Health & Social Services sectors!

Hello all,

I'm basically just new here and really appreciate your good works! Anyway, I'm 33 years African male and currently living in Finland but planning migrating to NZ in near future.

I've got two different Master's degrees from Finland - M.Sc in International Development & Cooperation, and M.Sc in Public Health from two different Finnish universities. I had 5 years work experience in Educational field as a Teacher in a private primary school back home after my B.Sc in Sociology; prior to my Master's degrees. I also have 2 years work experience as a Development/Social Worker with two Finnish Non-Governmental Organizations focusing on Health and Social Services as well as other issues.

I'm absolutely aware that my degrees were/are vast, thus, don't have any specific job in mind as long as it's within the areas of both Health and Social Services. Based on that, I'm just asking about the labour market/job situation over there in my fields especially Public Health.

What are chances of landing a job in Health and Social Services sectors in NZ while abroad/overseas?

Do NZ employers recognize and accept foreign degrees/education (Finnish degrees) and work experiences? If not, any possibilities of upgrading them to NZ's. What are the procedures for doing that and how long does it take?

Note: I'm also considering applying for INZ Skilled Migrant Scheme but have to check the requirements to see whether I'm qualified or not. Looking forward to your useful/helpful insights, advice, suggestions, experiences and all that.

Many thanks + Greetings!

MSc in Public Health is a population health research degree? Epidemiology? Or what was the focus/specialisation?

Hello Jawnbc,

Thanks for your questions!

It actually has no specific specialization but extensively covers both population health and epidemiology.

Hello Jawnbc,

Thanks for your questions!

It actually has no specific specialization but extensively covered both population health and epidemiology.

No worries :)

Unless you can position that degree solidly in the realm of population health, it won't resonate much with the community sector here. It's too research/policy focused.

Your message was well-understood.

Despite the fact that it covered a range of activities and courses including Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Demography, Health Economics and Health Systems/Services and Health Policy but wouldn't say it's too research/policy because it also covered other areas of study including Health Promotion, Health Management, Health Protection, Environmental Health, Gerontology/Geriatrics, Paediatrics/Child Health and Nutrition, Occupational Health, Social Psychiatry/Mental Health. Besides, it was a taught and not research Master's Programme though a Master's Thesis was part of it.

I intend working in organizations, health care centres or government to improve the quality of health care delivery/promote population health; alongside gaining more work experience before going into Academia as a Researcher/Lecturer/Consultant later in life.