Primary Teachers
Beatrice Marie
I first found Oasis Education in a desperate search for teaching employment, in the final throws of job-searching energy. I was born, raised and trained in Auckland, and had already been teaching at an Auckland primary school for 18 months. I had taken the previous year off after a disappointing experience to reconsider my career path. Realising it was more than just a career to me, rather it is a passion, I had taken to applying for teaching jobs again. Only to discover, however, that employment opportunities were very low, especially for a beginning teacher with no recent experience.
After making efficient contact with me in response to my online application, I was invited into the Oasis office for an interview and to fill out some paper work. I was introduced to so many of the staff at Oasis and everyone I met gave me their time and full concentration, empathising with the difficulty I was having, and giving me their advice and best wishes. I left that meeting feeling elated and hopeful, feeling as though my struggles had been heard, feeling as though I had finally found someone who was willing to help me.
The team at Oasis Education not only helped me find my feet in the teaching industry, but they helped to reignite my teaching flame and boost my self-confidence as an educator. At a time when well over 50 applicants were pursuing each and every job listing, Oasis organised a range of relief teaching opportunities for me in different and unfamiliar parts of Auckland. After just a term, the Oasis team had arranged contact with a school that resulted in full time employment. The school they recommended me to goes above and beyond my expectations of what excellence looks like, and with an actively supportive who foster and develop my skills as a new teacher. Oasis didn't just find me a job, they took the effort to connect me with a work community that they knew I would thrive in.
Thank you to the team at Oasis; for truly changing the course of my life, and for helping me find a way to fulfill my teaching fervor when I felt hopeless and helpless.
John Dyer
My first visit to New Zealand was in 2002 while travelling. I intended to come back and teach when the time was right and returned in February of 2007. I have just completed my first year as a Year Five class teacher at Gladstone Primary School in Auckland City and have a permanent position for the 2008 academic year.
I first learned of Oasis Education after speaking with them at an emigration show in England. Through ongoing e-mails with the Auckland office, along with some form filling and qualification assessments for immigration purposes, I was able to make the transition into New Zealand teaching smoothly. When I had a question or problem, the team at Oasis Education were patient, helpful and personal with their response.
The primary teaching system here is not too different from England. A structured Numeracy and Literacy programme runs alongside a more relaxed topic based curriculum, allowing you the freedom to fire up your creativity! The teachers and children have all been welcoming and friendly, which has meant the year has flown by.
One of my main reasons for coming to New Zealand was for a lifestyle change. To find a balance between work and play that suited me and to make the most of all the opportunities that are available. With the city, bush and beach all within 10 minutes, and so many other places, just a short car or plane ride away, I'm certainly seeing and doing more than I expected. I even ran my first marathon across the harbour bridge last month!
Being a relatively new country with a small population, it does sometimes seem to miss out on some things, such as the really big sporting and music events. You do miss your friends and family at times and you won't make a fortune to take back home again. However, the pros definitely out way the cons.
Whether you want to come for just a year or a lifetime, as long as you give it your best, you won't be disappointed with the results. Kia Ora.
Dawn Hallett
Living and teaching in New Zealand has always been a dream of mine. When I started looking into the process, it seemed long and complicated. I really didn't know where to start.
A couple of years passed and I began to think my dream was going to stay just that. However one day, while on the internet, I stumbled across Oasis and got to read about people who had achieved the one thing I had always wanted to do. I rang Oasis and they told me each step I would need to take and the order to take them in.
Over the course of the year I found Oasis to be really helpful and approachable. If I had any problems or concerns, no matter how small, I felt I was always able to talk to Oasis, either by phone or through email.
When I had all my documents sorted, Oasis began to circulate my CV, and before long they had contacted me to ask if I wanted to do a telephone interview with a school that had shown interest in me.
The interview went really well and I was offered a teaching post. Since then I haven't looked back. A teacher from my new school met me at the airport and I found the rest of the staff very welcoming and supportive. I was even allocated extra release time!
Teaching here in New Zealand is not that different to teaching in the UK, except there are so many more exciting things to do after school and at the weekends! I have had a fantastic time out here and the year has passed so quickly. I have decided to stay out here for another year, at least. All my friends back home think I'm very brave but I believe, with Oasis to help and support you, anyone can do this.
