Help Shape the Future of Education
Excited about making a difference to NZ’s future through education? So are we!
At the Ministry of Education, we work together to shape an education system that delivers equitable and
excellent outcomes.
Our organisation is made up of more than 4,000 talented and committed people around New Zealand, 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 every child, young person and adult student in our education system.
That's where you come in. We're on the lookout for talented and self-motivated people like yourself who
are keen to make a difference through education and learn valuable work skills and experience along the
way!
About our people
The Ministry of Education is the government's lead advisor on the education system.
Our purpose is to shape an education system that delivers excellence and equitable
outcomes.
We hire students studying
Arts & Humanities
Policy and Governance
Social work
Available Positions
Want to make a difference to New Zealand’s future through education?
Get your professional career off to a great start in a large public sector organisation that’s all about learning and development.
The Ministry of Education is committed to supporting young people through internship opportunities that will help kick-start a career in your chosen field. An internship with us will provide you with valuable skills and first-hand experience with shaping our future education system.
Opportunities are available in lots of different areas throughout the organisation. You’ll be working on real
projects with experienced colleagues, who’ll support you to develop your skills and knowledge further, and make
the most of your time with us.
Summer internship programme
For the past 3 years, the Ministry has offered a 12 week paid internship programme over the summer
holidays (between November and February).
Placements are offered across the organisation and we have had interns in teams spanning
curriculum design, Human Resources, IT, policy and much more. During the recruitment process, you will have the opportunity to tell us about what you are passionate about. If you are successful, we will match you with a team that aligns with your interests, skillsets and passions.
Other opportunities
Our organization is constantly working on large and complex projects throughout the year and offer some
off-cycle graduate and internship opportunities in a variety of areas.
Keep a close eye on our ‘Jobs’ tab as this is where we post our early in career opportunities that pop up ad-hoc throughout the year.
Fa’amanū Taeao
“Talofa lava, o lo’u igoa o Fa’amanu Taeao. I am of full Samoan descent but was born in Aotearoa. I come from the
villages of Faleālupo Savaii, Saipipi , Matāutu Falelatai, Falevao and Fagamalo.
I graduated with a double major in Music Studies and Pacific Studies at Victoria University of Wellington.
During my internship, I experienced what it was like to work in the public sector for the first time. The Ministry of Education provided opportunities, in which I was able to experience working with different departments and projects like Ka Ora, Ka Ako | School Lunches. The mahi is purposeful and benefits for all tamariki across Aotearoa.
I am now currently working as a Project Administrator for the Special Projects Team in the Sector Enablement & Support Department.”
Hannah Buckley
“I studied law, politics and political science at Victoria University and have always wanted to work in
Government.
During my internship, I worked in the Employment Relations team on collective agreement bargaining and the Teacher Aide Pay Equity Claim which were both super new and exciting.
The bonds I formed with my intern cohort was the highlight of my experience alongside the transformative work I was lucky enough to be involved in.
I was grateful to be offered the opportunity to continue my mahi in the Employment.”
During my internship, I worked in the Employment Relations team on collective agreement bargaining and the Teacher Aide Pay Equity Claim which were both super new and exciting.
The bonds I formed with my intern cohort was the highlight of my experience alongside the transformative work I was lucky enough to be involved in.
I was grateful to be offered the opportunity to continue my mahi in the Employment.”
Tiana Mohuanga
“Tēnā koutou katoa. Ko Tiana Mohuanga tōku ingoa. Nō Ūawa me Kaikohe ōku tīpuna. Kei te noho au ki Te Whanganui-a-Tara.
I studied a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Psychology and Criminology at Victoria University of Wellington.
During my internship I worked in People Capability. I contributed to mahi across the whole team including recruitment, early in career and MyHR services. A highlight was being able to collaborate on the Ministry’s cultural competency framework used in recruitment – Tātai Pou.
Networking was another big highlight. Having a strong support network from the other interns and members of my team helped me feel confident to take on any mahi that came my way. It also offered a great chance to learn and grow both professionally and personally.”
I studied a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Psychology and Criminology at Victoria University of Wellington.
During my internship I worked in People Capability. I contributed to mahi across the whole team including recruitment, early in career and MyHR services. A highlight was being able to collaborate on the Ministry’s cultural competency framework used in recruitment – Tātai Pou.
Networking was another big highlight. Having a strong support network from the other interns and members of my team helped me feel confident to take on any mahi that came my way. It also offered a great chance to learn and grow both professionally and personally.”
