any social workers having problems?

[egghead]

hi
just wondering if any social workers from UK have had any problems transferring their sillis and qualifications to work in oz, as I have heard this can be problematic.
any feedback would be great
thanks
bec

[kc]

I had my social work qualifications assessed by AASW it was quite straight forward and the guy dealing with it was really helpful cost about $600 . Said it was equal to Aus one.PM if you have any queries.Just got a job with Families SA and moving to Adeliade in May!!

[simon and jenean]

Hi

This can be difficult depending on your social work qualification and years of work experience (this is from memory so may not be completely accurate). Social Workers in OZ are expected to do a 3 year degree minimum, so social workers in the UK who have done a 2 year diploma may have problems. Having said that, I think some of this is overlooked if you have over 3 years full-time work experience. I think it is more complex than all this though, as there were also issues over how long placements were I think (this might have been as I didn'thave the 3 years work experience though), as they tend to do longer in Oz.

I had a positive skills assessment after doing a 2 year MA/DipSW in Social Work, but did not have 3 years full-time work experience. I had to get course notes and transcripts from my BA and MA and had to demonstrate that I had covered the areas they expected academically and in practice. I also put some information, though not to same degree as other bits, for Post Qualifying awards as I think I thought this would help with the days I was short for placement experience.

It actually took a lot of time to do all of the paperwork (more so than for visa applications), so I would recommend sending off for the bits you need as soon as you can.

Hope this helps a bit. Regards
Jenean

[STOVIE]

Hello
My wife is a social worker with an honours degree, a CQSW, other postgrad awards, 12 years child protection field work, & 4 years foster & adoption worker. We went to the emigrate show & thought her job would be the most straight forward way to gain a permanent visa for our family to move to Perth. However, some of the migration agents seem to think that because this profession is not on the MODL we would not get enough points for this to occur. They indicated a temporary regional visa might be an option, but having visited Oz twice it is definately Perth for us.
Have any of you guys found this to be the case. Have any of you been issued a permanent visa.We are hoping we have got the wrong end of the stick.

Thanks

[simon and jenean]

Hi

Social Work might not be currently on MODL but is on Skilled Occupation List and receives 60 points, and if you have enough points your application I would have thought would go through, but just not receive priority processing.

We are going based on my husband who is a mental health nurse on the MODL. I would have thought that your partner would easily pass the AASW skills assessment based on qualifications and experience. If you look at the AASW site there is a page that gives an indication of what UK qualifications tend to be considered. As your wife did the CQSW which I believe was a 2 year course, they would want to know that she has done enough academically and in practice. But as she has done a degree, as long as this is relevant, then she shouldn't have a problem. Having said that, part of my initial degree was in American Studies and media and popular culture, which sounds unrelated to social work, but I was able to identify cultural issues, theory etc that applied to social work from this. So I really don't think your wife should have any problems. As I said before though, it can be a real pain getting all the info for the skills assessment. I had to get hold of my degree course handbooks (which some poor soul had to go and find and photocopy) and send them in. It can take a while for all of this to come through and resulted in a huge amount of paperwork to send through.

Have you done an on-line points check for the 136 visa? This can be found on the www.immi.gov.au site and would give you an idea of your points. I have seen quite a few jobs in childcare social work in Perth on this site, http://search.jobs.wa.gov.au/page.ph...AdvertID=37204. If your wife can secure a job this might help with processing times and increases your points.

Feel free to PM me if you want to. We are also going to Perth, hopefully living in Rockingham area.

Best of luck
Jenean

[daniell]

Hi fellows thinking of coming down under...

Australia has NO registration for social/welfare work, so what you call your self is not important.

The industry asks for a minimum qualification, a 2 year dip in social or welfare work
The Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW)is really only interested in you if you studied a course they approve, a 4 year course however many are 2 years arts and 2 years S/W !!.

However ...The Australian Institute of Welfare and Community Workers (AIWCW) is the inclusive professional association they have 2 year Dip and 3 year degrees.

IMPORTANT- FOR the Migration points AASW and AIWCW both award the same 60 points and the same professional insurances.
So save your money and apply straight to AIWCW and save the drama of being refused by AASW or told you can spend money doing one their study courses.

[Jez0207]

Hi. I am a social worker. got the skills assessment through ok (I have the MA DIPSW but presume that relevant experience will count). Even with the skills assessment I did not have enough points so had to sit the IELTS (english) exam to get the extra 5 points needed to make 120 points. The IELTS is really easy if your wife needs to sit it but when i applied there was a waiting list for the exam. Hope this helps?

[Jez0207]

Hi. I have had my skills assessment and hoping to move to Adelaide. Do you mind me asking how you got your job in Adelaide and what sort of work you will be doing? Do the wages compare to the UK? Thanks,
Jez

[jack009]

Hi all, i have a Masters Degree in Social Work and i would like to work in Europe. Can you suggest me a good place to work in Europe and how about Australia and Canada? I have enough points in skill assessment.

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Jack
Massachusetts Treatment Centers

[Rachel Perkins]

Hi All,

I am a qualified Social Worker and am based in Melbourne. I have worked in Australia and the UK and now recruit Social Workers throughout the country including UK workers coming out to Australia.
After reading these recent posts I can confirm that some information provided by others is outdated and incorrect. I am happy to provide accurate and specific advice to UK Social Workers so don't hesitate to email me at rachel.perkins@reedjobs.com
Cheers