Hi folks, very glad to have found this site.

I am planning on heading to New Zealand in March on a working holiday visa (to begin with, I have obtained a two year WHV though). I will be coming to NZ with two years experience as a Children and Families Social Worker and am hoping to get my teeth into a similar post out there. Does anyone have a similar experience or any ideas on agencies I can contact ahead of leaving?

Any feedback will be greatly appreciated, as you can imagine this is all very over whelming! I am planning on staying at Auchland as I have links there.

Thanks in advance ,

Sarah.

Hello and welcome.

Children, Youth and Families is the NZ Govt Dept that deals with supporting children and families with social needs. That's shortened to, 'CYFs' in conversation.

Please Google nz govt jobs as all NZ Government paid job vacancies are listed here including social workers. Social Workers in Schools is shortened to SWiS. This might be an avenue for you to explore, if it's relevant.

Not forgetting TradeMe and Seek for job opportunities.

I have no experience of employment agencies regarding your skills background. Save to say, with regard to admin, which is what I do, they have been next to useless on the North Island of New Zealand, anyway.

Really apprechiate your answer, my friend who is currently located in Auchland had a similar problem and she too is in admin.

Thanks for the advice, theres a lot of similar posts in the Australian thread but not so much in relation to NZ, just hope there is some one here who has made the transition or has experience to share.

Hi,
I do believe that whether or not your a qualified social worker in the UK that doesn't count as usual in NZ and therefore you will need to do training before you can take a social work job.

Auckland

I know that Social Workers are still classed as skilled migrants but have read that some employers prefer you to be registered with a recognised body, in Scotland that's SSSC so I can understand why that would be the case.

Was really hoping that there would be fellow Social Workers lurking on here as it would be really helpful to understand how they found the transition and whether this was successful. Please folks any advice is welcomed

looks like your qualification will need accessing.

Health and Social Services Social Worker (272511) Bachelor Degree (specialising in Social Work) OR Graduate Diploma (specialising in Social Work) OR Post Graduate Diploma (specialising in Social Work) OR Masters (specialising in Social Work) OR an equivalent qualification as assessed by the Social Workers Registration Board.

have you this checked out ?

I'm sure there was another new member the other week asking about social work. try and do an advanced search

Hi, just had this job alert via Facebook page; Palmerston North

http://www.midcentraldhb.govt.nz/Wor...orker-PNH.aspx

Yeah I have the post-grad and spoke to an adviser about what visa option was the best.

I had a wee look through previous posts but will keep searching, I can imagine others have had the same queries and people might get frustrated at having to answer the same questions .

So much things to think about but it will be worth it in the end

Thanks Allison, helpful link, will definitely have a snoop on the website

You're welcome....worth a look!

There have been a couple of SW pop on by. I've pinged one .

From what I remember of relative doing it when we went over, she got residency due to being a social worker but never got a job as one as needed something which was v difficult to get through work.

I think that's what I am finding confusing, so much conflicting info, I managed to get some numbers to Auckland's CYF dept so will give them a phone to clarify what they would expect from a potential employee. Fingers crossed that they give me some clarity

found this,

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...=social+worker