Hoping to move to NZ this year. Midwifery info. needed.

[Highland Queen]

Hi, am hoping to move to NZ this year. Had been hoping for August but may well be October. Am married with 2 kids (11 & 7 ). Have been a midwife for 13 years now and have wanted to come to NZ for about 10 yrs now. Have finally convinced the hubby (though it didn't take much convincing once we'd been there!). Have been working on getting over there since we came back last year. Long drawn out process. Midwifery registration alot more complicated AND more expensive than nursing registration. Anyone know why. Is it because midwives work more independantly in NZ? Anyway, suggestions how to make this process easier would be greatfully received. Have also got the Prescribing course from Wellington, to be started as soon as I've sent my registration stuff away!! It's never ending.

First choice at the moment is Hawkes Bay area, 2nd is Marlbourgh so anyone know about working in these two areas, it'd be great to get some more info. working, schooling, areas NOT to live in etc. etc. We're pretty flexible though about choice of location as long it's not too far south. Coming from the Highlands of Scotland we're keen to get away from the long cold , wet winters and short summers. As beautiful as it may be!! Heard that there's going to be a pay increase for nurses and midwives. Is this so? Hope ther's someone out there that can help, Thanks

Caroline :)

[suzanne4, RN]

Hi

I was wondering if anyone could help me. I have applied for my NZ residency visa under the skilled migrants category as I am a midwife. However, if I get accepted, do I HAVE to work as a midwife or would I be allowed to persue a career change? I haven't claimed points for a job offer, just work experience. Looked on immigration website but couldn't see anything regarding this.

Thanks very much.

You normally go thru licensure process as an RN first, then go for the advanced status. With the generic RN, you can usually go for another field, provided that the visa is not issued strictly because of being a midwife.

This is something that you should contact them directly about, you are not usually going to see it on their website as it does not come up much.

Best of luck to you. And just thinking, you normally go for licensure first before applying for the skilled immigrant visa and it is based on you holding that license and certification. Same thing is done in every other country, including yours, Canada, and the US. License first if applying for special visa based on having that license.

[Djuna]

The Nursing Council of New Zealand no longer issues verifications or practising certificates for midwives. These may be obtained from the Midwifery Council of New Zealand.

source: http://www.nursingcouncil.org.nz/midwifery.html

The process for registering as a Midwife can be found here;

http://www.midwiferycouncil.org.nz/

The reason for the two separate organisations is we have Direct Entry Midwives who are not RNs and Midwifery is considered quite different from nursing.

I don't know about getting a visa to come to NZ as a midwife then not working as one. That kind of seems dishonest to me and Immigration doesn't look too kindly on people who lie on their visa applications. You should contact them directly to see what the rules are.

[Interested Party]

If you are granted a NZ Permanent Residency Visa then you don't have to specifically work as a nurse or midwife. You will be allowed to pursue another career.

IP

[suzanne4, RN]

If you are granted a NZ Permanent Residency Visa then you don't have to specifically work as a nurse or midwife. You will be allowed to pursue another career.

IP

But, if you are applying for the visa and wish to get it issued because of the midwifery training, then one needs to be working in that field. And that is what the person was asking about. Getting the visa specifically since they are a midwife.

[suzanne4, RN]

The Nursing Council of New Zealand no longer issues verifications or practising certificates for midwives. These may be obtained from the Midwifery Council of New Zealand.

source: http://www.nursingcouncil.org.nz/midwifery.html

The process for registering as a Midwife can be found here;

http://www.midwiferycouncil.org.nz/

The reason for the two separate organisations is we have Direct Entry Midwives who are not RNs and Midwifery is considered quite different from nursing.

I don't know about getting a visa to come to NZ as a midwife then not working as one. That kind of seems dishonest to me and Immigration doesn't look too kindly on people who lie on their visa applications. You should contact them directly to see what the rules are.

I am aware of the two different licensing agencies, but the fact remains that they need the RN behind them to get the visa to be able to work there as a midwife, and for the visa as well. The Direct Entry programs that you have there are for those that are in your country and not coming from another one with separate licensure. Being a midwife and not an RN is not going to be work for immigration in most cases. And even more so if they do not wish to work in that field as well.

They need to contact the authorities directly there for specific information related to their case. And if wishing to even have a chance at another field, they are going to need to be licensed there as an RN.

[Interested Party]

But, if you are applying for the visa and wish to get it issued because of the midwifery training, then one needs to be working in that field. And that is what the person was asking about. Getting the visa specifically since they are a midwife.

Not necessarily. It is a Permanent Residency visa, meaning that once you are granted that visa, you can work in any area you chose. The Permanent Residency status allows you to live, vote, study etc etc, same as a citizen except PR does not get issued a NZ passport.

The logical things to do is if you are a qualified midwife and applied on that basis, the expectation is that you have to work as one. But that is not always the case unless immigration has specified that on the visa. I know a number of migrants who were granted their NZ PR and have not worked in the profession stated in their PR application.

IP

[shazniko]

Thanks everybody for your input.

Djuna, don't appreciate you implying that I am being dishonest though! I am not lying about being a midwife. I have 13 years experience and probably will work in the field in NZ. However, the long term plan is to start up a business with my husband so if I did eventually give up midwifery then I don't want to find myself suddenly deported! Better to make sure beforehand. Just weighing up my options.

[shazniko]

Suzanne4

I am a direct-entry trained midwife and DONT need to be RN trained to be able to gain NZ registration or a PR visa. Dual trained midwives are going to be few and far between now as that is the way the training is going now.

If I was changing career, it certainly wouldn't be within nursing, it would be something entirely different.

Shazniko

[shazniko]

Interested Party

Thats great to know. thanks very much. Its just good to know that if I want to have a career change, then I can. I probably will jack in midwifery at some point, just don't know when.

Shazniko

[Djuna]

Thanks everybody for your input.

Djuna, don't appreciate you implying that I am being dishonest though! I am not lying about being a midwife. I have 13 years experience and probably will work in the field in NZ. However, the long term plan is to start up a business with my husband so if I did eventually give up midwifery then I don't want to find myself suddenly deported! Better to make sure beforehand. Just weighing up my options.

If you are coming to NZ on a visa specifically because you are a midwife and then never work as one, that is dishonest and I stand by that statement. I did not imply you weren't a qualified midwife at all.

[shazniko]

I didn't say I would never work as a midwife. However, I am emigrating for the lifestyle, not for career progression. If my qualifications can allow me to do that then all good and well. If I fancy changing my career at any point then I think that is entirely up to me as long as it is within the immigration rules and regulations.

[Djuna]

I agree with you completely shazniko.

I wish you all the best for your big life change and hope you enjoy New Zealand.