Diversional Therapist/Recreational Therapist

As a Diversional Therapist at our Summerset Waikanae village, you’ll be empowered  to create a recreational programme for seniors living in a care supportive environment. You will be leading a culture of purposeful engagement which promotes dignity and independence through the therapeutic recreation process. Through personalised recreation plans and engaging activities, you’ll help residents maintain independence, dignity, and connection with others.

Responsibilities include and are not limited to:

• Promoting meaningful activities that meet the needs of residents.
• Empowering residents to make choices.
• Support residents to maintain autonomy and maximise independence. 
• Encourage and support residents to participate and engage in purposeful recreational programmes.
• Applying the APIED process (assessment, planning, implementation, evaluation, documentation) for individual or group recreational programmes.
• Quality control and quality assurance of the recreational activities (monitoring, analysing, reviewing, reporting)

This is a Full Time role, working Monday - Friday 9am-5:30pm.

Please click here to view the full job description.

You’ll be creative, compassionate, and highly organised – with a genuine interest in enhancing the lives of older people through social connection and therapeutic engagement.

You’ll bring with you:

• National Certificate in Diversional Therapy (Level 4) – or at least 3 years of relevant work experience
• Excellent planning and time management skills, with a proactive mindset
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• First Aid Certificate (or willingness to complete a two-day course)
• A full, clean driver’s licence & ability to drive a Mobility Van.
• Confidence using Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

At Summerset, we believe diversity strengthens our team and enriches the care we provide. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, experiences, and walks of life—including those with transferable skills from other industries. You may not tick all the requirements, and that’s okay; we value what you bring to the table and look at the whole individual. We’re committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and supported to thrive.

Equal opportunity is at the heart of how we recruit, and we encourage you to bring your unique perspective and passion to our team.

Summerset's known for its excellent benefits and strong sense of values around care, teamwork and drive for excellence. With some of the best benefits in the sector, some of these include:

• Additional weekend rates in additional on your hourly rate
• Time and a half for all work or shifts over 8 hours in a day
• Ongoing training and development opportunities
• Southern Cross Health Essentials Insurance

Next Steps: Applications for this role will close on 5/06/2026. This role may close early due to an increased number of applications - apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment!