Experienced primary teacher seeking residency

Ruth

Hi everyone,

Has anyone here tried to gain work as a primary teacher in NZ recently? Looking at other postings, I'm starting to feel disheartened due to the apparent number of applicants for primary positions. I've got 7 years UK experience, and a good job in the UK, good references, and I've jammily managed to get unpaid leave for Oct/Nov to go jobsearching in NZ-job held open till January. I'm worried that this won't be enough time to secure a job though!!
Also, my hubby and teenage daughter may come too on one way tickets, also on a vistors' visa. It all seems very risky..... Uhoh

If I did get a job offer, how long would it take to get a work visa sorted after that? And how long do residency applications take, as my daughter (15) would need to start school in NZ ASAP? Confused

Has anyone any advise or experiences to share?
Cheers
Ruth

Graham Barnes · Posted: Tue May 04, 2004 12:18 am Post subject:

Hi Ruth,
I'm about one year ahead of you and am just finishing the process so I hope this helps! If you have any specific queries about how it applies to your particular situation, by all means bounce them back on the forum or by pm.

I'm a secondary school teacher who is starting over in NZ in mid August.
I think the only place where primary rolls are increasing now is Auckland; the demographic bulge has now moved into the secondary sector where demand is still strong. Therefore primary jobs are no longer on the POL which means that an NZ school would have to convince NZIS that there is no local who could do the job instead of a non-NZer. However it may be on the OSL for the Auckland... so worth checking on www.immigration.govt.nz. I've also read a few articles on Stuff that says Education institutions are producing more primary school teachers than necessary....
Going over in Oct/Nov is an excellent idea because it gives principals the chance to see you, hopefully increasing your chances of getting an interview. It also enables you to check out the school; it may be considering overseas teachers because they are in a rough or hard-to-staff area. I got lucky...I teach Physics, which helps because they are particularly short of them, and the Principal knew a HEad in the UK who saw me, and another Principal in NZ who I had met a year earlier. I'm also in a bit of a niche area (boys' boarding) which fitted exactly the school I am going to.
Be warned...most schools will not consider applicants who do not already have NZ registration (see below). Most jobs come out late October/early November time; you can set an e-mail alert for jobs on www.edgazette.govt.nz which is their version of the TES-online.

Strongly recommended to get qualification assessment and teacher registration sorted out immeditely so that you can present this as a fait accompli to any schools.
1. Go to www.nzqa.govt.nz for information on assessment of academic and teacher education qualifications. You want the QES service, and you must follow their instructions to the letter. If you have a 3-year UK degree+PGCE, or a four-year BEd, you'll be fine but you must send in certificates and course transcripts. The standard service takes 6 weeks; for an extra charge you can get an upgrade to 10 days (fast track). I did this and it worked very well.
2. Once you have your NZQA assessment, you apply to the Teachers' Council for registration. See www.teacherscouncil.govt.nz. If NZQA say that your quals are comparable to those in NZ, then you won't have any problems. If they don't...it gets complicated because you can still register but you need LOTs of evidence to prove that you are/would be a satisfactory teacher (references, etc) and you will get paid as an unqualified teacher in the state system. You will get provisional registration to start with.

I'm on the POL so a work visa is easy and quick after getting a job offer. As said before, primary schools may need to get approval from NZIS who have to do a labour market survey first. More time....
You cannot get PR until you gain full teacher registration which normally takes two years of full-time teaching in NZ.

Graham

Ruth · Posted: Tue May 04, 2004 3:46 am Post subject:

Hello Graham,

Thanks for all the advice and quick response!! Nice One

I have just sent off my NZQA application etc. so that should come through shortly. I have a PGCE and a degree in Psychology so I am told that this is recognised.
I already subscribe to edgazette, just so I can get an idea of the sorts of jobs on offer. Yes, Auckland is where I'm headed, and primary teaching is still on the OSL there.
Does it always take 2 years to get full teacher registration? If so, it might be better if hubby is main applicant (he's in the printing industry).
Do you know whether my daughter can recieve free education without me having PR?
Ruth

Ruth · Posted: Tue May 04, 2004 3:47 am Post subject:

Hello Graham,

Thanks for all the advice and quick response!! Nice One

I have just sent off my NZQA application etc. so that should come through shortly. I have a PGCE and a degree in Psychology so I am told that this is recognised.
I already subscribe to edgazette, just so I can get an idea of the sorts of jobs on offer. Yes, Auckland is where I'm headed, and primary teaching is still on the OSL there.
Does it always take 2 years to get full teacher registration? If so, it might be better if hubby is main applicant (he's in the printing industry).
Do you know whether my daughter can recieve free education without me having PR?
Ruth

Graham Barnes · Posted: Tue May 04, 2004 6:05 am Post subject:

Hi Ruth.

Glad to be of help.
If you can prove that you have been through a process of induction then the 2 years can be limited to one year if the Council agrees that it is equivalent and suitable. But the "default" time is the full two years. If you go to the NZTC website, the application form you want is called TC1. There is a guide to go with it, and this includes all the details you are looking for.

Re. schooling...my understanding is that if you have a work visa for longer than 2 years, you can get free schooling because your children will get a visitor or student visa with the same duration as your work visa. But don't quote me on that because I don't have children of my own, so I haven't spent much time looking into this one!

Good luck! I'm sure that there are jobs out there and you must stand a much better chance by flying out there. The situation may be the same as in UK where primary schools find it easier to appoint than secondary.

Graham