Working and Studying in Working and Studying in New ZealandNew Zealand

andandAustraliaAustralia

byby

Christine HigginsChristine Higgins NZROT, MNZAOTNZROT, MNZAOT

Why Australasia ?Why Australasia ?

BeautifulBeautiful CleanClean DiverseDiverse SafeSafe Friendly peopleFriendly people English speakingEnglish speaking Quality of LifestyleQuality of Lifestyle

Easy to transfer of Easy to transfer of skillsskills

Training similar and Training similar and highly regardedhighly regarded

Great professional Great professional opportunitiesopportunities

Career enhancementCareer enhancement New challengesNew challenges

AUT

WINTEC(Otago

programme)

Otago

New ZealandNZ Occupational Therapy NZ Occupational Therapy

Training SchoolsTraining Schools

Auckland University of Auckland University of Technology (AUT), Akoranga Technology (AUT), Akoranga Campus, AucklandCampus, Auckland

Otago Polytechnic, DunedinOtago Polytechnic, Dunedin

Waikato Institute of Technology, Waikato Institute of Technology, Avalon Campus, HamiltonAvalon Campus, Hamilton

(Otago Programme)(Otago Programme)

All offer a 3 year degree programmeAll offer a 3 year degree programme

International Student Fieldwork International Student Fieldwork Placements in New ZealandPlacements in New Zealand

Two ways to apply for a fieldwork placement in New Two ways to apply for a fieldwork placement in New ZealandZealand

Apply via NZAOT who will then forward your application Apply via NZAOT who will then forward your application to Otago Polytechnic who will co-ordinate a placement to Otago Polytechnic who will co-ordinate a placement for you for you

Apply direct to the Auckland University of Technology Apply direct to the Auckland University of Technology Study Abroad Programme requesting that one of the Study Abroad Programme requesting that one of the papers you wish to enrol in is an occupational therapy papers you wish to enrol in is an occupational therapy professional practice paper professional practice paper

Direct approaches to individual employers or therapists Direct approaches to individual employers or therapists are are not not acceptableacceptable

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International Student Fieldwork Placements in International Student Fieldwork Placements in AustraliaAustralia

12 different universities12 different universities All have differing requirements for overseas studentsAll have differing requirements for overseas students

1.University of Western Sydney Penrith, NSW 1.University of Western Sydney Penrith, NSW 2.University of Sydney Lidcombe, NSW2.University of Sydney Lidcombe, NSW 3.University of Newcastle Newcastle, NSW3.University of Newcastle Newcastle, NSW 4.Charles Sturt University Albury-Wodonga,NSW4.Charles Sturt University Albury-Wodonga,NSW

5.La Trobe University Bundoora,VIC 5.La Trobe University Bundoora,VIC  6.Deakin University Geelong Campus Geelong, VIC6.Deakin University Geelong Campus Geelong, VIC 7.Monash University Melbourne, VIC7.Monash University Melbourne, VIC

8.James Cook University Townsville, QLD8.James Cook University Townsville, QLD 9.University of Queensland Brisbane, QLD9.University of Queensland Brisbane, QLD

10.University of South Australia Adelaide, SA10.University of South Australia Adelaide, SA

11.Curtin University Perth, WA11.Curtin University Perth, WA 12.Edith Cowan University Joondalup, WA12.Edith Cowan University Joondalup, WA

New Zealand Professional New Zealand Professional Registration processesRegistration processes

Occupational Therapists are legally registered under the Health Occupational Therapists are legally registered under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act (HPCAA)Practitioners Competence Assurance Act (HPCAA)

Administered by Administered by NZ Occupational Therapy Registration BoardNZ Occupational Therapy Registration Board An extensive documentary one, exams are not a routine optionAn extensive documentary one, exams are not a routine option

Full academic Transcript and SyllabusFull academic Transcript and Syllabus CVCV Written applicationWritten application Cultural Safety EssayCultural Safety Essay References (set format)References (set format) Certified copies of all original documentsCertified copies of all original documents

Once registered you then must hold an Annual Practicing Certificate Once registered you then must hold an Annual Practicing Certificate for the current board financial year.for the current board financial year.

Eligibility to Practice and Eligibility to Practice and Registration in AustraliaRegistration in Australia

Occupational therapists who have trained overseas and wish to Occupational therapists who have trained overseas and wish to migrate and work in Australia, are required to undergo an assessment migrate and work in Australia, are required to undergo an assessment conducted by the Council of Occupational Therapy Registration conducted by the Council of Occupational Therapy Registration Boards (COTRB)Boards (COTRB)

A written application processA written application process A period of supervised, assessed work in AustraliaA period of supervised, assessed work in Australia

Only four states and territories have a registration requirement. If you Only four states and territories have a registration requirement. If you

wish to practice in any of these states you will need to contact the wish to practice in any of these states you will need to contact the relevant Occupational Therapy Registration Board.relevant Occupational Therapy Registration Board.  

