Department of Internal Affairs
Survivor Support Specialist
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About Us | Mō mātou
The Survivor Experiences Service provides a safe, supportive and confidential space for survivors of abuse in care to share their experiences as part of their healing journey. The Service also supports survivors to access and understand their care records, helping to fill gaps in personal histories and provide greater understanding of past experiences.
Hosted by Te Tari Taiwhenua (Department of Internal Affairs) and overseen by an independent board, the Service brings together survivor experiences to deepen understanding of abuse in care and inform efforts to prevent future harm. Survivors may also be connected with other support services, ensuring they receive the assistance they need throughout their journey.
The role | Te tūnga
As a Survivor Support Specialist, you'll provide compassionate, survivor-centred support to people engaging with the Survivor Experiences Service. Working in a trauma-informed way and at each survivor's pace, you'll guide them through sharing their experiences, accessing care records, and navigating available support services, while helping ensure they feel heard, respected and empowered throughout their journey.
You'll manage a varied caseload, coordinate services across multiple agencies, and communicate complex information in a clear and accessible way. The role includes regular phone-based engagement with survivors, as well as travel to meet with survivors and communities where required. You'll need sound judgement, empathy and resilience, and the ability to build trusted relationships with survivors from diverse backgrounds while contributing to a collaborative, supportive team.
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What you bring | Nōu te rourou
- Demonstrated experience providing survivor or client-centred, trauma-informed support
- Strong case management or customer support experience in a community, health or public sector environment, including confidence providing support by phone
- The ability to communicate complex information clearly and compassionately using plain English, including through phone-based conversations
- Sound judgement, critical thinking and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances
- An understanding of the impacts of trauma, including for Māori, Pacific, disabled and Deaf survivors
- Excellent relationship-building skills, with the ability to work collaboratively across agencies and support services
- A full New Zealand driver licence and the ability to travel as required for the role
For you | Mōu
At the Department of Internal Affairs, we are committed to offering a collaborative and innovative culture where your perspective and ideas will be welcomed. We want our people to thrive within a culture of best practice, while being able to set and achieve goals and being encouraged to challenge the status quo.
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To learn more about the diverse, important mahi we do at the Department and see why we're a great place to work check out our website https://www.dia.govt.nz/
Benefits - About Internal Affairs - Careers with us - Benefits - dia.govt.nz https://www.dia.govt.nz/About-Internal-Affairs---Careers-with-us---Benefits
The appointing range for this role is $92,425 – $102,694.
To review the full job description, please click here.
How to apply | Me pēhea te tuku tono
We are unable to accept applications via email. Please click the apply button to submit your application.
We're committed to ensuring our application process is accessible to everyone. Please let us know if there is any support, we can provide to ensure the process is accessible to you.
Applications for this role close 5pm, Thursday 27 August 2026. Please also note that you must have the legal right to live and work in New Zealand to be considered for this role.
If you have any questions, please email Shelley Coburn - Shelley.Coburn@survivorexperiences.govt.nz
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