There are many jobs needed in New Zealand and New Zealand’s Ministry of Business and Innovation (MBIE) regularly review the skills shortage lists to meet the changing demands of the labour market.

The MBIE just recently completed their latest review and on 8 May announced that aged care registered nurses and teachers will be added to skills lists as of 28 May 2019. The move was applauded as it is seen as a positive step towards addressing chronic staff shortages.

To give hopeful applicants a better idea of working in New Zealand as aged care registered nurses or teachers, we’ve compiled a guide addressing four key factors for each occupation:

• Job description
• Salaries
• Working conditions
• What New Zealand expects of their nurses and teachers.

Nurses are up first and then we move on to teachers.

Aged Care Registered Nurses

Aged care registered nurses provide care to elderly people. Work places can range from residential facilities to hospitals and the patients’ home.

Job description

Aged care registered nurses are responsible for the health requirements of their patients. This includes:

• Managing health conditions.
• Managing medication and treatment schedules.
• Maintaining medical records.
• Administering nursing care to ill, injured, convalescent, or disabled patients.
• Taking action when sudden health changes occur.
• Educating patients and their families and community groups about health needs, long-term effects, and prevention of accidents and illness.

Often aged care registered nurses are also in management positions at residential care homes or assist in the managing of homes.

Salaries

Registered nurses earn between NZ$22.78 and NZ$28.94 per hour, with the average hourly rate sitting at NZ$25.94.

Working hours

Registered nurses in New Zealand work shifts of 8 to 12 hours at hospitals, rest homes, or nursing homes. Nurses working in the community or at medical centres usually work 40 hours per week.

What New Zealand expects of registered nurses

The expectations of New Zealand’s healthcare industry is no different to others around the world. Nurses are expected to have:

• Excellent nursing skills and knowledge of different nursing methods.
• The patient’s best interest at heart, advocating on their behalf.
• Good communication and problem-solving skills.

Registered nurses must also have the ability to:

• Work under pressure and remain calm in emergencies.
• Show compassion, and relate to people from various cultures and backgrounds.
• Be patient and helpful.

Teachers

The MBIE added early childhood, primary scool and secondary school teachers to New Zealand’s skills shortage lists. As such, we’ll discuss each one separately.

Early Childhood Teacher

Early childhood teachers educate and care for young children in kindergartens or children centres.

Job description

Early childhood teachers may do some or all of the following:

• Educating and care for babies and children.
• Helping prepare meals, clean and tidy up, give medicines, and change nappies.
• Planning daily programmes, learning experiences and routines for children..
• Making or adapt learning resourse.
• Implementing New Zealand’s early childhood curriculum.
• Assessing and recording the learning and development of each child.
• Discussing children’s progress with their parents or caregivers as well as other education professionals.
• Running workshops for parents and caregivers.
• Preparing budgets, order supplies, and helping manage the early childhood centre.

Salaries

Starting salaries for early childhood teachers range from $36,000 to $47,000 annually depending on qualifications. Experienced early childhood teachers in senior positions can earn between $60,000 and $85,000 per year.

Working hours

Early childhood teachers work between 35 and 40 hours a week.

What New Zealand expects of early childhood teachers

Early childhood teacher in New Zealand must have knowledge of:

• Different teaching methods and learning styles.
• The early childhood curriculum.
• Behaviour management techniques.
• Safety and emergency procedures.
• Food preparation and hygiene.
• Child learning and development, including early literacy and numeracy.

These teachers must also be:

• Skilled at communicating with children and adults from a range of backgrounds and cultures.
• Enthusiastic, open-minded and able to motivate children.
• Creative and adaptable.

Primary School Teachers

Primary school teachers is responsible for the education of children between the ages of five and 13 at primary or intermediate schools.

Job description

The responsibilities of primary school teachers include:

• Planning, preparing, and presenting lessons.
• Teaching a wide range of subjects.
• Keeping up to date with curriculum changes and assessment methods.
• Helping children to develop their social skills and behaviours.
• Leading a curriculum area within the school.
• Getting involved in extracurricular activities.
• Doing lunchtime playground duty or road patrol duty.

Salaries

The annual salaries for primary school teachers range from NZ$47,000 to NZ$74,000 with the average yearly salary sitting at NZ$54,000.

Working conditions

Primary school teachers are usually dealing with children from about 8am until 3.30pm. Often primary school teachers will work outside these hours on admin work, meetings, and extracurricular activities.

What New Zealand expects of primary school teachers

New Zealand expects primary school teachers to have a knowledge of:

• Different teaching methods and learning styles.
• The New Zealand school curriculum.
• Child development, including learning difficulties and how to deal with them.
• Behaviour management techniques, such as establishing boundaries.

These teachers must also be able to:

• Communicate with children and adults from a various backgrounds and cultures.
• Enthusiastic, open-minded and able to motivate children.
• Creative and adaptable.

Secondary School Teachers

Secondary school teachers educate students between the ages of 13 and 18 and teach one or more subjects.

Job description

The responsibilities of secondary school teachers include:

• Planning, preparing and presenting lessons.
• Setting and marking assignments and tests.
• Assessing students’ work for national qualifications.
• Attending departmental and staff meetings.
• Being involved in extracurricular activities.
• Keeping up to date with curriculum changes and assessment methods.

Salaries

Secondary school teachers earn between NZ$48,000 and NZ$81,000 per year depending on experience, with the average annual salary sitting at NZ$68,000.

Working conditions

Secondary school teachers work regular school hours, but often work additional hours to plan lessons, assess work, and assist with extracurricular activities.

What New Zealand expects of secondary school teachers

New Zealand requires their secondary school teachers to have knowledge of:

• Different teaching methods and learning styles
• The curriculum subjects they teach.
• Classroom management skills.
• To keep up to date with best teaching practices.

Secondary school teachers must also be able to:

• Communicate with students and adults from a range of backgrounds and cultures.
• Positive, open-minded, and able to motivate young people.
• Understanding, tolerant, and good at listening.

For more advice on jobs needed in New Zealand, contact us

Finding out more about the various jobs needed in New Zealand as well as work visas and their requirements is as easy as calling us or sending us an email. You can reach our team per telephone on +27 (0) 202 8200 or to email us, simply complete this form on our website.

 

Source: www.careers.govt.nz