Queensland Queensland Northern Territory Northern Territory South Australia South Australia Western Australia  Western Australia 

In the four states without registration, you are eligible to practice once In the four states without registration, you are eligible to practice once you have successfully completed the COTRB practice audityou have successfully completed the COTRB practice audit. .

New South WalesNew South Wales Australian Capital TerritoryAustralian Capital Territory Victoria and Victoria and TasmaniaTasmania

VisasVisas Both countries have Working Holiday Visa programmes for UK citizens. Both countries have Working Holiday Visa programmes for UK citizens.

These areThese are Not job offer dependant Not job offer dependant Not profession specificNot profession specific Age restrictedAge restricted

Both countries have Both countries have Work VisaWork Visa and and ResidencyResidency options options You must have professional registration for all except Working Holiday You must have professional registration for all except Working Holiday

Visas and Study VisasVisas and Study Visas If seeking a student placement, a study visa will be requiredIf seeking a student placement, a study visa will be required All have varying conditionsAll have varying conditions Contact the Immigration Service of the relevant country, Contact the Immigration Service of the relevant country, not not an an

Immigration ConsultantImmigration Consultant Be aware that Immigration and Registration processes are separate, Be aware that Immigration and Registration processes are separate,

there may be duplication of some documentation required (eg; Police there may be duplication of some documentation required (eg; Police Checks)Checks)

Medical assessments are also required, depending on the visa optionMedical assessments are also required, depending on the visa option

Getting the Sequence RightGetting the Sequence Right

1.1. Gather all the information you need firstGather all the information you need first

2.2. Get Professional Registration Requirements underwayGet Professional Registration Requirements underway

3.3. Decide on either an agency (one only) Decide on either an agency (one only) oror to approach employers directly, to approach employers directly, oror follow processes of your chosen OT school follow processes of your chosen OT school

4.4. Get a job using your chosen methodGet a job using your chosen method

5.5. Complete relevant Visa requirementsComplete relevant Visa requirements

6.6. Book flights after you have a job offer, not beforeBook flights after you have a job offer, not before

7.7. Jet lag is unpleasant, allow time for itJet lag is unpleasant, allow time for it

8.8. Enjoy!Enjoy!

NZ Contact detailsNZ Contact details The time difference varies but on average NZ is 12 hours The time difference varies but on average NZ is 12 hours aheadahead of the UK, of the UK, so allow for this when making contact.so allow for this when making contact.

NZ Occupational Therapy Registration BoardNZ Occupational Therapy Registration Board : : www.otboard.org.nz www.otboard.org.nz NB: Do not contact COTRB about NZ registration, their web site is not accurateNB: Do not contact COTRB about NZ registration, their web site is not accurate

with regards to NZ requirementswith regards to NZ requirements

NZ Assocoation of Occ.TherapyNZ Assocoation of Occ.Therapy : www.nzaot.com : www.nzaot.com

NZ Immigration ServiceNZ Immigration Service : www.immigration.govt.nz : www.immigration.govt.nz Auckland University of TechnologyAuckland University of Technology : www.aut.ac.nz : www.aut.ac.nzOtago PoytechnicOtago Poytechnic : www.tekotago.ac.nz : www.tekotago.ac.nz

PresenterPresenter: Christine Higgins : Christinehigg@gmail.com : Christine Higgins : Christinehigg@gmail.com

Australian Contact DetailsAustralian Contact Details The time difference varies but on average Australia is between 7 to 10 hours ahead The time difference varies but on average Australia is between 7 to 10 hours ahead

of the UK so allow for this when making contact.of the UK so allow for this when making contact.

Australian Association of Occupational Therapists: Australian Association of Occupational Therapists: www.ausot.com.auwww.ausot.com.auCombined Occ. Therapy Registration Boards : Combined Occ. Therapy Registration Boards : www.cotrb.com.auwww.cotrb.com.au Australian Immigration Service : Australian Immigration Service : www.immi.gov.auwww.immi.gov.au

University of Western Sydney : University of Western Sydney : www.uws.edu.auwww.uws.edu.au University of Sydney : University of Sydney : www.sydney.edu.auwww.sydney.edu.au University of Newcastle : University of Newcastle : www.newcastle.edu.auwww.newcastle.edu.au Charles Sturt University : Charles Sturt University : www.csu.edu.auwww.csu.edu.au La Trobe University : La Trobe University : www.latrobe.edu.auwww.latrobe.edu.au    Deakin University : Deakin University : www.deakin.edu.auwww.deakin.edu.au Monash University : www.med.monash.edu.au Monash University : www.med.monash.edu.au James Cook University : James Cook University : www.jcu.edu.auwww.jcu.edu.au University of Queensland : University of Queensland : www.uq.edu.auwww.uq.edu.au University of South Australia : University of South Australia : www.unisa.edu.auwww.unisa.edu.auCurtin University : www.curtin.edu.au Curtin University : www.curtin.edu.au Edith Cowan University : www.sebhs.edu.au Edith Cowan University : www.sebhs.edu.au