Social services

Cross Cultural Health Navigator

WellSouth Primary Health Network · 51-200 employees

Dunedin, Otago3 days ago
OnsitePart timeMid level

What the role involves

  • Bridging cultural gaps
  • Supporting refugee families
  • Advocating for clients

What they ask for

3-4 years recent experience, preferably with refugees; current NZ driver's licence; fluent English; language skills in Farsi, Dari, Pashto or Arabic; understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi; ability to handle crises.

  • 3+ yrs experience
  • Professional licence or registration
  • Driver licence
  • Persian, Pashto, Arabic

About the job

Title: Cross Cultural Health Navigator

Location: Dunedin

FTE: 0.6

At WellSouth, we are dedicated to promoting health equity, ensuring everyone has access to the highest quality of care and enabling better health outcomes for people in the Southern region.

Position Purpose:

Cross Cultural Navigators assist former refugee families and health professionals to bridge the cultural gap, including supporting clinicians to understand how culture impacts on health and decision making. Navigators also work with families to help them settle into their new life, understand how to access primary care, what to expect or who to call for health assistance and how to access other services they may need to maintain good health. They can also act as advocates to assist people to negotiate their way through complex services and referral processes.

About you - To be successful in this role you will:

  • Experience in a health, social service discipline or resettlement programme is preferred.
  • Holds a current NZ driver’s licence.
  • A willingness to undertake further training in the health and wellbeing sector.
  • Minimum of 3-4 years’ recent experience, preferably in with refugee or other relevant experience.
  • Knowledge and understanding of the pre- and post-settlement, physical and mental health challenges of refugee families.
  • Language skills in Farsi, Dari, Pashto or Arabic and
  • Fluent in English
  • Experienced in working in both community and professional settings
  • A current NZ driver’s licence.
  • Awareness and understanding of the implications of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
  • Ability to deal with unexpected situations and crises while maintaining a professional
  • Effective interpersonal skills to establish good relationships with patients, families, and colleagues within the organisation.

We offer:

  • A supportive work environment where you will make a real impact on the lives of our diverse communities.
  • Opportunities for personal and professional growth.
  • A commitment to upholding the principles of the Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
  • To support the health and wellbeing of our employees we offer a competitive salary, flu vaccinations, an annual wellness voucher and a day off on your birthday.
  • 5 weeks annual leave after two years.
  • Sick leave entitlement of 5 days will be available from commencement of employment and another 5 days at 6 months of employment. 10 days entitlement will be available at 12 months service thereafter.

Our Values - Tō Mātou Uara

  • He mana tō te whānau – Whānau Centred
  • Tōkeke - Equitable
  • Manawa whakaute - Respectful
  • Pono – Transparent

For the full Job Description click here: Position Description

Please note that we don’t always work to fixed closing dates & may interview candidates as their applications are received.

Applications close: 26 November 2026

Applications must include a CV, and a cover letter.

WellSouth Primary Health Network is an equal opportunity employer. We are rainbow-tick accredited and are committed to upholding the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi. WellSouth is smokefree and we support the Government’s Vision of a Smokefree Aotearoa 2025.