helinuk

I'm sitting here this morning feeling a tad overwhelmed by my lack of ability to find info on NZ from google etc.
(When we thought we were going to OZ I researched and did a couple of reccies and usually found out what I wanted. )

So if you are reading this and can help me that would be great.
I can't seem to find a website that lists qualifications acceptable in NZ. (I have found the NZQA but you have to pay for that )I want one I can type my qualifications in and find out if they are accepted.
1) NNEB (Similar to childcare Dip)- can I work in NZ with it? Is it recognised at all?
2)TEFL/TESOL cert. The jobs I've seen ask for a degree/PGCE as well? is that always the case?
3)Hornsby Dip in specific learning difficulties(dyslexia) are there any centres for dyslexics where I could work. Again I don't have a B.A ed. etc
Are there any organisations I can email? Do you know anyone who works in any of these fields?

I suddenly feel very nervous/anxious that my qualifications won't be recognised. I'd rather discover the truth now!
Have any of you found that the employers are also interested in your 'work experience' and then accepted your uk qualifications?

I think that all this panicing is because I know I'll need to work to bring money in, so I'm trying to find out approx. how much I could earn with any of the above qualifications. - but can't even find that out from adverts/websites.

We are planning to do a reccie when /if we get visa to validate it - so hopefully that would be early next yr. I can knock on doors then.
cheers

BEVS

Hi.
I'll start the ball rolling a little. I am sure there will be others on here who are better able to help you.
Teaching and childcare is not my field , although I do have an incredibly dyslexic husband who comes from a dyslexic and dyspraxic family. I also worked as a house carer for Austistic and Asperger boys once I finally gave up that most riveting of jobs - accountancy. These days I am a semi-retired plumbers wife, helping the dyslexic husband through all his NZ plumbing exams [ required to be registered and self-employed here in NZ] the best I can.
The Plumbing Board of NZ have an extremely archaic view of what dyslexia is , so there are no reader/scribes made available. As you can tell, its a subject close to my heart.

There is no dyslexic association here in NZ as there is in the UK. Many dyselexics are taught within the mainstream schools with just a teachers aid to help them. The aid may or may not be trained re. Dyslexia. As we both know , dyslexia needs a unique approach.

Dyslexia is not a recognised as a medical diagnosis in New Zealand.
Please read the Dyslexia not recognised part of this article from The Beehive, a government website .

Further links which you may find helpful.

Davis Dyslexia NZ
Dore Centres - Dyslexia ,Dyspraxia ,ADHD
another link re dyslexia - this is a charitable trust.

SPELD is another link. you will see they are NZQA approved and provide courses.

Childcare Assn. NZ

I don't know of any site where you can just type in your UK quals to see if they are recognised. Certainly not a free one.

If you go to NZIS website and look to the right , you will see toolbox. At the bottom of the menu it lists Recognised Qualifications. I am sure you have already looked through this though.
Looking at your quals , it would seem you will have to pay for , at least, a pre-assessment with NZQA.

You may be able to find work using your TESOL. TESOL courses are available here at NZ universities , so wil be recognised by NZ employers in this field. Perhaps contact the heads of department and ask them for a list of possible employers. It would be such a waste of your special needs skills though.

As I expect you already know, to apply for a visa/PR under the Skilled Migrant category, your quals and skills have to be at a level 4. This , in your case, would be ascertained by NZQA from what I can see.

This does not stop you looking for a job offer. You could gain a job offer in your field, however, your new NZ employer would have to prove to NZIS that there is no New Zealander who could fill that position. Its called an approval in principle.
I would suspect that there are many teaching English as a foreign language here already.
However, your UK dyslexia training would be something more specialised & unique. There are no equivalents here to the Hornsby Dips.

Montessori schools have an approach to education which is quite similar to the needs of a dyslexic or autism for that matter.

Maybe contact them HERE to see if they would have any openings as a teachers aid within the classroom. You could then progress, through Montessori and upgrade your skills with them. Just a thought.........

IainW

Lots of good stuff from Bevs there. I think you should bite the bullet and get an NZQA assessment done. It's not that expensive in the scheme of things, and you will certainly need it for your application.

Good TEFL providers in NZ will almost certainly want degree level qualifications - a diploma in TEFL at least. Any that don't will be cowboys and I'd stay clear.

The dyslexia qualification may get you a TA position, but to be a teacher you'll need a degree.

The NNEB is the most likely to be of use in the short term - but by 2012 all teachers in teacher-led services will need to be registered. Which means you'll need a degree. (Or postgrad Diploma)

There are huge opportunities right now in Early Years Education, but you'll need to do some training. I'd have thought that the NNEB would provide you with a pretty good start and I'd be suprised if it didn't get a level 5 equivalent with NZQA.

helinuk

Bevs and Iain W
many thanks for all those links! Some I'd sussed out but some are new to me,
this'll keep me busy today.

Fortunately I don't need to prove any of these to acquire a visa as we are using my hubby's electronic engineering degree and yrs of experience in a shortage area to apply.

If my understanding of the situation is correct NZ employers aren't going to be lining up to employ me. Shame all my experience will go to waste.
If I were 10 yrs younger I might consider attempting a degree.

We were told the TESOL cert is level 4. I'll have to email Hornsby and find out what the Dip in specific learning difficulties is equivalent to.
Thank you both for your replies and links
Helen

BEVS

The dyslexics in New Zealand really need you Helinuk.

Perhaps you could offer private tutoring. Certainly , once you have arrived, find the local dyslexic support group.

helinuk

Bevs thank you. I have to admit to spending half today on the internet and talking to people about all this. I found out Hornsby have merged with Dyslexia Institute to provide training in UK and they put me onto the College of teachers to have the Dip in specific learning diff. valued as to what level it is. I also phoned Cache the new organisation who deal with the NNEB/ dip in childcare uk to find out how I can make it acceptable to NZ.
I feel very cross about the TESOL cert. in cost us £800 each to train for this earlier this year and IainW suggested it wasn't of value in NZ unless we have a Dip.(in UK you have to have 2 yrs experience as tTESOLcert before taking the dip.) Interestingly during my moderation the moderator was very interested in the fact that I had the dip in dyslexia and said language schools often need people who can help distinguish between a problem with a language (English) and fundamental dyslexia.
I originally did the dyslexia course because both our children were diagnosed dyslexic and I wanted to help them. Thank you for suggesting the tutoring. I did enjoy doing that in the dyslexia centre when we lived in Singapore, I might consider that again.
I was interested in the charity link. I might contact them before we do the reccie. It would be good to chat to you more about this. I'll PM you next week- taking son back to uni in Sheffield this w/e.(there's a story in itself- told he was class clown & daft before being diagnosed dyslexic )
Helen