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Community Karitāne

Karitāne – Hapori Whānui

Alternative titles for this job

Community karitāne offer support to families with children under the age of five, and provide information on parenting issues such as breastfeeding, infant nutrition, sleeping and child behaviour.

Pay

Community karitāne usually earn

$68k-$83K per year

Source: Te Whatu Ora and NZNO, 2023-2024

Job opportunities

Chances of getting a job as a community karitāne are poor due to low turnover and high competition for vacancies.

Pay

Pay for community karitāne varies depending on skills and experience.

  • New community karitāne usually earn $68,000 a year. ($70,000 a year from 1 April 2024.)
  • Experienced community karitāne can earn $71,000 to $81,0000. ($73,000 to $83,000 from 1 April 2024.)

Source: Te Whatu Ora, 'Te Whatu Ora - Health NZ and New Zealand Nurses Organisation, Nursing and Midwifery Collective Agreement 31 March 2023 - 31 October 2024.'

(This information is a guide only. Find out more about the sources of our pay information)

What you will do

Community karitāne may do some or all of the following:

  • give advice to parents and caregivers on child health such as sleeping, feeding, behaviour, nutrition and immunisation
  • run group courses on parenting and family health  
  • support the wider Plunket team, including Plunket nurses and case managers
  • visit schools, kōhanga reo and community groups to advise on child health
  • look out for signs of child abuse and domestic violence
  • help clients access community services and support. 

Skills and knowledge

Community karitāne need to have knowledge of:

  • child growth and development
  • programmes relating to child and family health and welfare, including Well Child/Tamariki Ora
  • Māori language and culture, and customs of local iwi, hapū and whānau if working specifically with Māori
  • Pacific culture and understanding of at least one Pacific language and Pacific models of health if working with Pacific clients.

Working conditions

Community karitāne:

  • usually work regular business hours, though some work part time
  • work in Plunket rooms, clinics and family centres
  • travel to visit clients in their home or in the community.

Entry requirements

To become a community karitāne you need to have a New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Social and Community Services) (Level 4) [community health work strand] while training as a community karitāne. 

To complete the certificate you need to work a minimum of three days a week in a related role such as a karitāne, child health worker, Plunket kaiāwhina (Māori community health worker), Pacific or iwi health worker. 

A degree or experience in health promotion, mental health or nutrition may also be useful. 

Community karitāne can also apply for the nursing Professional Development and Recognition Programme (PDRP) if it's offered by their employer. 

The Vulnerable Children Act 2014 means that if you have certain serious convictions, you can’t be employed in a role where you are responsible for, or work alone with, children. 

Secondary education

NCEA Level 2 is required to enter tertiary training. Useful subjects include te reo Māori, English, health education, biology, chemistry and physics. 

Personal requirements

Community karitāne need to be:

  • patient, observant and understanding
  • able to make good judgements
  • able to relate to young children, parents, caregivers and whānau 
  • good at communicating with people from a range of cultures
  • motivated and able to work independently
  • good at problem solving.

Useful experience

Useful experience for community karitāne includes:

  • working in a health or community social service
  • parenting
  • work as a nanny
  • work as an early childhood teacher.

Find out more about training

New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO)
 0800 28 38 48 - nurses@nzno.org.nz - www.nzno.org.nz
The Royal New Zealand Plunket Society
0800 184 803 - plunket@plunket.org.nz - www.plunket.org.nz
Check out related courses

What are the chances of getting a job?

High competition for community karitāne vacancies

Chances of getting a job as a community karitāne are low because people usually stay in the role for a long time. When vacancies do come up, competition for them is high.

According to the Census, 63 community karitāne worked in New Zealand in 2018.

Increase your chances of finding community karitāne work

You can increase your chances of securing a community karitāne job by:

  • having a degree or experience in health promotion, mental health or nutrition
  • being culturally competent, including being able to speak te reo Māori to work as a Plunket kaiāwhina (Maori health worker) or a Pacific language to work as a Pacific health worker 
  • being prepared to move location for the role.

One employer of community karitāne

All community karitāne work for the Royal New Zealand Plunket Society.

Sources

  • Perris, V, clinical leader Hutt-Wairarapa, The Royal New Zealand Plunket Society, careers.govt.nz interview, March 2021. 
  • Royal New Zealand Plunket Society website, accessed March 2021, (www.plunket.org.nz).
  • Schneider, J, community karitāne, The Royal New Zealand Plunket Society, careers.govt.nz interview, March 2021.
  • Stats NZ, '2018 Census Data', 2019.

(This information is a guide only. Find out more about the sources of our job opportunities information)

Progression and specialisations

Community karitāne may move into other community health roles. With further training, they may progress to become registered nurses.

Community karitāne  may specialise in working with Pacific clients or with Māori and whānau groups as Plunket kaiāwhina. 

Community karitāne and parent holding child sitting at a table talking about oral health

Community karitāne talking with whānau about oral health and how to care for their child's teeth. (Photo: Colgate New Zealand)

Last updated 7 December 2023