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 Nicky Mathews, Social Worker from United Kingdom - Wow - What a Year!March:
Attended the Emigrate Show at Sandown Park where I met Prudence Shaw from ACCENT Health Recruitment. Could she help me find work as a social worker anywhere in NZ' Yes, she thought she would be able to assist me and suggested she email me with a date to meet her at NZ House in London. April
Managed to locate NZ House just off Trafalgar Square. Discussed with Prudence my work experience/skills and the sort of employment I was looking for in NZ. A very short video clip was taken to show prospective employers. Hope it doesn't put them off!
May/June
Up to me to be proactive in searching for social worker posts advertised on the websites of the 21 District Health Boards (DHBs) Emailed Prudence to say I wished to apply for the post of community social worker with the Bay of Plenty DHB. Three references and my CV emailed to Prudence. Fingers crossed!
July
Delighted when Prudence emailed me with the date of the interview by teleconference. All I have to do now is impress them!
9.30pm 15th July
End of a very busy week, can hardly remember my own name. Sit on kitchen floor waiting for the phone to ring. One hour later, I am phoning Prudence to say the interview has gone really well and I think I might be in with a chance. She will let me know. Meanwhile the DHB request three further references.
Three long weeks followed with no news. Frequent emails to Prudence....................what is happening' I must know. Suspence becoming unbearable. Prudence in touch with the DHB saying it is looking hopeful.
5th August
Phone call from Prudence. Have I had a call yet from the DHB' No!
Phone call from the Social Work Team Leader offering me the job. Yippee!! Of course I said I would think about it (this is a lie). Phone call to Prudence...............undying loyalty, forever grateful etc. etc.
Now panicking about residency visa etc. (me not Prudence) as start date is 19th September. Eek !!....................only six weeks away.
In order to save her sanity and mine, Prudence put me in touch with Peter Croxson from E-migration, also based in Christchurch. Thus into my life came the still small voice of calm and reason, reassuring me that although the time scale was tight, it was feasible.
August/September
Emails flying back and forth followed by a late night phone call (these crazy time differences) to ensure all information precisely accurate for my Residency Application. (I am pretty close to the immigration cut-off point of 56 years).
Full medical, chest x-rays and hepatitis B vaccinations all completed. Healthy body but poorer bank balance.
Employment contract received, signed and duly returned. This is getting serious now!
Residency Application received by courier from Peter. Original documents inserted, all checked and signed, and couriered to Immigration Officer in London. But where is the elusive Police Check''
Ongoing panicking from me....................will the DHB hold the job as I am not going to make it for 19th September ' Prudence and Peter talking to each other as never before. Sanity slowly slipping away. Still working full time in current employment. Can't fall between two jobs as I kept on (and on) saying to Prudence.
15th September
Oh Happy Day!! Phone call at work from Immigration Officer. Residency Visa being put in my passport. Speechless with shock. Want to kiss her. United sigh of relief audible from Prudence and Peter.
19th September
Travel to London to collect passport and original documents.
21st September
Fly from Heathrow on NZ Airlines
23rd September
Arrive safely at Tauranga Airport in the Bay of Plenty.
26th September
Start work!! Also receive a big red box of
goodies from Prudence. Bless.
December 2005
My first 3 months in NZ have gone really well, much better than I could ever have hoped for. Prudence has been in touch by email and phone from time-to-time to check I am OK.
Having stayed in B & B for the first 3 weeks (which I had arranged on the internet) and become one of the family, I then moved into a spacious rented rear unit, only five minutes walk from the hospital. Have joined the local walking group, Pac N Boots, having had my first weekend away with them at the end of October. Have also started Tai Chi classes.
Everyone has been very welcoming. My DHB orientation programme was both informative and enjoyable and included two days Treaty of Waitangi training and one day's Cultural Awareness training. The main difference at work is that NZ social workers do not complete Care Needs Assessments as the Ministry of Health has set up a separate agency to do this.
Having now completed three months in skilled employment, I am about to apply for permanent residency. NZ citizenship can be applied for in five years time.
A joke as told to me by an "Englishman" who has been living in NZ for 40 +
years!
Q "How do you know when a planeload of Poms has arrived at Auckland Airport"'
A "You can still hear the whining when the pilot has switched off the engines"!
Read More Case Studies
 Stephen Bechdolt, Pathologist from AmericaMy wife and I had been speaking to each other for quite a long time about the medical care situation in the United States. We were not very happy with the influence that money had on medical care. We were also under the impression that New Zealand was quite a spectacular place to visit and perhaps live and that the ... MORE |
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Jan Taylor – Registered Nurse – specialising in young disabled