Lecturer - Creative Arts Therapies

Lecturer – Clinical Placements, Creative Arts Therapies

Part-time (0.8 FTE)
Location flexible within Aotearoa New Zealand, with travel to deliver seminars

Whitecliffe

Whitecliffe is one of the leading art, design, IT and fashion schools in Aotearoa. Since 1984 we’ve focused on one thing: turning creativity into a career. Our values of Integrity, Courage, Creativity, Belonging and Respect are the foundation of how we work together and with our communities.

About the Master of Creative Arts Therapies

Whitecliffe’s Master of Creative Arts Therapies (MCAT) develops the next generation of skilled arts therapists. It is open to aspiring therapists and established health professionals who want to bring creative expression into therapeutic practice.

Students learn through intensive weekend seminars held four to six times a year, working with faculty, peers, and local and international practitioners. The programme covers Creative Arts Practice, Research Capacities, Therapy Capacities and Situated Practice. Supervised clinical placements are a central part of the programme, and graduates are eligible for professional registration with the Australian, New Zealand and Asian Creative Arts Therapy Association (ANZACATA).

About the Role

We’re looking for a Lecturer with a clinical background to lead and support the placement side of the programme. You’ll help students move from the seminar room into real therapeutic settings across the country, and make sure those placements are safe, well supported and meaningful for students, clients and host organisations alike.

Key responsibilities include:

• Building and maintaining strong relationships with placement providers, including NGOs, schools, and health and community services across Aotearoa
• Sourcing new placement opportunities nationally, including in Wellington, Christchurch and the regions
• Matching students with suitable placements and supporting them through the full placement process, from preparation to completion
• Liaising with placement supervisors and host organisations, and working through any issues as they arise
• Monitoring student progress on placement and contributing to assessment
• Ensuring placement agreements and requirements are in place and kept up to date
• Contributing to teaching, clinical supervision and student support during the weekend seminars

About You

You’re a clinician first: proactive, relational and confident working across academic, clinical and community settings. You understand how placements work from both sides, what students need to thrive and what host organisations need to say yes. You’re well connected and can open doors for students in a range of therapeutic settings.

The role can be based anywhere in New Zealand. You’ll need to be comfortable travelling to deliver and attend the weekend seminars.

Skills and Qualifications

Essential:

• A recognised clinical qualification and registration in a relevant health or therapeutic profession (for example, creative arts therapies, psychotherapy, counselling, psychology, social work, occupational therapy)
• Clinical practice experience
• Knowledge of the clinical placement process.
• An established professional network across NGOs, schools and/or healthcare services, nationally or within your region
• Postgraduate qualification (Master’s or higher) in a relevant discipline

Desirable:

• Qualification in Creative Arts Therapies (art, music, drama or dance/movement therapy), or a good understanding of creative arts therapies practice
• Registration with ANZACATA or an equivalent professional body
• Experience in clinical supervision and teaching in tertiary or professional education
• Understanding of higher education quality and assessment processes
• Understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its application in health and education settings

Personal Attributes

• Proactive, organised and able to work independently across a distributed network
• Relational and approachable, and skilled at building trust with students, supervisors and partner organisations
• A therapeutic mindset grounded in clinical experience
• Strong problem-solving skills, especially when placements don’t go to plan
• An inspiring mentor who can guide students through vulnerability and challenge as part of their learning
• Respect for diverse perspectives and a commitment to collaboration

“The essence of our values is that we are better together. Integrity, Courage, Creativity, Belonging and Respect are the cornerstones of our commitment to how we work with each other.” If you share these values, Whitecliffe could be the place where you thrive.

Whitecliffe is committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. If you need any support or adjustments during the application or interview process, please let us know.

If this sounds like you, apply now!