Advanced Practice Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist

• Advanced Practice Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist
  • Palmerston North Hospital
  • Permanent Part time
  • Are you a forward-thinking, passionate Physiotherapist ready to take the next step in your career? Join our innovative Orthopaedic team at Palmerston North Hospital and help shape the future of musculoskeletal care in Aotearoa.

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is firmly grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is committed to building a health system that serves all New Zealanders.

About the Role

As an integral part of our Orthopaedic service, this role offers a unique opportunity to lead the implementation and integration of the Physiotherapy First Assessment model within the MidCentral Orthopaedic referral pathway—aligned with the National Orthopaedic Musculoskeletal Clinical Pathway. You'll be at the forefront of delivering and expanding our physiotherapist-led Musculoskeletal (MSK) Orthopaedic Pathway, providing advanced triage, expert clinical assessments, and evidence-based management for patients referred to orthopaedic services. Working closely with Orthopaedic Consultants, you'll help streamline the triage process, identifying patients best suited for physiotherapy-led care and ensuring timely access to both surgical and non-surgical treatment options. This role will also expand beyond the current focus on hip and knee referrals to include all joints and spinal conditions, adapting to the evolving needs of the service. Your work will directly contribute to reducing wait times and improving outcomes for patients, ensuring they receive the right care, at the right time, by the right clinician. You will have a supporting role to outpatient physiotherapists, to ensure orthopaedic patients are treated with latest best practise when they cross over from orthopaedic to physiotherapy outpatient services.

About the Service

This role sits at the heart of our mission to deliver timely, evidence-based, and person-centred care for people with musculoskeletal conditions. As an Advanced Practice MSK Physiotherapist, you'll play a key role in offering conservative management options and empowering patients to make informed decisions about their treatment—whether surgical or non-surgical.

Aligned with national MSK guidelines and credentialing frameworks, this position is more than clinical—it's strategic. You'll actively contribute to service design and continuous improvement, with a strong focus on equity of access and outcomes for Maori and Pacific peoples.

Working in close partnership with our Orthopaedic Consultants, nursing teams, and allied health professionals, you'll bring together advanced clinical expertise and innovative thinking to deliver safe, effective, and equitable musculoskeletal care for the MidCentral community.

About You

Professional Qualifications / Accreditations / Registrations:

• Bachelor of Physiotherapy OR a Bachelor of Health Science (Physiotherapy).
• NZ Registered Physiotherapist
• Relevant clinical post graduate certificate / diploma (PG Dip) or equivalent or working towards. (Advanced Clinician Candidate)

Knowledge and Experience:

• Minimum of 6 years clinical practice.
• Minimum of 4 years' clinical experience and advanced specialty knowledge relevant to role.
• Demonstrated specialist clinical skills in orthopaedic physiotherapy
• Leading and facilitating clinical improvements.
• Clinical leadership within the area of specialty.
• Excellent self-management and organizational skills.
• Delivering high quality care for the patient/client/whanau.
• A commitment to biculturalism.
• A commitment to achieving equitable outcomes for Maori.
• Contributing to the development of others.
• Continual improvement focus.

About the Location

Manawatu is known for its effortless blend of city and rural living; here you can choose your ideal lifestyle, from peaceful rural villages, to bustling townships, or city life. It's a family-friendly place that's easy to live and work, with easy access to an array of outdoor activities - beaches, ski fields, lakes, mountains, as well as fantastic mountain biking and hiking tracks. No traffic and an easy commute to work, really help a with true work-life balance. Our fantastic central location means exploring other parts of New Zealand is easy as a drive or a short flight. We are well served with excellent schooling options, as well as two tertiary institutes - Massey University and the International Pacific College.

Discover more hidden gems that Manawatu and Palmerston North have to offer here: Manawatu Palmerston North - Visit | Live | Study | Business (manawatunz.co.nz). Check out our careers site here for more information about Palmerston North hospital.

We actively encourage a life work balance and appreciate flexibility can be important, so we are open to disc