My name is Shana Hall and I am a Physiotherapist in Oncology.
I came to NZ in March 2018 from London and the process to come to NZ took me 7 months
The easiest part of the process was getting a job! I was out of work for less than 10 days before I had an offer from a telephone interview.
The most challenging part of the process was the registration process. It was long and took a lot of extra hours after already working a full day. I spent a lot of time making sure I had all the documents and pieces of evidence. It was worth it in the end though as I had nothing sent back.
My first impressions of NZ were how quiet it was after London. It is a big, beautiful country of varying landscapes but not a lot of people here. It has been great to just turn up at a cafe or restaurant any night of the week and not have to book in advance!
I have experienced a great sense of culture and pride here also which has made it feel like living in a Pacific Island and not just a ‘mini England.’
The best parts of NZ are the unique volcanic landscape of the North Island, the towering glacial valleys of the South Island and the golden sands of Abel Tasman.
What I miss the most is the people back at home. I don’t miss the fast pace of London but I miss just being able to pop on a train to see my sister or my best friend. On the bright side I have spent more time with my Aussie and Kiwi friends who moved home after living in London so I still feel like I have a good social group here.
My advice if you are planning to come to NZ is first think carefully what type of place/city will make you happy. I knew I needed a busy city beside the sea with a short commute to work, good transport links, great cultural events and bars. I chose Wellington over Auckland as it is the cultural capital of NZ and I can get to the airport in 20 minutes, work in 10 minutes and the centre of the city in 5 minutes.
Second think about what sort of setting you want to work in. New Zealand has a much smaller population so the number of ’specialist’ roles is a lot lower. I originally wanted to work in Neuro rehab but I went for an inpatient oncology role in the Neuro-medical team in a tertiary teaching hospital but it also serves as a district general. Once I arrived in the DHB there were so many more opportunities open to me internally and I am treating complex patients not only from the Wellington area but Samoa, Tokelau etc. It is important to look at the big picture and while I am not doing rehab, I am treating a much broader spectrum of patients while maintaining all of my on-call respiratory skills as well as working in ED/orthopaedics.
Anything else you would like to say:
If you are looking at the uphill battle facing you with the registration process just remember
a) You will get your APC and once you are here you are another physio part of the team
b) There are lots of jobs and the process is easier with a recruiter
c) In 10 years’ time how much will you regret not working abroad as a physio!? – it will outweigh the doubts you have in your mind
d) If you don’t like it you can always try Australia afterwards 🙂
Questions about your new workplace:
My current role there is a big emphasis on leaving on time. In the NHS it was a culture of unpaid overtime whereas here if I am not dressed to leave in the office at 16:32 I get calls on my mobile to ask if I am okay!
In my last role I was rotational and here I am static within my team. Rotational roles are less common for experienced clinicians (qualified 3 or more years) so by embracing a static position it has given me an opportunity to focus on teaching, service improvement and develop my supervision skills.
Similar computer systems and in fact I think the UK is ahead of the game with some services! | do feel there is less paperwork in my new role and AHPs are valued as members of the MDT.
Is there anything specifically done differently in NZ that has interested you and the way you practice your profession?
The emphasis on cultural competence is a new concept in my everyday clinical practice. I am certainly taking more time to discuss this with my patients.
The nicest thing about NZ has been how supportive Whanau/ family units are. The social care crisis seems like a distant memory as so many more of my elderly patients are cared for at home by their extended family. No country is perfect and there are still issues with long term care but it is better coordinated in my current role.
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My Name is Rajalakshmi. I am an Occupational Therapist and I came to NZ on 18th Oct 2018 from Mumbai, India.
The process to come to NZ took around 6 months, but once my NZ job got confirmed it barely took 2 months. The easiest part of the process was having Prudence to guide me, the most challenging part of the process was acquiring appropriate information about my visa.
