Summer HSW Internship Programme

We’re proud to have NZISM – New Zealand Institute of Safety Management as the primary sponsor of the GHSL Summer Internship Programme for 2025/2026 cohort.

NZISM is the leading professional body for health and safety practitioners in Aotearoa New Zealand. Their mission is to build capability, promote industry excellence, and support the development of future leaders in the health and safety profession.

Through their sponsorship, NZISM will help us to continue to grow a strong pipeline of future health, safety and wellbeing practitioners who are ready to make a real impact in workplaces and strengthen the profession across Aotearoa New Zealand. Learn more about their work at nzism.org.(external link)

About the Health, Safety and Wellbeing Internship Programme

Our award-winning Government Health and Safety Lead (GHSL) Summer Internship Programme runs annually and is now in its ninth year. In 2024, we reached a significant milestone—over 110 interns have participated in the programme to date.

Designed to build a pipeline of passionate future professionals in health, safety, and wellbeing across the public sector. The programme offers interns valuable insights, hands-on business experience, and a firsthand understanding of the importance of these disciplines in both workplaces and everyday life. While we can't guarantee employment at the end of the internship, many of our alumni have successfully transitioned into roles across the public and private sector and beyond.

The demand for skilled health and safety professionals in New Zealand continues to outpace supply. This presents a unique opportunity for graduates to consider a career in health, safety, and wellbeing—developing the competencies needed to step into these high-demand roles.

Careers in health and safety offer a wide range of operational and strategic opportunities, with diverse disciplines and specialisations across both the public and private sectors, domestically and internationally. These roles are not only impactful but also well-remunerated.

“My internship at MOTAT was a valuable introduction to health and safety in practice. I worked on the hazardous substance register, gaining hands-on experience in identifying and managing chemical risks. I also supported risk assessments and safety checks, which helped build my confidence and communication skills. Overall, my internship at MOTAT gave me a solid foundation in health and safety and showed me how meaningful this work is in keeping both staff and visitors safe. It was a rewarding experience that has strengthened my interest in pursuing a career in this field."
— Amy Charmain-Moore, 2024/25 GHSL Intern, Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT)

"I didn’t know my degree could lead to a career in Health, Safety and Wellbeing (HSw), but I thought the programme sounded like a great opportunity to put psychology theory into practice. And that’s all you need –to find something which interests you, and you might be surprised to see just how relevant your studies will be to your work. I have always wanted to apply my studies in a way that can help keep people safe, and it’s fair to say I haven’t been disappointed with my HSW internship.”
— Zung Mai, 2022/23 GHSL Intern, who is now an H&S Advisor at Plunkett

What we offer

Our internship programme is upto three months and successful interns will:

Gain valuable paid work experience working alongside a passionate Health, Safety and Wellbeing team
Understand why health, safety and wellbeing is important in the workplace and the breadth and depth of areas it spans across the public sector
Contribute to work or mini projects that support the mental and physical wellbeing in a diverse and interesting organisation.
Chances to build your professional network and opportunities to see what a health,safety and wellbeing career would look like.

Want to know more? Check out what the programme really like by watching our videos below, reading our FAQ's or reading our articles.

Who should apply?

We are looking for people who are enthusiastic, motivated, and eager to learn about Health, Safety and Wellbeing.

To be apply for this programme, candidates must:

Be currently studying full-time at a tertiary institution in New Zealand, ideally in their final year of study or entering their final year in 2025.
Be pursuing an undergraduate degree or diploma in one or more of the following disciplines:
- Health Science, Occupational Health and Safety, Health Promotion
- Public Health, Pacific and Māori Health, Global Health
- Psychology, Human Resources, Environmental Science and Criminology
- Ideally, have completed one or more papers related to health, safety, or wellbeing.
Have a genuine interest in pursuing a career in Health, Safety, and Wellbeing.
We welcome applicants with diverse cultural backgrounds and/or lived experience with disability.
Demonstrate a strong work ethic and effective communication skills.
Be available to work full-time (up to 40 hours per week) from mid-November to mid-February (excluding the Christmas/New Year holiday period).
Must be eligible to live, study, and work in New Zealand.

Application process

Stage 1
Apply through the MPI Careers Portal by sending your Covering Letter and Curriculm Vitae (CV).

Stage 2
You will be asked to complete a short video interview with pre-provided questions which will be under timed conditions. This stage is for us to find out more about you, why you selected your preferred agencies and your motivations to assess your application.

Stage 3
You will be invited to an interview meeting, in person or online, to meet host managers and answer questions. Candidates will be expected to cover their own travel and relocation expenses. Please note: In some circumstances candidates may be asked to attend a second interview.

Stage 4
Agencies will select their preferred candidates, who will be asked to undergo reference checks. Successful candidates will receive offers of employment from their specific agencies.

Listen to what our past Interns have to say about the programme.

2023/24 GHSL Summer Intern Video - Using the programme to transition from University to Work life.	2024/25 GHSL Summer Intern Video - Week in a Life as an Intern.

2022/2023 Summer Interns -Why You Must Apply?	2021/2022 Summer Interns -Why you will be working on?

2020/2021 Summer Interns - What's in it for you?	2019/2020 Summer Interns - What we've learnt.

2018/2019 Summer Interns - Sharing our insights.	2017/2018 GHSL Summer Interns - One year on!