Hi there,

I am a Senior Electromedical Engineer who has 7 years experience in working on a wide variety of medical equipment. I would like to move to New Zealand and welcome any advice.

In particular I hope to hear from someone who has successfully moved to NZ. Would it be possible to get in via the Skilled Migrant Category? Or will potential employers not wait the 6 months or so that this application process will take? Maybe the only way in is by getting a temporary 'Work to Residence' visa and start the job, hoping the 'Residence from Work' application will be successful after 2 years of living in NZ.

Looking forward to your posts!

Thanks,

Edwin.

Can we all come along?

I think there is space for a few more!

There are quite a few websites for biomeds in Australia & New Zealand, if you can get a "sponsored" position the visa is payed for, otherwise it will cost at leat 1,500. Migration does have a sell by date, below 45 I think, although they are trying to increase that to 50

Thanks, Edwin. But unfortunately I fall a bit outside even the revised upper limit of Neil's criteria. So it looks like I shall have to resign myself to soldiering on in our wonderful Browner Britain. Not Blighty, as before, but Blighted as now.

Go for it, by all means. Soon there will be no-one left here except the Old and the Bold, and the dross. It's all part of some Master Plan, I suppose.

Good luck, Mate.

Hi there,
Biomed departments here in New Zealand are full of poms, and I'm sure that you will be able to find one here ready to welcome one more! Check out www.trademe.co.nz as its probably the best place to start looking for biomed jobs. I found my job there, and have seen a few positions for biomeds there recently also. (I think there is one listed there right now for a department supervisor). I would also suggest contacting some individual departments heads or managers at various hospitals. Skilled staff are in such short supply that positions are not always advertised. And forget about the recession. Its a myth. The biggest decision you will have to make is where in New Zealand to live.....

For those wishing to try pasture new, here are a few ads.

LECTURER / SENIOR LECTURER IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING
The University of Melbourne - The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
... qualifications and experience. We are seeking to appoint an academic staff member in the field of Biomedical Engineering. You will be expected to build an independent and well-funded research program ... Melbourne School of Engineering Salary: AUD $72,414 - $85,990 p.a. Lecturer (Level ...
Posted on 04-03-2009
From The University of Melbourne

LECTURER / SENIOR LECTURER IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING
The Australian - Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
... Swinburne University of Technology Engineering Opportunities at Swinburne Faculty of Engineering and Industrial Sciences Lecturer / Senior Lecturer in Biomedical Engineering Position Number: 27485Academic Level B, $69,698 - $82,683 ...
Posted on 04-04-2009
From LinkMe

LECTURER / SENIOR LECTURER IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING
The Australian - Melbourne, VIC Australia 3000
... Swinburne University of Technology Engineering Opportunities at Swinburne Faculty of Engineering and Industrial Sciences Lecturer / Senior Lecturer in Biomedical Engineering Position... read more
Posted on 04-01-2009
From CareerOne Australia

Facilities Engineering Assistant (Fresh Dip in Biomedical /...
SpringField Consulting Pte Ltd - West, Singapore
... Diploma in Biomedical Engineering, Electronic or Electro-mechanical Engineering is preferred. Fresh Diploma graduates are welcome to apply, as training will be provided. Location ...
Posted on 04-04-2009
From Jobstreet

Biomedical Engineer
CareerOne - ADELAIDE, SA, Australia
... 73,909 - Perm F/T - PO1 You ll provide professional and timely biomedical device management programs and maintenance services. Engaging in engineering and technical support for a broad range of customers, you ll ensure all ... have extensive experience in the acquisition, maintenance and repair of electronic and electromechanical devices to strict ...
Posted on 04-04-2009
From healthcareer.com.au

VP Engineering
craigslist, inc - Shanghai, China
... quality, single chip using a standard CMOS IC process. The Vice President of Engineering will lead the engineering team in both the US and China in the design and development of their next generation chips ... ads? ] Date: 2009-04-02, 5:22AM CT Position of VP Engineering ...
Posted on 04-02-2009
From Craigslists

Facilities Engineer (Biomedical / Healthcare)
SpringField Consulting Pte Ltd - West, Singapore
... Degree/Diploma in Biomedical Engineering, Electronic or Electro-mechanical Engineering is preferred. Experience in management of the maintenance of medical equipments and services as well as building ...
Posted on 04-04-2009
From Jobstreet