Honestly, there’s a huge difference in Occupational Therapy practice in India and NZ. In India, I worked a lot around the medical model in compensatory/rehabilitation frame of reference. Contrastingly in NZ, in my current workplace, it’s purely the occupational model. Documentation is immense and in a different format. My hospital experience has definitely helped me in the transition. The fast-paced work in acute hospital setup and meeting discharge timelines has been a carryover from Indian experience.
The biggest difference (and best part) in practice here in NZ is that the grounds for discharge of a patient are not only on medical grounds but focus hugely on functional status and social support, unlike the Indian health care institutions.
For me, NZ was a fairy tale isolated island with mountains and beaches. I haven’t travelled much out of Auckland yet but the best part of Auckland is the port. It fascinates me to watch huge containers, ferries and boats. However I do miss my family and the food.
If you are coming from India, have good understanding and acceptance of NZ culture and life style.
The Healthcare system in NZ is too good. Even if it’s not technologically very advanced but it’s very efficient in using existing resources.
My Name is Peter Nestor, I am an Occupational Therapist (OT). I came to NZ in September after living in UK for over 6 years, originally from Ireland.
The process to come to NZ took me about 15 months in total because I decided to move to London for 9 months before coming over, which put it all on hold for a while.
The easiest part of the process was having ACCENT to guide me through the process
The most challenging part of the process was understanding the Occupational Therapy Board New Zealand requirements for overseas, but once I wrapped my head around it, it wasn’t very challenging, only very time consuming.
My first impressions of NZ were positive vibes. More similar to Ireland and UK than I was expecting. I had my culture shock when I moved to UK. I was expecting another profound shock but was pleasantly surprised how easy it was to start settling in.
The best parts of NZ are all the hikes and beaches, favourite spot so far is Coromandel but plenty more to explore.
What I miss the most is Mom’s house at Christmas
My advice if you are planning to come to NZ is be open minded, be flexible, have a positive approach to adventure & the unexpected, and go with the flow.
Anything else you would like to say: Special shout out to past and present ACCENT employees Sarah Tuisuga & Hayley Cullen for being so supportive, and down to earth with the whole process. Blessings.
Are there any major differences between your current role in NZ and your previous role working across England?
Totally different healthcare system process, Accident Compensation Scheme is very unique to NZ. I also had all my experience in acute general medicine OT, and now work in Community Rehab dealing mostly with neurological disorders. So steep learning curves.
Are there any similarities that have helped you orientate/transition easily?
I’m used to working with very supportive, friendly teams. Shout out to my former awesome therapy teams at Essex and London, and my current team at Auckland. You guys are nothing short of inspiring. I’ve been blessed.
The bicultural focus and practice is very interesting. Although there are many differences, there are also many similarities between Maori and Irish, especially in terms of our history and culture. I feel honoured to have the opportunity to work with Maori people and learn more of their customs, culture, practice, music, and language. I hope to focus more and more in this area as I develop my practice.
Hey there, my name is Alex and I am a Physio. My partner, Francesca (also a Physio) and I came to NZ in October 2016 from the UK. The process to come to NZ took us approx. 6-8 months.
The easiest part of the process was settling into the area and finding people to socialise with.
The most challenging part of the process was the paperwork for registration!
My first impression of NZ was that it was much more laid back and relaxed than home – everyone is really friendly and helpful.
The best things about NZ so far are – better weather than at home, so many different places to explore within a short distance of each other, it’s easy to make friends and find people to travel with, and getting paid fortnightly is great! What I miss the most is family and friends.
Getting registered and having jobs before coming over made the process so much quicker and meant that we didn’t have to worry too much about money and the cost of getting set up with somewhere to live. Also allow at least a couple of weeks to get settled and see a bit of the place before starting work – getting a car early on made things a lot easier.
So far the move out here has definitely been worth it. It’s been so easy to make friends and find new sports and things to do – people have been so welcoming and we’ve met lots of people just by looking online for what’s on locally and just turning up! Accent were really helpful when we were in the UK and had lots of advice about all aspects of our trip – really helpful to keep us focused on deadlines and to push us to get our registration sorted ASAP!
