Health Practitioner Vacancies on the Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians at Ministry of Health - Manatū Hauora

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Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

07 Jun, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

09 Mar, 26

Experience

0 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Governance, Regulatory Experience, Strategic Leadership, Balancing Competing Demands, Optometrist Registration, Dispensing Optician Registration, Practising Certificate, Scope of Practice Understanding, Ethical Conduct Knowledge, Legislation Knowledge, Regulatory Frameworks, Standards-Setting, Competence Assessment, Disciplinary Processes, Treaty of Waitangi Principles, Te Ao Māori Knowledge

Industry

Government Administration

Description

The Ministry of Health – Manatū Hauora (the Ministry) is seeking candidates who wish to be considered for appointment as health practitioner members of the Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Board – Te Poari o ngā Kaimātai Whatu me ngā Kaiwhakarato Mōhiti (the Board). The Board is a Responsible Authority under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (the HPCA Act). The purpose of the Board is to protect the health and safety of members of the public by ensuring that practitioners are fit and competent to practise. About the role - Kōrero mō te tūranga Being a member of the Board is rewarding and challenging. You will be committed to improving the health of New Zealanders, through your contribution to the governance of the Board’s legislative requirements. The functions of responsible authorities are set out under section 118 of the HPCA Act, and more information about the Board is available on the Board’s website and in the terms of reference. Appointments to the Board are made by the Associate Minister of Health, Hon. Casey Costello, typically for terms of three years. Members can be reappointed for up to nine consecutive years. The Ministry recognises that diversity enables our boards and councils to be high-performing and is committed to ensuring they represent the diversity in New Zealand's population, including gender, ethnicity, disability, age and geographic location. The Ministry encourages people from all backgrounds, especially those who can reflect the needs, values, and beliefs of Māori, and will understand and be committed to fulfilling the obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi, to apply for these roles. About you - Kōrero mōu For all applicants, governance and/or regulatory experience is a plus but not required. It is beneficial if you can lead strategically and balance competing demands. Health practitioner applicants must be registered optometrists or dispensing opticians, hold a practising certificate and registration, and have a good understanding of these scopes of practice, competencies, and code of ethical conduct. a strong understanding of contemporary practice knowledge of the legislation governing the optometry and optical dispensing profession, and how regulatory frameworks operate to protect the public knowledge of the role and functions of a Responsible Authority, including standards-setting, competence, and disciplinary processes demonstrated knowledge and understandings of the Treaty of Waitangi principles within health, regulator, and governance settings knowledge of te ao Māori and tīkanga Māori, and experience with Māori models of health care awareness and understanding of a range of cultural perspectives in health care and their impact on service delivery and regulatory decision-making previous experience in governance, leadership, or regulatory environments (desirable but not essential) strong communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to work constructively with both practitioner and lay members on the Board. Under the HPCA Act members of the board of a Responsible Authority cannot simultaneously be a member of the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal (the Tribunal). How to apply - Me pēhea te tono Applications must be made using the Ministry of Health online Career Centre by the end of the day 23 March 2026 and include: a covering letter, and a current CV. Due diligence checks will be undertaken for shortlisted applicants. Your personal information will be handled in accordance with the Privacy Act 2020. The Ministry may also request that the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service conduct national security screening of you as part of the appointment process. The appointment process can be lengthy, taking up to six months. Your patience and professionalism as we work through the next steps is appreciated. The outcome of the recruitment process for the Board will be confirmed after it has been considered by the Cabinet Appointments and Honours Committee. Who we are - Ko wai mātou See the Ministry of Health Board appointments webpage for more information. If you would like to obtain further information or clarification, or if your circumstances change or should you wish to withdraw your application, please contact the Statutory Appointments team by emailing: appointments@health.govt.nz The Ministry of Health is steward of the New Zealand health system and the lead advisor to Government on health. Our overarching goal is for all New Zealanders to live longer and in better health to have an improved quality of life. As steward, we set the direction across the health system so we and others can make informed decisions and prioritise resources accordingly. We advise the Government on health policy, and regulate and monitor the health system, to ensure all New Zealanders have access to health care for better health outcomes. Our role is to create an environment where all New Zealanders are supported to stay well and where all parts of the health system are supported to operate at their best.

Responsibilities

Board members are responsible for contributing to the governance of the Board’s legislative requirements to protect the health and safety of the public by ensuring practitioners are fit and competent to practice. This involves fulfilling the functions of a Responsible Authority under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003.