In 2005, an Aged Care Education program gave some Filipino nurses and other health professionals a chance to come New Zealand to work as health care assistant. Much as it was regarded by various groups with two opposing views personally I have seen and could say how most Filipino families benefitted and enjoyed the opportunity.
Before anything else I want to point out the reality of seeing New Zealand as a young nation with its own aspirations. It has a government that is trying its best to manage its own people, the aspiring settlers they have allowed within their borders and the visitors exploring the beauty of this land down under. There is no room for perfection in this world and all that is possible is the best that one can have.
In 2006 when I came, aged care facilities were happy to sponsor Filipino Nurses working as health care assistants in polishing their English and make it to the requirement for Nursing Registration. With the sponsorship was a pay off period which some considered more of a restrictive bond rather than an opportunity. Successful nurses are wanting to work in the acute setting at the DHBs and are happy to be free from any sense of a debt of gratitude.
Five years later the scene had changed. The greatest factor could be the economic recession and the earthquakes in Christchurch. With many locals made redundant in their workplace Immigration is prompted to look into its own people. It may be true to say that the locals are not happy to do caregiving ( if they have a choice ) but at this time of economic crisis it is not wrong for Immigration to give the job opportunity to their own people for them to earn rather than depend on government benefits.
It is for a fact that graduating from a nursing degree plus experience in specialized areas make any Nurse over qualified for health care assistant job. Who knows where the mistake occured or who is at fault - I could only hope that Filipino nurses who came to New Zealand via Aged Care Education had done their part. At present the challenge of finding a job as nurses is quite stiff. With an increasing supply of nurses from different places both New Zealand ally nations and non- ally ones - even getting an offer for a place to study become tedious. Aspirants should be aware that if a school with at least 20 students could not accommodate applicants on a 7-week term how much more for a hospital who would need only one or two nurses per area probably all thru its existence.
Another factor for consideration is how most big facilities had sponsored potential nurses, some facilities even have their own CAP courses and should prioritize their beneficiaries in the hiring of new staff. With the increasing supply of nurses surely health facilities have a choice of hiring those who can present a more superior skill. Not to mention the facilities' preference for applicants with New Zealand experience , those with current work visa or those with residency and citizenship.
With the recent earthquake in Christchurch, a number of health facilities have closed. With its closure is the resulting loss of jobs for many who are now looking for a place to work. The Nursing Council have always warned its applicants and that is even in 2006 when I started opening the site not to come to New Zealand without the Nursing Council approval of your application. With the current economic situation aspirants should think about the challenge and think weather New Zealand is a Haven for Filipino Nurses. I am not discouraging anyone from coming - just being honest to say that things are not as easy as one could imagine.