Are there any major differences between your current role in NZ and your previous role in the UK?
The ACC paperwork can take a bit of getting used to initially with regards to accepting and lodging claims. Also the different types of contract clients means that the role can vary quite significantly from client to client however this is not necessarily a bad thing as it keeps the job interesting.
The job is very similar to the private sector back home – compared to the NHS there are more acute injuries and most clients have had accidents rather than degenerative conditions.
Dependent upon the contract types some clients are seen out in the community in gyms which gives lots of scope for variety and exercise progression which is fun and opens more possibilities with treatment – this is also more convenient for clients sometimes.
I am Natalie and I am a physio from the UK. I came to NZ in May 2018 The process to come to NZ took me around a year but this was due to taking my time putting together my NZ Physiotherapy Board application paperwork (you have to be very detailed and check things a lot!!). Once I had sent it off I was lucky to be granted registration within a month and was then able to apply for jobs and my visa which didn’t take long at all.
The easiest part of the process was finding a job! Kristin at Accent was so amazing and helpful with every step of the way. Excellent communication and gave advice to help me prepare for my interview and helped with negotiations after I was offered a job. She helped with the transition providing a handy check list of things to consider and remember to do before leaving and once arriving in New Zealand. Which was so handy!
The most challenging part of the process was organising all the paperwork for my NZ Physiotherapy registration. It pays to take your time and do your research for this as they are very specific and strict, you can easily be declined (and not refunded) if it is incorrectly completed.
My first impressions of NZ were groceries are expensive!! (safe to say shopping for supplies when you have just landed and you’re extremely sleep deprived isn’t a great idea). But after a good nights sleep I woke up and took a stroll along the beach, inhaled the fresh air, felt the warmth of the sun, looked at the scenery and smiled from ear to ear. I had travelled to New Zealand before and already loved the country and the people, so I quickly felt at home in this beautiful place.
The best parts of NZ are Mount Maunganui. Ok I am probably biased when I say this but wow! I feel so lucky to be able to call this place my home. It really is stunning. It’s also a great location to travel and see other parts of the north island. This country has it all, stunning beaches, clear blue seas, rivers, lakes, mountains, forests, volcanoes, natural thermal springs the list goes on and the best part is you don’t have to travel far to find it. It’s all around you and there’s so much to do, see and explore.
The people here are so friendly and always up for fun and the weather is great, even the winter is mild with plenty of sunny days. What I miss the most is My mums amazing roast potatoes and my friends and family. My advice if you are planning to come to NZ is to hurry up and get here, you won’t regret it! Haha
Ok seriously. Be as organized as possible before you leave and make sure you have considered the cost of moving and setting up once you arrive. Get yourself a car as soon as possible when you arrive, unfortunately public transport is probably the worst part of NZ. Also NZ has some epic roads to travel on, so the sooner you can get yourself a set of reliable wheels the better. Awesome road trips and adventures here you come! Go easy on yourself for the first few months as it takes time to settle in to your new life, your job and to make friends and a new social network.
If you move here on your own and do not know anyone then my best bit of advice would be to start talking to people anywhere and everywhere. People are so friendly and welcoming. I randomly started talking to someone at the bus stop one morning on my way to work and now they are one of my closest friends here.
I’d like to say a massive thank you to Kristin for all of her help and support in finding me a job and giving me advice with relocating to NZ. She made the whole process a lot easier and it was so good to know she was on the other end of the phone or email if I had any questions. The little welcome parcel when I arrived in NZ was so thoughtful too and a lovely touch, it was so simple but it brought a huge smile to my face. Just what I needed after a long few days of travel.
Accent Health Recruitment is such a brilliant organisation and I couldn’t speak any more highly you. I definitely recommend you to anyone who is looking to make the move to NZ.
