Common Questions About Social Work
Below are answers some common questions about social work in New Zealand.
Do I need to be a qualified Social Worker?
Yes and your qualifications must be recognised in New Zealand. Contact us for information and assistance on this matter.
Will I need to get registered?
Social Work registration in New Zealand is not yet compulsory, however many Social Work employers expect that the Social Workers they employ will either be registered or in the process of getting registered.
How much will a Social Worker get paid?
This differs from job to job however the hospitals tend to pay between approximately $45,000 to $62,000 for standard Social Work positions, while Child Youth and Family Service pay approximately $42,000 to $62,000 and the Department of Corrections salaries range between (approximately) $41,000 and $53,000 for Community Probation Officers. The range for non government agencies (NGO's) is too wide to comment upon.
What about the cost of living?
The cost of living differs from area to area; certainly Auckland and Wellington have higher costs of living than other areas, for example the lower South Island is very cheap comparatively. However the feedback from those coming into New Zealand is that New Zealand is relatively expensive compared to other countries and this should be planned for when considering a move.
A good website to look at is nzopportunities.co.nz look under lifestyle for cost of living.
What immigration status should I apply for?
There are a number of different immigration Visa's, Permit's and Residential streams that you can apply for when coming to NZ. Which stream you apply for depends upon your personal circumstances and the position that you are applying for.
Is NZSWR able to give immigration advice?
The Immigration Licensing Act came into being in 2007 making it illegal for anyone who is not licensed by May 2009 to give immigration advice. NZSWR supports this legislation and while we are able to provide public information regarding New Zealand Immigration, we are NOT PERMITTED TO GIVE IMMIGRATION ADVICE.
However we do have partner agencies skilled in this area and are happy to refer you onto them as required.
Will I have to do after hour’s duty?
Most hospitals do not expect their Social Work employees to do after hour's duty. Child Youth and Family Service will expect most Social Worker to contribute to an after hours duty system, how often a Social Worker participates on the after hours roster normally depends on the number of Social Workers in the team.
English is not my first language.
Social Workers in New Zealand must be able to effectively communicate in written and spoken English. If this is a concern for you arrange to talk with us and we will give you honest feedback regarding your communication skills, however the Social Work Registration Board will normally require Social Workers trained in a language other than English to submit evidence that they have successfully completed an approved English Language Test as may Immigration New Zealand.
Do I need to be a member of the Social Work association?
If you wish to be registered as a Social Worker in New Zealand, you will need to complete your Competency Assessment prior to seeking Registration. Currently you are able to go through the Competency Assessment process with either Aotearoa New Zealand Social Work Association (ANZASW) or the New Zealand Social Work Registration Board, so you have the choice as to which service you use
How long are the positions for?
The majority of positions that New Zealand Social Work Recruitment Ltd places Social Workers in are 1 year plus or permanent. However on occasions we do place Social Workers in shorter term positions, such as 3 to 6 months.
Do I need to know how to speak Maori?
Maori and English are the official languages of New Zealand. However English is the common language, although you will not need to know how to speak Maori, common terms and phrases are used on an everyday basis by many New Zealanders. Out of respect for the culture, the country and the people it would pay to learn some basic terms and greetings, such as Kia Ora (hello).
What about tax?
All goods and services are subject to 12.5% goods and service tax (GST), for most shop brought goods this is included in the total price. However when engaging services such as a trades person, be sure to ask for the GST to be specified in an estimates or quotes.
When working for an employer, your personal tax will be deducted from your gross salary or wages as PAYE (Pay as you earn).
What international airports are there?
There are 7 international airports, Dunedin, Queenstown, Hamilton, Christchurch, Wellington, Palmerston North and Auckland. The major airports are Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland.
Where can I study?
There are a number of different types of training organization in New Zealand which include Universities, Polytechnics, Maori based provider and private institutions.
The Universities are Auckland, Massey (based in Auckland, Palmerston North and Wellington), Waikato (Hamilton), Victoria (Wellington), Canterbury (Christchurch) and Otago (Dunedin).