Advisor on Deaf Children

Help shape the future of Education

We work to shape an education system that delivers equitable and excellent outcomes

Our organisation is made up of talented and committed people around Aotearoa, from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures. While we work in different groups and on different things, we all strive every day to make the biggest difference we can for our students in our education system.

About this role | Mō tēnei tūranga

• Hawkes Bay and Tairawhiti Region
• 0.8 FTE, Permanent

Advisors on Deaf children (AoDC) work alongside children identified as Deaf or hard of hearing and their families and whānau from birth to Year 3 at school.

The Advisors on Deaf children will:

• work with family, whānau and educators about the best ways to support the child at home and in their learning environments
• provide ongoing advice and guidance on communication and language development to meet the aspirations and needs of the child and their family and whānau through early childhood and into school
• develop plans, provide information and a range of support as required
• manage relationships and work collaboratively with key stakeholders to enable our children to access an education that meets their needs and supports them to be actively engaged in their environments.
• provide specialist support to babies and children who are deaf and hard of hearing, and their whānau
• provide professional support and guidance to early learning centres, kohanga, schools and kura including specialist intervention plans.

The support Advisors on Deaf children provide:

• is family and whānau-centred
• occurs in the child's natural settings – homes, education settings and communities
• uses an adult coaching approach for family, whānau and educators
• uses a routines and strengths-based approach with family and whānau when identifying goals for their children
• enables teams to work in a culturally responsive way.

Salary range: $69,666 - $106,016 per annum + 3% KiwiSaver. The successful candidate will be appointed at a salary which reflects individual skills and experience.

For more details about the role, you can view the Job Description here.

About you | Mōhou ake

To be successful in this role you will:

• require a passion for working in a team that prioritises working with children and whanau as they navigate various challenges.
• be passionate about diversity and demonstrate your ability to work with Māori and Pacific communities, and ākonga with learning support needs
• seek opportunities to tailor the initiative to meet the diverse needs of communities and continuously make improvements so that it has the best outcomes for ākonga and their whānau
• prioritise building great relationships and partnerships with people at all levels of the organisation
• have a team mindset and flexibility to work across multiple workstreams to achieve the group outcomes and priorities.
• adapt to working in a fast-paced environment
• have excellent communication skills, written and verbal
• have the ability to apply the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi
• actively support healthy and productive relationships between schools, Ministry staff, communities and providers to achieve the best outcomes for ākonga and their whānau
• the ability and willingness to adhere to the Public Service Standards of Integrity and Conduct.

About our group and team | Mātau rōpū ake

Te Mahau | Te Tai Whenua provides leadership and integrated services to the education sector and others. This includes learning support; education advice and regulation functions for schools and early learning services; and advice and support with curriculum. We also share practice and learnings collaboratively with other Te Mahau and Ministry groups to support insights driven guidance, design, and policy.

We work closely with the Early Childhood and Schooling sectors, providers, and communities to provide support, expertise, and resources to help children and young people reach their full potential.

Are you ready to make a difference? | Kua rite koe mō tēnei mahi?

If this opportunity interests you, please submit your cover letter and resume by using the ‘apply' button. In your cover letter we’d like to know about you, your values, or anything else you’d like to share. We’re keen to understand your motivations, strengths, transferable skills, and the diverse perspectives you will bring to the role.

For further information, please contact at tangi.geary@education.govt.nz 

Applications close Midnight – Sunday 1st March 2026

We want our people to feel valued for their unique qualities and have a sense of belonging. If you require assistance or adjustments to fully participate in the recruitment process, please let us know.