Working in New Zealand - from start to finish?

[Teesside]

Hello, i've been working in the NHS 4 years and i'm already disillusioned and fed up - i feel like a new challenge. So myself and my girlfriend have decided to emmigrate to NZ, having looked into the VISA situation it seems i fulfill all the relevant criteria and that shouldn't be a problem.

However i'm extremely daunted by the whole acreditation process and don't know where to begin. I'd be extremely grateful for advice on:

- do i need a VISA before i start the acreditation process?
- what do i need to begin the process?
- how long does the process take?
- is it worth contacting a recruitment agency?
- and finally is the health care system better over in NZ!

I know thats alot of questions but i'm feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the irrelevant information on the web sites i've checked out. Any info will be greatfully appreciated, this site has been a saving grace!

Cheers, Steve.

[Mel]

Hi Steve,

Firstly you need to get New Zealand registration, you don't need to get a visa before applying for this. I trained in NZ so can't give you to much info in applyimg for it from overseas but from what I've heard its relatively easy but very time consuming (may take 6+ months?). The NZ physio board are quite helpful and will answer your questions but first check out http://www.physioboard.org.nz/registration.asp to get the correct forms to fill out. You basically have to show that you are competent to practise in a number of different areas. Theres also alot of information on this forum about passing different competencies. You don't need to go through a recruitment agency to get a job but they may help with registration...I'm not to sure? Are you looking for a job in a hospital or private practise? If you want a job in a hospital its best to look on each hospitals individual website, you can find the links from here... http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/wpgIn...oards+Contents If you are looking for a job in a private practise check out the following websites...
http://www.physiotherapy.org.nz/ (become a member to view the latest jobs)
http://www.seek.co.nz/healthcare-jobs/ (hospital jobs as well)
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Jo...5000-5082-.htm
Theres also some in the job section of this website.
It sounds like the health care system is alot better here. And getting a job should not be a problem.

[PHY]

hi there,

I have been working 4 months in NZ. I graduated in 2006 in the UK and got rego cuz i had 4 year degree. It took 5 months to get rego. The physio skills over here are really good as insteasd of learning maitland in the UK they all learn Mulligans and Mckenzies and Cyarix. Most physios have post grad courses in something as there are so many available to do in the unis but you learn a lot of your seniors here than you do in the UK, most inservices and CPD work is like a mini course..
Recruitment agiences advertise the same jobs that you can find on the NASp website which is differnet from the nz reg website., dont bother enquiring about jobs until you have rego.
Standards in hospitals are below that of the UK. I have had some experience of hospital as well as private a and i am currnetly in private physio. The standards of living are quite the smae here to the UK in comparassion to your salary. Salary is a lot less compared to UK but there are some really cool places to work and live in New Zealand. If you do apply for new zealand reg and get it and decide you dont like working here you can get automatic registration For Australia. Most Kiwis physio/medics go onto work in Oz due to salary. Is the situation still bad in the UK regarding physio jobs. ANy furter questions just ask.

[ConorMcElroy]

I am a new UK graduate also interested in working in New Zealand or Australia. I would be grateful if anyone could shed more light on the eligibility to work in Oz after gaining NZ registration. PHY you say that OZ registration would be automatic after registering in NZ. Does this mean that once NZ registration is gained that one would not have to sit the written and clinical exams to get OZ registration? Could one then just apply to Oz in the same way as someone who has graduated from a NZ Physio course? And yes the situation in the UK and Ireland for basic grade physio jobs is bad at the moment with no sign of improving.

[daisymaycollins]

Originally Posted by PHY

hi there.....

Is the situation still bad in the UK regarding physio jobs. ANy furter questions just ask.

In response to that question.....yes the situation is still bad with only 63% of the 2006 graduates working as a Physiotherapist (dont quote me on that one but thats what the CSP stated in its last article on graduate unemployment). I graduated in 2006 with a three year degree but fortunately have found myself a job with a 12 month contract.

Would you be willing to answer any questions I may have about demonstrating the competencies? particularly about the healthcare system within new zealand and the journey our patients undertake to access physiotherapy???

Many thanks!!

Daisy

[PHY]

dAISY- EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT NEW ZEALAND HEALTH IS ON THE WEB AND ON ALL THE NEW ZEALAND HEALTH AND HOSPITAL WEBSITES. I DID MY PORTFOLIO A YEAR AGO, UNFORTUNATLY I DIDNT MAKE A COPY OF IT , I JUST SENT IT OF TO THE PHYSIO BOARD AND HOPED FOR THE BEST. PROB THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS HAVING EVERYTHING YOU HAVE CERTIFIED BY A SOLICITOR. DO YOUR PORTFIOLIO IN BULLET FORM AND WRITE SOMETHING FOR EACH COMPETENCY, IT TAKE A WHILE BUT IT IS BETTER STRUCTURED AS I HAVE KNOWN FRIEND THAT GOT REJECTED FOR WRITING PARAGRAPHS AND PAGES BUT NOT REFERING TO THE EXACT NUMBER OF THE COMPETENCY.YEAH BUT ANY QUESTIONS JUST ASK.

CONNOR-YES WHAT YOU HAVE WRITTREN IS TRUE, NZ REG IS AUTOMATIC FOR oZ REG WITH OUT SITTING THE EXAM BUT THE ONLY STATE YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO WORK IN IS WESTERN OZ/PERTH BUT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO WORK IN ALL OTHERS. IT TAKE 4 WEEKS TO TRANSFER YOUR NZ REG TO OZ REG AND THEN YOU APPY FOR AN INDIVIDUAL STATE REG SUCH AS NSW=SYDNEY, VIC=MELBOURNE OR QUEENSLAND=CAIRNS ,GOLD COAST,SURFERS,BRISBANE. AND ALL THE REST.

[daisymaycollins]

Originally Posted by PHY

dAISY- EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT NEW ZEALAND HEALTH IS ON THE WEB AND ON ALL THE NEW ZEALAND HEALTH AND HOSPITAL WEBSITES. PROB THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS HAVING EVERYTHING YOU HAVE CERTIFIED BY A SOLICITOR. DO YOUR PORTFIOLIO IN BULLET FORM AND WRITE SOMETHING FOR EACH COMPETENCY, IT TAKE A WHILE BUT IT IS BETTER STRUCTURED AS I HAVE KNOWN FRIEND THAT GOT REJECTED FOR WRITING PARAGRAPHS AND PAGES BUT NOT REFERING TO THE EXACT NUMBER OF THE COMPETENCY.YEAH BUT ANY QUESTIONS JUST ASK.

.

Hey yeah thats what id found out so far whilst researching it all and thats how im beginning to structure my portfolio.

However as im a new graduate im currently working as a physiotherapist on a 12 month contract. Will I have to wait for this to completely end before I apply? or could i begin my application say a month before my contract ends??
As soon as my contract ends I have decided to go travelling you see and wanted to sort my registration out before then if possible.

Can any shed any light?

[PHY]

Your Going To Ahve To Wait For Your Contract To Finish And Have That Reference From Your Senior Unforunatly. With 3 Years You Need That One Years Experience Under Your Belt Before Applying. More Than Likely What Would Happen Is That Your Application Will Be Sent Back To You And You Could Be Away Travelling. The Board Also Asks You To Supply Further Information And This Is Only Done By Written Letter And They Only Corrospond To The Adrsss You Supply,no Email And No Phonecalls. I Had To Supply Further Info To Them. Leave At Least 4 Months From You Sending Your Appliaction Until You Go Travelling In Case Somthing Is Wrong With It. If The Board Wants Even A Small Peice Of Info They Still Will Not Proceess Your Application.