Work Place Differences:
The different types of ACC contracts and the variety of work involved with them all is different to my previous role in the UK, but it essentially makes you use all aspects of Physiotherapy so it keeps you competent and allows you to continually develop your skills. Here in NZ there is a big emphasis on vocational rehabilitation, something that isn’t huge in the UK. So a big part of my role as a Physio here is to tailor my patient’s treatment and rehabilitation to ensure they can achieve functional, work specific tasks to enable them to return to their job. The type of patients I see are different too. In the UK I worked in the NHS so the most acute I got to see, if I was lucky, was an injury about 2-3 weeks old and they would have already seen a GP/specialist prior to myself. Here I see a lot of very acute patients, so my management and triage skills have developed greatly. Physio’s here are able to refer directly toOrthopaedic Consultants and for X-ray and Ultrasounds without the need for GP approval, which is great! Thankfully Physio is Physio anywhere in the world and we all have the same bodies and get the same injuries and issues. The approach is the same, you still assess and treat the same so even if everything else around you is different just focus on what you know and you won’t go wrong.
I am a physiotherapist and my name is Tom Cross
I left the UK in January to come to New Zealand. The registration, and recruitment process took me about 6 months.
Kristin from Accent HR found me a job and that was the easiest part of the process. The challenging part of the process was completing the paperwork for NZ Physio board registration.
When I first arrived in NZ I found that the people were very friendly, we had great weather, and there is such beautiful scenery.
The best parts of NZ are the great access to the outdoors (great variety too, beach, mountains and volcanoes!), great beaches and surf with quiet roads to get around on!
What I miss the most is: Family and friends
My biggest piece of advice is to give plenty of consideration to the costs involved.
Be clear about the costs involved and budget accordingly, ensure you include the cost of getting a car, the registration process and housing. My second bit of advice is that it will likely take between 3-6 months to feel fully settled and establish a good friends group and to also establish yourself within your job.
Finally, do your research when negotiating salary. In NZ the Physio sector is mainly private so they are used to negotiating figures so don’t be shy to ask for a fair salary and don’t undersell yourself. Be sure to get a ‘retainer’ if working privately as this will guarantee some income during less busy times as client numbers will fluctuate.
I would like to thank Kristin and the team at Accent. Kristin was my main recruiter, she was easy to speak to and worked extremely hard on my behalf especially whilst I was away traveling through India on my way to NZ. She was very reassuring as I had a very tight timeframe that I had asked her work within.
The main difference is in the healthcare system within Physiotherapy. Here in NZ Physio’s see much more acute clients and thus your approach to patient management will need to be altered accordingly. There is also an expectation from clients that they will receive ‘hands on’ treatment. If you have worked in a private system previously then this will not come as a shock but if you are only used to the NHS then you might find you need to adapt to ensure client satisfaction and repeat business.
Despite the acute nature and client expectations the approach to physiotherapy is very much the same. I have enjoyed the more acute nature of my client’s injuries. This has made for some interesting cases and also developed my manual therapy skills. In addition, here in NZ physios are able to refer for XRAY and directly to orthopaedic consultants without the need to involve the GP which has developed my triage skills.
“My Name is Ryan I am a Physiotherapist and I came to NZ from the UK in March. The process to come to NZ took me 9 months from start to finish. The easiest part of the process was finding a job – Merryl seemed to have all the right connections and found us a great employer 4 months before we even arrived in NZ, having a job secured 4 months before we had even packed our bags took a huge strain of our minds
The most challenging part of the process was getting Physiotherapy registration.
My first impressions of NZ were: Where are all the people and the traffic? This place is great. The scenery is unreal, I have never been anywhere in the world with as much a diverse landscape as NZ
The best parts of NZ are: the outdoors, the relaxed way of life, less traffic on the roads outside of Auckland
What I miss the most is: the family and UK Bisto gravy granules the Bisto out here in New Zealand just isn’t the same, apart from that there is nothing drawing me back to the UK any time soon
My advice if you are planning to come to NZ is: start the registration as early as possible – It will have you pulling out your hair from time to time, get it done early then you can enjoy the fun parts of packing and travelling, I would not advise making the long trip to NZ in one go, go travelling for a month or 2 beforehand
Anything else you would like to say: A massive thanks to Merryl, your hard work made moving to a strange new country surprisingly easy.
QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR NEW WORKPLACE:
Are there any major differences between your current role in NZ and your previous role in England? The healthcare system takes some getting used to especially the ACC, it’s a fantastic system but takes time to understand all the inner workings.
Are there any similarities that have helped you orientate/transition easily? Patients are very similar and injuries are the same.
Is there anything specifically done differently in NZ that has interested you and the way you practice your profession? There is more emphasis on inter-professional working which gives you more opportunity to take time out to meet with surgeons, GPs, OTs etc.”
Hi! My name is Harry, I am a Physiotherapist and arrived into Christchurch on June the 13th 2017 from Norwich, United Kingdom. The process to come to NZ took me 15 months.
The easiest part of the process was getting in contact with employers in NZ and communicating with them – all thanks to Accent Health Recruitment. The most challenging part of the process was completing my registration with the Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand. The process was hard work and took approximately 5 months of consistent work to put the documentation together.
It was interesting that even though NZ is on the other side of the world to the UK, there are still many similarities. This has helped to make the transition much easier. The best part of NZ is that the people are extremely friendly. I have ended up meeting people and talking to them in situations where I wouldn’t normally back in the UK. Also, you are never far away from stunning scenery or adventure. On a day off, you are always able to go and discover something new and exciting.
What I miss the most is my family and friends back home.
My advice if you are planning to come to NZ is:
– Before departing; have a plan of the important things that you want to get done in the first 1-2 weeks. For me this was banking, sorting a NZ phone, and getting a car. (ACCENT can send you a list to tick off and can provide you essential info around this). I would also suggest giving yourself time to settle in before starting work. I gave myself 6 days before starting work. This was about right, however it would have been nice to have a few more days off to explore!
– If coming out on your own, I would definitely recommend using Airbnb or moving into a house share. Through Airbnb I have met people who I now regularly socialise with.
– If you have hobbies or activities that you would normally do, research the sport/activity in your area in NZ and just go and speak to someone about it. I have met a number of people who I am playing tennis with in Christchurch and they have been extremely welcoming and friendly.
The transition was made as easy as possible thanks to Accent Health Recruitment. I was picked up from the airport and given transportation to meet my employer, a banking appointment and appointment to look at a car. I felt like I was able to get in touch with my recruiter at any time, both before coming to NZ and in my first couple of weeks here. This made me feel at ease with what is such a big journey for me! Thanks!
Are there any major differences between your current role in NZ and your previous role in the UK:
I have come from working as a Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist in the National Health Service in the UK. I am now working as a Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist in a clinic environment; working alongside three other Physiotherapists and a sports massage therapist. The Health Care system in NZ is very different to the UK, with patients having to pay for their care. Any accident that results in an injury is partially covered by ACC which subsidies the treatment. I would recommend doing some basic reading on ACC and the NZ health care system before starting work.
The computer system used for writing notes is relatively similar to that in the UK. It has been quite straight forward to transfer over to the new system.
My Name is Johanna I am a Radiographer/MRT. I came to NZ from the UK in December.
The process to come to NZ, once I was in a real position to job hunt, took less than 6 months. The plan for this move had begun a few years earlier. We had property to sell and I had already got my registration to practice in NZ. I am a NZ passport holder through descent so we just had to worry about residence visas for my family.
The easiest part of the process was making the decision to make the move!
The most challenging part of the process was that once I had a job offer we had about four weeks to pack up everything to ship whilst looking after 3 kids under 5 and wanting to say goodbye to everyone in style!
My first impressions of NZ were – It is beautiful and so relaxed compared to the UK.
The best parts of NZ are – The relaxed lifestyle.
What I miss the most is – Nothing yet!
