[Jamie and Suzy]

Hi all,

I've been reading posts here for a while now, and you all seem so helpful and friendly i've decided to join and say hello.

I have recently had an interview for a large engineering company in Auckland (haven't had an answer yet - but fingers and everything else all crossed), and now i'm starting to get excited about to moving to NZ. I thankfully don't have to go through all the PR/Visa stuff as i have dual nationality - UK / Oz, and the Oz bit allows me to work in NZ, lucky hey? :)

But my partner is British and will need to start the process, ideally with a job to go to. This is currently our biggest worry and could make or break our decision to move - OH is a social worker working specifically with Physically Disabled people and we are finding it really hard to find specific info about this job in NZ. Does anybody out there know any social work specific jobsites (seek, etc only list about 5 social work jobs - in a city with over a million people!) or any good agencies to sign up with?

We went to the Manchester expo, a few weeks ago and although there were lots of health - type jobs most exhibitors looked blankly when we mentioned social work! I have searched the forum and this has been brought up before, but we didn't get too far - i noticed 'Debbie' is a social worker - how have you got on??

Well that was a bit of an information burst / plea for help, think i'll leave it there for now. To give you some frame of reference we are both late twenties and live in the north of England.

Thanks

J&S

[Timbo]

Hi Jamie & Suzy, and a very warm welcome.
I just did a quick google on your behalf, and came up with this;
http://www.cyf.govt.nz/1158.htm
Hope it helps.

[sizzlingbadger]

Welcome Jamie and Suzy.

Unfortunately can't help on the social care work but good luck in getting to NZ

:clap

[David with a dream]

Hi J & S nice to read your post. I dont know if this is of any help but I have been employed by social services for the past 3 years working with adults with learning difficulties. Anyhow when I was in Auckland in the summer I saw a job advertised in the local free press to work in a centre similar to what I had been working in. The employer was the local authority so perhaps give them a try, if you have not already.
Good luck with your plans. David

[Miffy]

Hello and welcome (to the forum and the rollercoaster that is shifting over to NZ)

As David (wad) suggested I think you should contact the local authority.
so google which ever city you want to work in and get the website that way.

Good luck

[Smiler]

Hi Jamie and Suzy,

I know nothing about the job part for you, but wanted to say Hi and welcome.

Look forward to reading more about your journey to NZ and good luck with the Auckland job. :nice1


Deborah

[Marie P]

HI and welcome to the forum .

Where abouts in the north ?

Marie

[wanderingoregonian]

welcome to the forum! My husband is an engineer (robotics/haptics) and I'm a speech therapist that specializes in augmetentative and augmentative communication and work with many children with physical disabilities. I'll keep my eye out for social work positions as I do my own research and let you know if I see anything.

I've signed up to receive email notices of openings in the ministry of education - I've seen lots of openings for teahcers, therapists, pyschologists, maybe they also look for social workers - http://www.minedu.govt.nz/

Also, maybe check out the university programs that offer social work programs (e.g., http://www.otago.ac.nz/courses/qualifications/msw.html) and see if they have information about where they are placing their graduates? Also maybe there is some info on the ministry of health or the ACC websites? It seemed to me that most of the funding for services for people with disabilities come through education, health, or ACC.

I visited a few special education schools and such on my last trip to NZ, feel free to PM me with any questions.

[Debbie]

HI there and welcome to the forum. It's a great source of info.
I will PM you in the next day or so with the social work bits I've got but to put your mind at ease, social work is listed as a skill shortage so even if you didn't have your OZ nationality your OH would be welcome with open arms by NZIS.
I'll be in touch as soon as the kids give me half an hour to myself.
All the best.
Debbie

[Jamie and Suzy]

Hi all - thanks for the warm welcome!

David - Thanks for your post, if you don't mind could you PM us a bit more detail for the authority you worked for - maybe a name and contact number? that would be really useful.

Wanderingoregonian and Debbie - Thanks for the advice/websites and for keeping your eye out for positions. My experience is with adults of working age (18-65)with physical impairments. I also work alongside hearing and visual loss professionals who provide rehab and equipment.

My biggest worry so far is that I am currently in a senior practiotner's role (assistant manager) and I have been told by a recruitment agency that I won't be able to do equivalant role in NZ for 6 months! This would mean a massive drop in salary and a backwards career step so not good. Is this right from what you guys know?

I'm really grateful for your help on this as I am right at the beginning of my job search and starting to need as much info as I can get before I make the move with Jamie.

Thanks again everyone this forum is great!! its nice to chat to like minded people - gives us alot more confidence in our decision to cross the equator! :cheers

Suzy (& Jamie).

[Diny]

Welcome to the forum. I can't help with the job front either but just wanted to welcome you to the fold.

Good luck - hope all turns out OK for you.

Diny

[Questor]

Welcome - We've not been here long either but I know you'll be able to find all the info you need here!