Are you thinking about a career in Occupational Health and Medicine?
We’ve listed popular jobs in the New Zealand Occupational Health sector.
Occupational health physicians diagnose and treat work-related injuries and illnesses, as well as conduct health screenings and evaluations for employees. They play a key role in case management and health risk assessments.
They assist employees in maintaining health, managing work-related conditions, and returning to work after injury or illness.
Occupational medicine focuses on preventing, diagnosing, and managing work-related injuries and illnesses. Practitioners work closely with employers, employees, and regulatory bodies to promote health and safety in the workplace. Key responsibilities include conducting health assessments, advising on workplace hazards, and developing health policies. Effective communication and a broad clinical knowledge base are essential in this field.
You will help people stay at work or return to work after an accident or illness. You’ll also have a key role in helping to prevent illness and injuries caused by work. Your work can be very varied, combining your medical practice with influencing and shaping the behaviour of individuals and organisations. You will enhance your clinical knowledge and skills with a detailed understanding of environmental and health and safety, employment and anti-discrimination legislation.
Your typical day will depend on the role and setting. Still, it will often involve a mixture of clinical work with individuals, undertaking fitness for work assessments for insurers and employers, medicolegal work, workplace assessments, and developing policies regarding employees’ health, safety and well-being. You may be dealing with a range of clinical issues, such as:
Your non-clinical work may include working with a range of professionals to develop policies to ensure the health, safety, and well-being of employees. This could include issues like tackling substance misuse in safety-critical roles, health and social care professional regulation issues, rehabilitation, redeployment, risk assessment, or medical retirement decisions.
There are also opportunities in leadership and management, teaching, supervision and mentoring, and academic and research work.
Benefits of Working in Occupational Medicine
The only doctors who may use the titles Occupational Medicine Specialist/Consultant or Occupational & Environmental Specialist/Consultant are those doctors who have”
Further details on the Advanced Training Programme in Occupational And Environmental Medicine can be found here – Occupational and Environmental Medicine | RACP Advanced Training
Doctors with other MCNZ Vocational Scope Registrations working in occupational medicine should:
A doctor appointed to provide occupational medicine services to a business must have appropriate medical qualifications and clinical competence to fulfil that business’s needs and ensure the optimum health of all employees.
Doctors must ensure that they do not use titles that might confuse their level of specialist status.
Occ Med doctors in NZ often work independently in the private sector or as part of a multi-disciplinary team for an Occ Health provider organisation. There are a small number of employment opportunities with large organisations in New Zealand, which include the following:
There are academic and research opportunities within Otago University.
Occupational Health Nursing is a specialised field of nursing focused on the health of workers in various industries.
The role of the occupational health nurse has evolved over the years from that of an industrial nurse dealing with accidents and illnesses at work, providing treatment and first aid services, to a role that encompasses all aspects of preventive healthcare.
Occupational Health is preventative rather than curative and proactive rather than reactive.
The role of the specialist occupational health nurse incorporates:
OHNs can work in various settings, including corporate offices, industrial plants, construction sites, and government agencies. This diversity allows for a wide range of experiences and opportunities.
Unlike traditional nursing roles, which often involve acute care, occupational health nurses (OHNs) primarily focus on health promotion and injury prevention. This can be a refreshing shift, emphasising proactive rather than reactive care.
Many OHNs work regular business hours, which can be appealing for those seeking a more predictable schedule compared to shift-based hospital work.
As workplaces increasingly prioritise employee health and safety, the demand for occupational health nurses (OHNs) continues to grow. This offers a level of job security, especially in industries with high health and safety risks.
OHNs have opportunities for continuous professional development and leadership roles. They can engage in ongoing education and training to stay updated with the latest practices and regulations.
OHNs often collaborate with other healthcare professionals, health and safety specialists, and business managers to create safe and hazard-free work environments. This teamwork can be highly rewarding.
OHNs typically earn competitive salaries, with opportunities for higher earnings based on experience, education, and certification.
To work in occupational health nursing in New Zealand, you need to:
Occupational Health Nurses (OHNs) in New Zealand have a variety of opportunities across different sectors. Here are some key areas where OHNs can find employment:
Occupational physiotherapists in NZ often work independently in the private sector or as part of a multidisciplinary team for an occupational Health provider organisation.
Occupational therapists in NZ often work independently in the private sector or as part of a multidisciplinary team for an Occupational Health provider organisation.
Occupational psychologists in NZ often work independently in the private sector or as part of a multi-disciplinary team for an Occupational Health provider organisation.
Occupational health technicians in NZ often work independently in the private sector or as part of a multidisciplinary team for an occupational Health provider organisation.
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