Policy Graduate Programme
A career in Policy with Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga | the Ministry of Education gives you the opportunity to help shape New Zealand’s education system. Our focus is on delivering excellent and equitable outcomes for our increasingly diverse population.
Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga | the Ministry of Education has an extensive policy community with
teams, covering areas of education from Pacific Education, Early Childhood, Māori Education, Tertiary, Learning
Support and International to name just a few!
Through working with Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga | the Ministry of Education you will have the
opportunity to support improved outcomes for ākonga (learners), whānau and families, communities and wider New
Zealand.
Be in it for the challenge
Our exciting structured 18 month development programme offers:
- A permanent role with Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga | Ministry of Education
- Two rotations of policy teams which allows you to experience different areas of Policy that the Ministry provides
- formal educational training as well as on-the-job learning opportunities designed to support the development of your policy skills
- a supportive development programme to provide you with feedback and guidance to help you progress
- the opportunity to be promoted to Policy Analyst at the end of your programme
Also you won’t be in this alone! There’s an awesome cohort of other graduates that will be
working alongside you.
Have questions?
Check
out our FAQ document.
If you still have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact our early in careers team who would love to hear from you!
If you still have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact our early in careers team who would love to hear from you!
Adam Carter
“I joined the Ministry’s graduate programme in January 2020 after completing an MA in Philosophy at the University of Otago. Having the chance to apply the critical thinking skills gained from my studies to a field that has had such an impact on my own life has been really rewarding. The graduate programme strikes a great balance between on the job learning, policy workshops, and opportunities to build relationships with passionate people.”
Kathryn Cammell
“My undergraduate degree was a Bachelor of Arts in History and Criminology, and I’ve recently completed my Master of Arts in History. My Arts degree taught me research, writing and critical thinking skills which are all important for policy work.
I’ve always been quite passionate about education and so I was keen to work in this space. The graduate programme also appealed to me because of the professional development opportunities, including rotations so we can experience different aspects of education policy.
The work I’m doing is interesting and varied, and I’ve been involved on important policy issues from day one.”
What is Learning Support?
We deliver policies, resources and services for targeted interventions, specialist support services, funding and other resources for children and young people with learning support needs.
The Learning Support area of the Ministry is charged with leading the Education sector in ensuring that children and young people with additional learning needs are supported to achieve their full potential through education.
Our Learning Support specialists work closely with families, whānau, caregivers, schools and early childhood educators in English and Māori medium settings and other agencies to help maximise learning outcomes and promote social inclusion.
Click here to find out more about Learning Support and the work that our specialists do.
Scholarships
We are the largest employer of Educational Psychologists and one of the largest employers of Speech Language Therapists (SLT) in New Zealand and supporting pathways into these key positions is an ongoing priority for the Ministry. These scholarships open the door to a diverse and rewarding career where you will deal with a rich variety of cases and interact with schools and early learning services, parents, whānau, children and young people.
Educational Psychology and Child and Family Psychology internship scholarships
To learn more about careers in educational psychology with the Ministry, watch the following video:
Watch the video series here to learn more about educational psychology.
What the scholarships provide
These scholarships provide placement and supervision and $27,500 (paid in three instalments) for the internship year.
They are available to people studying Massey University’s Postgraduate Diploma in Educational and Developmental Psychology, Victoria University of Wellington’s Postgraduate Diploma in Educational Psychology or the University of Canterbury’s Postgraduate Diploma in Child and Family Psychology.
Further detail on the criteria and process can be seen here.
Speech Language Therapy scholarship
The scholarship will pay you $5,000 per year of study upon successful completion of the academic year, and will:
- enable you to spend time each year job shadowing a Ministry SLT so you have opportunities to see how SLTs work with children, whānau and teachers
- offer you one guaranteed placement at an MoE office during the practicum block course with additional $1,500 payment paid before the placement starts
- offer strengthened support for Māori scholarship recipients by connecting you with a network of Ministry Māori SLTs and allowing greater flexibility in your placement experience
- guarantee you an interview in the Ministry’s annual SLT graduate recruitment round in your final year.
Further detail on the criteria and process can be seen here.
Other Specialists roles in Learning Support
These are other Specialist roles in Learning Support in education.
- Advisor on Deaf Children
- Early Intervention Teacher
- Kaitakawaenga
- Occupational Therapist
- Physiotherapist
- Resource Teacher of Deaf
- Resource Teacher: Learning and Behaviour
- Resource Teacher: Vision
- Special Education Advisor
You can read the profiles of those jobs here.
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