Hi! My name is Anna and I’m an Occupational Therapist from the UK. I came to NZ with my husband and two young children in March 2017 from the UK.
The easiest part of the process was following the advice and guidance offered by Sarah and Prudence at ACCENT. ACCENT have been fabulous; from advice about registration early on, to interview support, information about arrival, regular communication and a gorgeous cake waiting for me when I started work! I can't thank them enough.
The whole process took approximately 11 months, the most challenging part of the process was getting through all the paperwork!
My first impressions of NZ were how warm, friendly and welcoming everyone was. The best part of NZ is the space, the scenery and the lovely laid back people. What we do miss most is of course friends and family.
My role here in NZ is a different specialty - vocational rehab, so there are loads of differences to the UK, but my manager and colleagues have been really great at helping me learn. I have been learning lots about ACC and the process for returning to work after an injury. The pace of work, report writing and working with a variety of clients is similar to the UK and I feel I have been able to transition easily.
My advice if you are planning to come to NZ is:
Go for it!
