School Counsellor
Part time (35 hours per week, term time only) – Permanent
Nga Tawa Diocesan School is a special character boarding and day school for girls in Years 9–13. For over 135 years, we’ve supported young women to grow into confident, capable individuals within a highly relational and values-driven environment.
After a fantastic job of supporting our students and wider school community, our current counsellor is leaving to prioritise being a new mother. We are now seeking an experienced and compassionate professional to join our wellbeing team in this unique dual-role position.
This role combines school counselling with the coordination of wrap-around care, offering the opportunity to work both directly with students and collaboratively across the wider school community to support young women with complex needs.
The successful applicant will:
• Provide high-quality one-on-one and small group counselling support for students
• Respond to emerging wellbeing needs and support students through challenging situations
• Lead an ecological, whole-school model of care for students requiring higher levels of support, ensuring consistent and aligned responses across the school.
• Work collaboratively with whānau, mentors, Deans, boarding staff, teachers, and external agencies
• Develop and maintain effective referral pathways and wellbeing support systems
• Help identify and respond to emerging wellbeing trends within the school community
• Support a connected and consistent whole-school approach to student wellbeing
We’re looking for someone who:
• Has experience working therapeutically with adolescents
• Is confident supporting both individual students and wider wellbeing coordination
• Has strong relationship-building and communication skills
• Brings a calm, collaborative, and proactive approach to their work
• Understands the importance of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and culturally responsive practice
• Is passionate about supporting young women in a school environment
Experience and Qualifications:
• Registration as a practising Psychologist in New Zealand, or a Master’s degree in Counselling (or equivalent recognised postgraduate counselling qualification)
• Registration, or eligibility for registration, with a relevant professional body
• Experience working with young people in a school or similar setting
• Experience supporting students with complex or high needs is an advantage
This is a term-time-only position, working 35 hours per week across five days. Participation in staff training days will be required.
This is a rewarding opportunity to join a supportive school community where wellbeing is central to student success.
If you are passionate about supporting young women and interested in joining our wellbeing team, apply by sending a covering letter, a copy of your CV, and a completed application form to our Director of Wellbeing, Cara Ferris, at employment@ngatawa.school.nz.
Applications Close: Friday 19 June 2026
Start Date: Monday 20 July 2026, or as negotiated
APPLICATION FORM POSITION DESCRIPTION