Relief Teachers
Carrie Andrews
Why did you register with Oasis Education (OE)?
I registered with OE because the contact details were passed on to me from Liz who attended a seminar in the UK re: teaching in New Zealand. It was also nearby the hostel I was staying at in the city and I was welcomed into the office immediately and a time was arranged for a more formal meeting and registration the next day.
What is the best thing about the service OE is providing?
The best thing that stands out in my mind is the fact that I am offered relief work on a day-to-day basis and have the option to reject bookings, confidently knowing that another booking will be offered later to consider.
Also all staff are very friendly and helpful when phoning with relief work each day. They also bear in mind the fact that I car share with my colleague who is also a relief teaching for OE and the fact that it is expensive to ring OE from a mobile phone, hence they ring me back on my phone.
How have you found the schools OE has sent you to?
Ooasis Education have sent me to a variety of state and private schools of which I have really valued the experiences gained from this.
I am not fussy about where I relief teach, so keeping an open mind and experiencing new schools/staff and children is always a valuable experience.
It is always nice being sent back to a known school because I know the route, routines and am familiar with some of the staff and children which always makes the beginning of the day that much easier and I feel more confident teaching there.
Elizabeth Poustie
Why did you register with Oasis Education (OE)?
I found the link to OE on the Teach NZ website, the contact details were also given to me in an information pack at a seminar I attended on Teaching in NZ in Bristol, England. When I arrived in Auckland the office was really close to where I was staying so I popped in. The staff were really friendly and helpful and told me everything I needed to know about teaching in Auckland.
What is the best thing about the service OE is providing?
I always get work and am well informed as to where the school is, the age group I will be teaching , who to contact etc. on some occasions I am given a choice as to where I would like to go.
How have you found the schools OE has sent you to?
The schools I have been sent to are always really friendly, the staff bend over backwards to help you out and welcome you as if you were a member of staff there. The children are usually very respectful and helpful which makes the day alot easier!
Secondary Teachers
Peter Heron
In January 2003 we decided to leave England. I was a Head of Science in urban Yorkshire and had become tired with the crime in our area and the worries about our children's safety. I was working in Auckland 6 months later!
The process is very quick as in New Zealand teachers don't have to give a lot of notice so vacancies need filling rapidly. It was therefore really useful to use Oasis as they could respond to adverts quickly and already had local credibility. They were friendly and effective giving me a couple of phone interviews with principals inside a fortnight! I therefore started in Term 3 which coincided with the beginning of the UK summer break (good for 6 weeks double salary)!
As Head of Science, PE and Health I had 16 teachers and worked in a large low decile South Auckland high school. A year and half later I was Deputy Principal at the school and within three years I was Principal of an Area School in Central Otago.
My family and I have had a fantastic time here, however you need to bear in mind that salaries and accommodation will be an issue in Auckland. But as that is where a third of the population lives you will probably end up starting work there initially. In Auckland I had only one Kiwi in my Faculty, in Otago I am the only immigrant. You do need to engage with the community and in Auckland I joined the Coastguard (like the RNLI), despite having no boat experience. In Otago I am a key community figure as Principal.
Compared to England the children here are much happier and better behaved, however there is a greater emphasis on extra-curricular work than in UK. I would recommend having a go, some don't like it and return to the UK, most however adapt to the lifestyle easily. You won't be rich financially, but you will live in a beautiful safe country without many of the pressures of the UK
Catherine Douglas
My first encounter with Oasis Education was at an Emigrate show in London in 2005. Since meeting an Oasis representative, I received endless support in finding suitable teaching positions as well as help and hints in completing all the paperwork needed to secure a work and residency in NZ. Oasis, for me, bridged the 12,000 mile gap between UK and NZ enabling me to make informed decisions about, not only the schooling system but the communities and people of NZ
Since arriving in the country in January 2006, I have continued to be in contact with Oasis and would recommend them to teachers considering the same move or NZ principals looking to hire new staff.
Oasis in the News
Below is an article from East & Bays Courier. Helen placed Victoria at St Joseph’s at the beginning of 2006.
