National Child Safety Lead

He huanuiorangamōngā mokopuna whakatipuranga roto ingāhaporihekeiho, hekeiho

Setting the path of wellness in our communities for the early years, for generations to come.

TeWhiwhinga mahi | The opportunity

This is a pivotal national role where you’ll lead how Whānau Āwhina Plunket approaches child safety and injury prevention across Aotearoa.

As our National Child Safety Lead, you’ll deliver our Injury Prevention Scope and Strategy - embedding injury prevention as a core part of how we support pēpi, tamariki and whānau. You’ll work across Community Services and alongside clinical teams to ensure our approach is consistent, evidence-based, and grounded in whānau-centred practice.

You’ll bring a strong equity lens to this mahi, with a particular focus on improving outcomes for tamariki Māori who experience disproportionately high rates of preventable injury. Through national leadership, partnerships and advocacy, you’ll influence not just Plunket’s approach, but the wider child safety system.

This is a role where you can truly shape national direction, connecting strategy, practice, and community impact to create safer environments for tamariki to thrive.

He kōrero mōu | About you

You’re a strategic leader who is passionate about improving outcomes for tamariki and whānau. You bring a strong understanding of child safety or injury prevention and enjoy working across systems to create meaningful, lasting change.

You’re comfortable operating at both a strategic and practical levelshaping national direction while staying connected to what’s happening in communities. You build trusted relationships and bring others with you, using influence, evidence and collaboration to drive progress.

You’re also deeply committed to equity and TeTiriti o Waitangi, and you bring cultural competence and humility to your work. You understand the importance of partnering with Māori and designing approaches that are culturally grounded and mana-enhancing.

Ngāpūkenga me tōhunga Motuhake | Skills and Qualifications

• Tertiary qualification in nursing, public health, child development, education or a related field 
  

• Significant expertise in child safety and/or injury prevention 
  

• Experience leading national or large-scale programmes in public health, community or social services 
  

• Proven ability to provide strategic and system leadership, including influencing across complex environments 
  

• Experience building workforce capability and embedding best practice across diverse teams 
  

• Strong understanding of equity-focused approaches and working alongside Māori and diverse communities 
  

• Demonstrated experience in: 
  

       - Advocacy, policy development or contributing to system-level change 

       - Developing partnerships with government, iwi and sector organisations 

       - Using data, insights and evidence to inform decision-making and continuous improvement 

• Excellent communication, facilitation and stakeholder engagement skills 

   

Ngāhua mahi o Te Whānau Āwhina | What we offer

At Whānau Āwhina Plunket, you’ll be part of an organisation with a long-standing legacy and a bold commitment to the future of tamariki and whānau across Aotearoa.

• Flexible working and a focus on wellbeing 
  

• Access to Fitness Passport
  

• Various wellbeing schemes such as two Wellbeing days: use one of your sick leave days to proactively protect your well being
  

• In line with our ongoing goal to support our kaimahi to thrive in a culturally safe environment, we have multiple community of interests for kaimahi Māori, Pasifika, Asian and more. To support your growth in practice, we have dedicated space and time where our Kaimahi Māori gather quarterly by region and nationally once a year.

   

Me pēheatetukutono| How to apply

Applications must be made online and close 6th May. For specific questions about the mahi, please reach out to hr@plunket.org.nz

Please note, we will process applications as they are received. If we find a successful candidate, wereserve the right toclose this advert early.

Apply now

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