My advice if you are planning to come to NZ is before you are eligible for job hunting you need to have your professional registration in place, it helps to be in a position to move quickly when the job offer arrives. Accent support you all along even when you have started work. Merryl always found an answer to my questions.
Are there any major differences between your current role in NZ and your previous role in the UK? Advanced practice is not established here yet, I used to plain film report. I am working in a relatively small private practice so you have to get stuck in with a bit of everything which is great.
Anything else you would like to say? BE OPEN-MINDED ABOUT WHERE YOU WANT TO WORK AS IT’S ALL A FANTASTIC ADVENTURE.
Is there anything specifically done differently in NZ that has interested you and the way you practice your profession? I feel that people here are more open when come to emotions. I think in Singapore, as an Asian country, sometimes we don’t talk about or express much about how we feel about things. We are generally more conservative.
Hi, my name is Lizzy and I am a Therapy Radiographer. I come from Leeds, West Yorkshire in the UK and I now live in Palmerston North, in the North Island of NZ – I moved here in Sept 2017.
I hope to experience a different (hopefully more laid back!) way of life and to get the opportunity to meet real Kiwis and experience the culture properly, rather than as a tourist.
I’m very “fresh off the boat” as the locals call it – I’ve been here 10 weeks so far. I flew from Manchester to Auckland via Dubai and Melbourne arriving 48 hours later. I spent a couple of jetlagged days taking in a some of Auckland before flying an hour south to Palmerston North. I had booked a week in an Air BnB to get orientated and search for a flatshare. I was very lucky that my manager got in contact with me before I started work and my new colleagues went above and beyond to welcome me to my new city. One couple even had me to stay for a week until I moved into my flatshare. It made such a difference to have made some new friends almost from the very beginning. I started work a week after arriving, bought a car and moved into my new home so I feel like a lot has happened in just a few weeks. I’ve finished my induction at work and am now focusing on getting more involved in projects at work and finding local groups to socialise with.
It was far easier to emigrate than anticipated. I was lucky to fall on my feet with finding ACCENT Health Recruitment. One weekend in March 2017 I’d done a Google search for recruiters in NZ and come across the ACCENT website. It is a very professional website and the reviews by previous candidates were overwhelmingly positive. With a glass of wine in hand I decided to bite the bullet, sent an email off and got a very swift reply. Thus started my correspondence with Prudence the CEO. She asked me about where I’d like to live and what jobs I was looking for. She explained that my niche profession of radiotherapy was a little more difficult to find jobs in at that current time but that she would keep an eye open and in the meantime pointed me in the right direction to get registered to practice with the relevant professional body. She kept in contact over the next couple of months that it took to collect the evidence for registration and contacted my referees so she had all the paperwork on hand for when a job appeared. Sooner than either of us expected in May a temporary job popped up at Palmerston North Hospital. With my permission she put me forward as a candidate and within a few days I was sat in front of my computer having my first Skype interview. Prudence made this much easier by giving me some one on one interview coaching over Skype and we did a practice interview which made the real one much less daunting.
It took a couple of weeks to hear than I had got the job. The main issue at that point was that I was still not registered to practice in NZ due to differences in my qualification and job role in the UK. My NZ manager acted as an advocate so that I would have a condition on my registration only to work in certain areas. Finally in early July I was able to give my 6 weeks notice, book my flight and start my visa application. My work start date was mid-Sept!
From initially emailing ACCENT in March to starting my new job was exactly 6 months. This was much faster than I anticipated!
The most stressful part of emigrating was waiting to hear that my professional registration was confirmed as I had a very short time frame to work my notice and fly to NZ and start work. I also ended up in bed with a bad virus just before I flew, which was unlucky and probably due to rushing round the country saying goodbye to friends and family.
The main differences here in NZ compared to my life in the UK: It’s far easier to sort things here eg bank account, insurance etc – I can speak to a real person and not be on hold for ages. It’s the shortest commute I’ve ever had as well! I was continually working late in the NHS and working long days but so far here I’m being shooed out of the door at 5pm which is wonderful.
