diverse, committed, and spread across Aotearoa, with a shared goal of making a meaningful difference for students.

What you will do

• Use a strengths-focused approach when working with learners and those supporting them.
• Look for patterns and underlying factors affecting learning, wellbeing, and behaviour.
• Strengthen inclusive practice across early learning centres, schools, and other education settings.
• Work alongside others to support progress toward learner goals.
• Offer professional advice and practical guidance to schools, teachers, parents, caregivers, and whānau.
• Help design, put in place, monitor, and review individual or group intervention plans for students with additional learning needs.

What the role offers

The salary range for this position is NZD 85,416 to 126,000 per year, plus KiwiSaver. The final salary will depend on the successful applicant’s skills and experience.

Learning Support is an important part of Te Mahau / Education Services within the Ministry. The team supports children and young people with additional learning needs so they can reach their potential through education. Specialists work with families, whānau, caregivers, schools, early childhood educators, and other agencies in English and Māori medium environments to improve learning and social inclusion outcomes.

About you

To succeed in this role, you should bring experience working in a complex organisation, building strong partnerships, and collaborating with children, young people, and their families across varied settings. You should also be comfortable with negotiation and mediation, and able to use data and insights to identify trends, risks, and opportunities that inform decisions at both organisational and system level.

Essential qualifications

• A master’s-level tertiary qualification.
• A postgraduate diploma in Educational Psychology, Clinical Psychology, or an equivalent internship pathway.
• Current registration under the Health Practitioner’s Competency Assurance Act.
• A full, clean driver’s licence.
• Willingness and ability to follow Public Service Standards of Integrity and Conduct.

Additional information

This is a permanent full-time role. The advertisement was published on 6 July 2026, and applications close at midnight on Sunday, 19 July 2026. If you need help or adjustments to take part in the recruitment process, support can be arranged. For questions about the role, contact [email protected]. Applicants are asked to include a cover letter and resume, and the cover letter should explain their motivation, values, strengths, transferable skills, and the perspectives they would bring.

Why join

• Opportunity to make a positive difference to the lives of children, young people, and their whānau.
• Chance to contribute to wider system change in education.
• Access to a strong community of practice within a large organisation.
• Close collaboration with specialists from other disciplines.