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
$23-$27 per hour
Source: Plunket, 2021.
Job opportunities
Vocational PathwaysPay
Pay for community karitāne varies depending on skills and experience.
- New community karitāne usually earn $23 an hour.
- Experienced community karitāne can earn up to $27 an hour.
Source: Royal New Zealand Plunket Society, 2021.
(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)
- (04) 499 9533 - nurses@nzno.org.nz - www.nzno.org.nz
- The Royal New Zealand Plunket Society
- (04) 471 0177 - plunket@plunket.org.nz - www.plunket.org.nz
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 talking with whānau about oral health and how to care for their child's teeth. (Photo: Colgate New Zealand)
Last updated 8 June 2023