A typical week looks like this: My working day is 8am-5pm with a 30min morning tea break and an hour lunch. My commute door to door is usually about 15 mins. After work I have gym classes, yoga or might get out for a walk in the local hills if the weather is good. That or some shopping or after work drinks or food.
What I miss most about the UK are my family and friends of course. Maybe also my greatly reduced risk of being burnt to a crisp within a few minutes! Oh and cheap fresh fruit and veg – food is very expensive out here for a veggie who like to cook fresh from scratch.
What’s your advice for other British people wanting to move to New Zealand? The main one is obvious really – research the area you are going to be living thoroughly and if you can establish any contacts there before arriving do so! You will feel so much more part of things and get the insider knowledge. Oh and lack of central heating in the majority of houses here was a bit of a shock! Bring layers and plan to buy hot water bottles and electric blankets.
My Name is Emilie, I am a Physiotherapist and I came to NZ in January 2015 from England. The process to come to NZ took me approximately 6 Months.
The easiest part of the process was finding a job with the help of Merryl at Accent Health Recruitment and also the time my husband Martin and I spent exploring before we started work!
The most challenging part of the process was getting together my application for my physiotherapy registration, but once it was sent off it all seemed to come through quite quickly.
My first impressions of NZ were WOW! I love this place, the people are so kind and the country so amazing and beautiful. We landed in Wellington, so another first impression was also, Wow, this place is windy!
The best parts of NZ are the scenery, the amazing food and drink and the general outlook on life. The summer weather has also been a bonus!
What I miss the most is my family and friends in the UK, other than that we are 1 month in with no UK food cravings!
My advice if you are planning to come to NZ is do it! Sometimes it feels like you are trying to achieve the impossible but all the time and effort is so worth it. Start early as it takes time to get all your documents together. Having a job agency has made the whole process so much easier, not just in finding a job, but even down to where to go shopping and how to sort all the important documents like tax when you arrive.
Anything else you would like to say? Having never been to NZ, we always had it in the back of our head, what if we are making a mistake, but we don’t have one regret, we are loving life out here.
QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR NEW WORKPLACE Are there any major differences between your current role in NZ and your previous role in England?
The main difference in my current job I’m finding is that the MDT in general seems to be better staffed and better organised. My working day seems far more relaxed. There are some cultural differences but I am learning quickly and I don’t see this as a challenge in any way. The ACC in comparison to the NHS takes some getting your head around, but again I am learning quickly and it is in no way a barrier to how I practice.
Being a rotational physiotherapist in the UK I have become quite used to settling in to new environments which I feel has helped. I work at a rehabilitation unit and the whole process is very similar to one I worked at previously, which also helps. I guess the major factor in moving to NZ from the UK is that I have not had to face a language barrier in my day-to-day life. Finding Marmite in the supermarkets has also definitely helped my husband transition a little easier!
When working with clients in New Zealand, you realise the importance of involving the family in the treatment far more than the UK. A client can get so much more out of their rehab programme by using the family and teaching them rehab techniques and methods. Clients are often far more compliant with their rehab progamme when their families are present also, with far greater motivation to recover and succeed
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.
I’m Aisha a Physiotherapist who is now living in NZ – I came from England in October 2016.
The process to come to NZ took me approximately 17 months and the easiest part of the whole process was booking my flight! The most challenging part was getting NZ physiotherapy registration especially as I had to get criminal record checks from 3 different countries!
My first impressions of NZ were what a peaceful place it is with beautiful scenery. I love the landscape, the sunshine, the low population density and the friendly people.
What I miss the most being here is my family and friends – however I have already had family over to visit, and they plan to come again at Christmas.
My advice if you are planning to come to NZ is to be prepared for it to be cold in winter – there is no central heating (heat pumps and log fires in homes are most popular) and some houses are not insulated as well as others. Do your research when you are looking for a place to rent. I find the cost of living is more expensive, and most produce is seasonal.
