Gaining Physiotherapy Registration in New Zealand

[LittleLindz]

Hi there,

Newbie here trying to put together my portfolio to send to the Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand. Has anyone else:
+ been through the registration process, successfully or not, or
+ worked as a Physiotherapist in New Zealand, or
+ does anyone on here have a good understanding of the New Zealand health care system?

Any advice would be good.

I'm about 50% trough completing the competency document and its just a killer! I thought my favourite subject was me but now I realise I'm in need of a bit of a boost to get it completed. I am currently having difficulty with competency 1.3.1, 1.3.2 and 1.3.3 after putting off doing it twice I've tried to get stuck into it and need some help.

Competency 1.3.1 is "Explain the structure of the health care system in New Zealand" Competency 1.3.2 is "Explain and apply management principles within the New Zealand Health Care system" and competency 1.3.3 is "Understand the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi in the context of physiotherapy practice" What's worst is I need to provide written evidence that I understand all this.

So a little about me - I trained in physiotherapy in the UK and have worked solely within the NHS since. I love my job and wish to continue it when (hopefully) me and Hubby move to New Zealand. We're making the move as we wish for a better life and my husband is submitting our residency visa application this coming week. We've become somewhat disillusioned with life in the UK and want more of an outdoor lifestyle which allows him to pursue his dream of working with animals in a society which cares about its future.

But back to the problem at hand, I'm after any advice on any aspect of completing this competency document if anyone has any examples which worked for them previously - great!

Thanks for reading.
Lindz.

[kaz101]

Hi LittleLindz,

I can't help you with your question but I wanted to welcome you to the forum and wish you luck.

Regards,
Karen

[SumSum]

Hi there! I am a physio student at AUT, from the States originally. I can say that being able to talk the talk around the treaty of Waitangi is considered very important. We are required to take a semestre class on exactly the competencies that you are having difficulty with. However, the class is painfully easy, and offered over the summer at AUT, so perhaps one option is to look into taking the course here? Most if not all of the District Health Boards offer similar (required) classes for their employees, so that's another possibility . . . you might also consider calling someone at the Physio Board and just asking - I'm guessing that if they require you to take a class, they will have the details worked out - after all, it will be unique to NZ and so they will probably have provisions. Sorry if that's not very specific, but hopefully it gives you a start!

Originally Posted by LittleLindz

Hi there,

Newbie here trying to put together my portfolio to send to the Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand. Has anyone else:
+ been through the registration process, successfully or not, or
+ worked as a Physiotherapist in New Zealand, or
+ does anyone on here have a good understanding of the New Zealand health care system?

Any advice would be good.

I'm about 50% trough completing the competency document and its just a killer! I thought my favourite subject was me but now I realise I'm in need of a bit of a boost to get it completed. I am currently having difficulty with competency 1.3.1, 1.3.2 and 1.3.3 after putting off doing it twice I've tried to get stuck into it and need some help.

Competency 1.3.1 is "Explain the structure of the health care system in New Zealand" Competency 1.3.2 is "Explain and apply management principles within the New Zealand Health Care system" and competency 1.3.3 is "Understand the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi in the context of physiotherapy practice" What's worst is I need to provide written evidence that I understand all this.

So a little about me - I trained in physiotherapy in the UK and have worked solely within the NHS since. I love my job and wish to continue it when (hopefully) me and Hubby move to New Zealand. We're making the move as we wish for a better life and my husband is submitting our residency visa application this coming week. We've become somewhat disillusioned with life in the UK and want more of an outdoor lifestyle which allows him to pursue his dream of working with animals in a society which cares about its future.

But back to the problem at hand, I'm after any advice on any aspect of completing this competency document if anyone has any examples which worked for them previously - great!

Thanks for reading.
Lindz.

[ali239]

Hi Lindz,

I am at about the same stage as you in my application for NZ physio reg. I am 8 years qualified and am hoping to emigrate next year.
Hopefully I can help you as I have a few NZ physio friends who have given me some great tips on how to answer this part:

Try googling Nz health strategy document dec.2000 and reflecting on it.

Also google 'cultural competencies in physiotherapy nz' which should find you some articles/guidelines you can read and quote you to have read.

Try and relate some of the competencies to pracice you already do i.e. you are likely to have worked with multi cultural patients with different beliefs and examples of how you have taken these into consideration ro provide the best possible service to those patients.

I have a few more tips but let me know if these are helpful.
Hopefully we can help out each other to get them finished and us on thoses planes!
Ali

[andie]

Hey there

I am currently working in South Africa, and wish to immigrate to new zealand... however I am having some difficulty putting the portfolio 2gether... plz can you help me!!!

I am also confused about comp 1.3 - firstly, where do you find all this information, and secondly, how is this information different in cardio, neuro and musculosk?

plz plz help...

thanks

andie

[physiorekha]

hello to all of you...

m an indian physio, planning to apply new zealand registration. very much confused with the competencies. can anyone please guide me how do it? we have to submit handwritten reports?

also it would be encouraging for us if Andie and lindtz update their progress and give us some tips to get started. Thanx for the tips Ali... i shall be waiting for replies from all of you.

regards,
rekha.

[tink]

Hi all,

I am just trying to start the long process of putting all the evidence together for the competencies. I am wondering what type of evidence you are all using. Reading through all the competencies is slightly overwhelming - but I will get there!
I would be really grateful for any advice on what type of evidence you are using??? Reflections? Essays?
Help!!!

Any advice will be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!

[thom.zydervelt]

hi there just a quick note from a chiropractor who immigrated and sat boards in new zealand where i have lived ever since. It is a wonderful and beautiful country full of nice kiwis. So with that in mind just a thought. The kiwis just work on basic competency even though they are thorough all of my qualifications were just NZQA which is the Qualifications Authority just basically making sure you went through a real training program. Secondly the boards athough I admit to being terrified were really just showing that we were competent in what we did nothing tricky unlike California. I would recommend trusting the kiwis and flying over and sorting out the requirements before hand like any board exams. The Waitangi is about treating other people with respect and equality and is an important part of the New Zealand
way of life and the same for us chiros. I hope that helps even though it is not specific. We work together as chiros with physios and docs here in New Zealand and are all respected and make a good living. So welcome to a unique and amazing country. cheers thom
Kiwis just say she ll be right mate

[physiorekha]

thnx for the encouragement thom.
i appreciate the time and words u shared with us.

cheers.
rekha.

[kiterose]

Hi,

I am also pulling together the enormous batch of paperwork and wondering what really counts as evidence. I think a lot of reflection, feedback forms are wanted. They also replied to me in an e-mail that signed statements would also count but no e-mails etc.

Its hard to prove evidence based work, easy to show attending training, and evidence based teaching/presenting and service development etc but day to day practice is much harder.

My biggest problem seems to be that I am 9 years qualified. How about you? the wording inplaces seems to indicate evidence needs to be shown for the period 'during' the 10 years but in other places it suggests at some time in those 10 years, or am I just wishful thinking!

If you are still undergoing this process, maybe we can bounce some ideas off eachother. Where are you now living? and is that causing a problem for you?

All the best
Rose

Originally Posted by tink

Hi all,

I am just trying to start the long process of putting all the evidence together for the competencies. I am wondering what type of evidence you are all using. Reading through all the competencies is slightly overwhelming - but I will get there!
I would be really grateful for any advice on what type of evidence you are using??? Reflections? Essays?
Help!!!

Any advice will be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!