FAQ

Why do so many health professionals want to work in New Zealand and Australia?
What grades of psychologist and health professionals can find work?
Is there an age limit?
Are there many overseas psychologists or allied professionals working in New Zealand and Australia?
Why should I choose to work with Psych-Recruitment rather than applying directly to employers or deciding to work with another recruiter?
Should I list myself with several agencies?
Don't I receive a lower salary if I use a recruitment agency ?
What are the salaries like ?
Is there a minimum length of time I have to go for?
Does Psych-Recruitment decide where I work or do I decide myself?
If I like working in New Zealand or Australia, is it possible to extend my work visa?
If English is not my first language what English Language testing requirements are needed?
What is the best way to find out further information about working in New Zealand and Australia?

1. Why do so many psychologists and health professionals want to work in New Zealand and Australia?

Work related – good working conditions, good pay, excellent training, increased opportunities, to experience different ways of working, and the chance to undertake new activities;
Lifestyle related - better climate, uncrowded, unique culture, an easy way-of-life, easy access to beautiful scenery, plenty of affordable recreational opportunities such as surfing, diving, sailing, fishing, climbing, skiing, etc.
Immigration opportunities - both New Zealand and Australia offer a skilled migrant migration policy which can lead to permanent residency for those that fit the profiles. Due to the nature of the roles which Psych-Recruitment specialises the majority of the candidates we have assisted have been able to obtain residency.

2. What grades of professionals can find work in New Zealand and Australia?

Most employers want to employ qualified people, generally the more experienced the better but they are sometimes able to employ new graduates in some fields. Besides Trainee Forensic Psychologists we sadly do not have opportunities for other types of overseas trainees. Information for new graduates can be found here.

3. Is there an age limit for working in New Zealand and Australia?

There is no age limit if you are just coming for a working holiday. If you want permanent residence then there is an age limit in New Zealand of 55 years (i.e. before the 56th birthday) and for Australia age 45. Talk to us about your situation and we will be able to advise you of the options.

4. Are there many overseas psychologists or allied professionals working in New Zealand and Australia?

With the current eligibility through the skilled migration immigration system many psychologists and allied professionals have been encouraged to migrate to New Zealand or Australia. There are now a sizable number and you would likely find yourself working alongside British, South Africans, Irish, Canadians, German, Dutch, Maltese, and Americans to name a few. New Zealand and Australia are particularly experienced in welcoming new immigrants and generally you will find these countries easy to settle in.

5. Why should I choose to work with Psych-Recruitment rather than applying directly to employers or work with another recruiter?

There are substantial advantages to going through our agency:

Psychologists and allied professionals will find that we are unique in that we are the only agency specialising just in psychology. Your skills and experience will be reviewed by a psychologist with a sound knowledge of the needs of the employers.
We are approved providers in psychology for many employers which means that they have asked for our help to locate the staff they need and they trust us to ensure the right people are applying for the right jobs. In short, they use our service because of our expertise in matching your skills with their needs.
We will get your application directly to the right person quickly and our extensive network of contacts means we know the people to contact to obtain any specific detail you may need.
Employers also use our service when recruiting overseas candidates because of our expertise in coordinating professional registration and immigration so that candidates arrive to meet their time requirements. If you are unable to take care of all these aspects in a timely fashion, you may find that the employer is not able to hold a position open and you will miss out.
The application processes for visas and professional registration can be confusing and time-consuming. It could take several months of communication with busy registration boards and Immigration offices. Our expertise and contacts makes this process relatively pain free and simple because we know the requirements or who to contact when follow up is needed.
Not all vacancies are advertised – we help you gain access to unadvertised vacancies. For example we often help employers with future service development needs. This means we can be actively seeking skills for positions twelve to twenty four months ahead. This can be ideal for overseas candidates who need extra time to organise migration.
You will have the security and peace of mind knowing that you are going through a highly reputable agency. We are New Zealanders and the business is New Zealand owned and we have well established relationships with employers. All the posts we find for you are genuine positions in New Zealand and Australia and occasionally other global locations.

6. Should I list myself with several agencies?

Specifically with New Zealand, it is a small country and many agencies work with the same employers. In Australia, while it is much larger, the principles still apply. Some agencies, like Psych-Recruitment, are more specialist and work with employers just on certain types of positions. Registering with several agencies or applying direct for positions as well as registering with an agency will confuse the situation for the employer as they may receive the same CV from several sources and it will not increase your chances of employment. In deciding how best to apply for positions in New Zealand or Australia, we recommend you decide who you believe is best able to help you prepare your applications so that you have the best possible chance at being short-listed and then employment. Psych-Recruitment is committed to providing an excellent service and we prefer to work exclusively with people who want to work with us to find the best possible position. We believe we have a sound reputation with employers for presenting high quality applications.

7. Don't I receive a lower salary if I use a recruitment agency ?

The answer is 'no'. In fact frequently jobseekers stand to gain financially by using our service as we will assist with negotiation of conditions to ensure that employers award a salary appropriate to your skills and experience. We will also tell you what you can expect to earn and how this compares to other employers.

Also it is important to note that applicants are never charged for any of our services and the salary and conditions offered are the same as other psychologists or allied professional in a particular workplace.

All our fees are prearranged with employers and our income is derived for the service of locating specific sets of skills and supporting jobseekers through the selection process until the start of work.

8. What are the salaries like?

Psychologists and allied health professionals in New Zealand and Australia are paid well for their hours worked. They also receive similar lengths of holiday to Europe and significantly more than the USA. As a rule, they are usually contracted to do 40 hours a week. Optional Superannuation schemes are generally available. Depending on the location and your seniority, you can expect to earn between $50,000 and $90,000. Having said this, the cost of living is substantially less than that in the UK or USA with a salary in Australia or New Zealand often stretching much further than it does in other countries.

9. Is there a minimum length of time I have to go for?

Most of our vacancies are for permanent positions. We recommend you consider a minimum of two years - the first to settle and induct into the the New Zealand to Australian system and culture, and the second is generally more relaxed. Most employers are happy with a two year commitment and some will offer a contribution to relocation based on this. We do occasionally have positions for shorter periods to cover parental leave but probably not less than 12 months.

10. Does Psych-Recruitment decide where I work or do I decide myself?

After you have submitted your CV to us, we will search for positions that suit your skills and experience. You decide exactly where and what positions you would like to consider.

In fact we will would encourage you to think about whether a particular location would suit your lifestyle needs. We are not only committed to finding the job that is right for you but also the location.

11. If I like working in New Zealand or Australia, is it possible to extend my work visa?

It is often very easy to extend a work visa up to several years, however for those candidates wishing to move permanently to New Zealand and Australia, you may need to also complete additional requirements set out by the relevant immigration department.

12. What English Language testing requirements are needed to work in Australia or New Zealand?

All people who want to work in Australia or New Zealand will require proof of English language proficiency. If you have been educated in an English speaking country, you may be exempted from all testing. Those educated in non-english speaking countries may need to complete an IELTS assessment at one of many international testing centres. Further details of this (including locations and costs) are available at www.ielts.org

13. What is the best way to find out further information about working in New Zealand and Australia?

To discuss your options for working in New Zealand and Australia, and to learn about a range of vacancies most suited to your individual needs, e-mail or telephone us. The first step would be to tell us about your preferences.