Many thanks to Sarah at ACCENT for all her support in helping me secure a job and answering all my questions when I got here. She really did a wonderful job.
Are there any major differences between your current role in NZ and your previous role in England?
Yes there are a lot of differences. Firstly my patients here in NZ are much more varied with their conditions whilst in England I mainly saw neck, back and shoulder injuries following road traffic accidents. I am able to order X-rays and ultrasounds here but not in England. I work alongside other physiotherapists here, whilst I worked on my own in England and I have access to gym facilities to treat my patients here. I had 30 minute follow up appointments in England whilst here they are mainly 20 minutes. Most patients have to pay for treatment (or at least a surcharge), whilst medicolegal companies paid for treatments in England.
All my patients here speak English and have musculoskeletal conditions generally.
The Mulligan approach is very big here and I hadn’t used those techniques prior to coming here. The ACC system is completely different to treating medicolegal patients back home and is overall better as there is a shorter delay when more sessions are requested.
Bronagh – UK Physiotherapist soaking up the views and activities during her days off!
Hi everyone! My Name is Bronagh, I am a physiotherapist from the UK.
I came to NZ in September and the process took me approximately 7-8 months. The easiest part of the process was getting on the plane after seeing pictures of New Zealand. The most challenging part of the process was leaving family and friends behind and the actual registration process for physiotherapy.
My first impressions of NZ were stunning scenery with very friendly people. The best parts of NZ are Tongariro National Alpine Crossing and the view of the beach on a daily basis. It’s a bit weird listening to Christmas songs when it’s still day light at 8pm and the temperature is well in its 20’s!
What I miss the most is family and friends….not to mention galaxy chocolate and proper bacon.
My advice if you are planning to come to NZ is: research your job and the area you want to work in fully. Call Accent Health Recruitment for the most amazing friendly and helpful people to help you and support you through your journey in moving to NZ. v provided amazing personal touches to help make my move a smooth as possible, from transfers from the airport to providing a cell phone to call home, a complete first class company to use!
I have included some images of the spectacular places we have been able to visit since coming, I think you’ll agree they are stunning
We are Radiographers or MRTs as they say in NZ.
I came to NZ on: 28/06/2018 from: Borneo via India and South East Asia.
The process to come to NZ took me: We secured a job within a week of signing up to Accent and over the next couple of months we liaised with Accent to arrange our contracts and everything was set up and ready to go when we arrived in Hamilton.
The easiest part of the process was: Dealing with Prudence, Prudence had an ideal interview set up within days and she was delightful to correspond with and helped us out every step of the way.
The most challenging part of the process was: Filling out the paperwork for the MRTB, it was quite a drawn out process but our advice would be do as we did and do this at home before you set out travelling.
My first impressions of NZ were: After spending 7 months travelling throughout Asia and arriving in New Zealand’s winter our first thoughts were – it’s cold but the sun was shining and we explored the lovely Auckland and had brunch.
The best parts of NZ are: The landscape – the mountains, volcanoes, lakes and coastlines. The whole place is awesome.
What I miss the most is: We are very much missing watching the World Cup as it is on at awkward hours and Liv misses British Sunday dinners.
My advice if you are planning to come to NZ is: is be prepared for the seasons and make the most of them, ski in winter and surf in summer, get out there and explore all the wonderful and unique nature NZ has to offer.
Anything else you would like to say: Accent provided a great service and we would highly recommend using them, made our life easy whilst we travelled.
Are there any major differences between your current role in NZ and your previous role in the UK? The role here in New Zealand is less hectic and busy than working in the NHS and there are more staff perks. Are there any similarities that have helped you orientate/transition easily? The job is very similar to working in the UK however there are different protocols and procedures to get used to but the basics are still the same.
Is there anything specifically done differently in NZ that has interested you and the way you practice your profession? There is an odd piece of equipment called a Piggostatt that is used for taking paediatric chest x-rays, it seems very old fashioned but works well, give it a google as it is quite peculiar.
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