Probation Officer - South Otago

About this role

• Work for a values-led organisation and be a part of a supportive team
• Career development and training opportunities
• 5 weeks annual leave

  'Kotahi anō te kaupapa, ko te oranga o te iwi' – ‘There is only one purpose to our work: the wellness and wellbeing of our people.

  

Mō te tūnga | About the role

Probation Officers (Āpiha Matakana) work with people on community-based sentences, encouraging them to make positive changes in their lives, and motivating them to follow the conditions of their order or sentence.

Often working alongside whānau and social service agencies, Probation Officers will work to understand rehabilitation needs, assess and manage risk, and connect people with supports to reduce the likelihood of re-offending. Our Probation Officers also provide the courts and Parole Board with recommendations and reports to inform sentencing decisions.

All new Probation Officers are provided with role specific training to help them succeed in the role. This includes one week Ara Tika (induction week) at our National Learning Centre in Upper Hut, followed by 25 weeks Pou Hapori Iho training pathway which is completed on site.

Being a Probation Officer is an incredibly exciting opportunity. You'll have the chance to connect with people, build strong relationships, do something which really makes a difference in your community, and improve public safety. To learn more about the role, we have a short video and more information on our website which you can access via this link: https://careers.corrections.govt.nz/home/probation-officer/

We have a full time permanent position available in South Otago – this role is based at Otago Corrections Facility.

 

Mōu | About you 

We are interested to hear from people who:

• Have the ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with a wide range of people.
• Are able to think critically, assess information, and make well-reasoned decisions based on data and reliable information.
• Have excellent spoken and written communication skills.
• Can remain positive and resilient in difficult situations.
• Can demonstrate effective time management and prioritisation skills and the ability to maintain a good balance between work and personal life.
• Show initiative and take responsibility for learning and development.
• Can relate to people from a range of cultures and backgrounds.
• Have an understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and/or a willingness to learn.

You will need a Full New Zealand Driver Licence and the legal right to work in Aotearoa without restriction for a minimum of 24 months.

Please note that the later stages of the recruitment process include pre-employment drug testing and police vetting. This criminal history check is exempt from the Clean Slate Act so please ensure you declare any offences (even those outside of 7 years) in your application.

 

Utu ā-tau | Salary

The starting salary for this position is $64,359 - $ 67,648 per annum depending on skills and experience. Once in the role there are opportunities to increase your salary up to $81, 909. We are also able to offer:

• 5 weeks annual leave
• Learning and development opportunities and a clear pathway for career growth
• A supportive team-environment

Health and well-being benefits including access to EAP, eye care benefits, health checks and more.

 

Mō mātou | About us

Ara Poutama Aotearoa is a name that has been gifted to us and is our commitment to improving the oranga and safety of the people, whānau, and that of the communities we serve across the motu.

As a values-led organisation, we use the principles of rangatira (leadership), manaaki (respect), wairua (spirituality), kaitiaki (guardianship) and whānau (relationships) to shape how we work and deliver the outcomes in our strategy - Hōkai Rangi (https://corr.nz/hr).

It is an exciting time to join us, and we continue to seek out talented individuals who are committed to an inclusive, vibrant workplace. We recognise and celebrate the uniqueness of individuals, and that of the collective talent in our whānau. 

We welcome applications from disabled and neurodiverse communities, all cultures, faiths, and rainbow communities, as we appreciate the richness of experience that diversity brings to our organisation. We strive to make our recruitment process fair and inclusive, and we encourage applicants to discuss reasonable accommodation with us if required at southernrecruitment@corrections.govt.nz.

 

Tono ināianei | Apply Now

If you have any questions please contact:  southernrecruitment@corrections.govt.nz

To view the job description, click 'apply' and you will be taken through to our careers site, where you can view this.

To apply, please submit a tailored CV and a cover letter describing your motivation for joining the department highlighting relevant skills and experience. Alignment to our kaupapa is critical to our success - we ask that you provide examples which reflect and demonstrate our organisation values. 

Applications close on: Friday 27 June 2025

All applications must be submitted through our careers site to ensure transparency. Applications received via email will not be considered. 

If you want to find out more about a career with us, visit careers.corrections.govt.nz or email our team at  careers@corrections.govt.nz.