Quality Engineer (Biomedical Industry)
GMP Group - GMP Technologies/Engineering - Singapore, Singapore

Posted on 04-02-2009
From Jobstreet

Senior Technical Specialist - X Ray (Biomedical)
GMP Group - GMP Technologies/Engineering - Singapore, Singapore



Posted on 04-03-2009
From Jobstreet

Tooling Engineer ( Troubleshoot Molds ) - US MNC, Biomedical...
NextDoor Consultancy Pte Ltd - TUAS with Several Pick up Points, Singapore
... Degree or Diploma in Mechanical Engineering with 5 years’ work experience in plastic molding industry. 4 ...
Posted on 04-04-2009
From Jobstreet

Hi Zachypoo ,

Please thanks for this info am also looking at working outside my country well though they need my services but i should move on with my career thats the truth, please if you can make various contacts in NZ, just email me , i got 7 years working experience in Biomedical engineering and got numerous trainings here and abroad.

Roman
meridiantech@yahoo.com

Stay where you are, Roman!

Why not simply grow to be Number One in Uganda? Your country needs you, Mate.

Thats true Geoff, but i can say i have contributed still to my country, trained enough Biomeds, thats some kind of success!we have a saying in my lauguage that you will always think that your mum is the best cook unless you travel.

so i will always think am so good here in Uganda but till i work elsewhere, i expect to learn new and progress with career.

Well, let me tell you, I have travelled a bit in the past, and my Mum is still the best cook!

We also have a saying, "It's better to be a big fish in a small pond; rather than a small fish in a big pond"!

Here's another thought (based upon my own experiences):- at the end of the day it doesn't really matter where you are (and this is especially true in our modern internet era), but I have found it far more satisfying to work on kit where the need was great (and apparent), and when actual repairs were needed, rather than just droning on doing PM etc. in places where they had (have), shall we say, "everything" (but won't permit you to actually repair anything).

I should imagine that NZ is like that (that is, like the UK's NHS). All the challenging work (the organising, setting things up, and all the rest) will have already been done. Everything will simply be routine. A great place to live (and raise your kids) for sure ... but, there again, can't the same be said about where you are?

Stay in East Africa, Roman ... perhaps we can find a way to support you there, you never know.

It has been reported in news papers today that all the Doctors trained especially the Surgeons are living Uganda for Rwanda, in my country a surgeon is paid 700GBP per month and in Rwanda his paid 3000GBP so you can see what it is in our health system here so do you then what a Biomed takes home?? Geoff i really need to be in my country and serve the patients and i will always do that even if i leave uganda i will always contribute to the health sector growth

Yes, Roman, I'm aware of the general economics of the situation. But if all the good (that is, useful) people go ... what does that leave behind?

I have no easy answers to this f****ed-up world, except to say that each must look into his heart to find their own way of living in their own skin. For instance, just look what the Robber Bankers (... it rhymes easily with another well-used word, does it not?) have done to our credit-crazy world? Don't you just despise those w*****s (yes, that's the word)? I know I do (and always have). Doom on all Suits!

Who has the greater true value, the so-called "celebrity" (brazen, brainless ... but rich), or the lowly biomed toiling away on behalf of the sick and needy? I think we all know the answer.

Keep the Faith, Mate. You are not alone!

I am all in favour of people expanding their horizons, but as Geoff will tell you the hardest part is when you want to go back home. Have you taken the immigration test, these are free and they will tell you which countries will accept your applications, no use dreaming without the facts as there are countries that will only accept qualifications from "western" countries if you want to be classed as an engineer and not a technician.

... or rather, when you don't want to go home, but you have to leave all the same! Don't forget, Neil, that we were contractors, not immigrants!

Yes, like you I am all in favour of people (everyone, in fact) making the best of their lives. And the "grass is always greener" and all that stuff. But, personally, I do not believe that "economic migration" is the answer to the world's problems.

Meanwhile ... "Engineer"? "Technician"? Who cares? I have always been proud to call myself a Technician. All that muhandis lark was (and is) just a load of egotistical crap (something that seems to thrive very well where you are)!

Engineer, technician in some parts of the world it matters, especially when you are moving for the money.

Baboons are still Baboons, whatever you call them. See my earlier comment about "economic migration".

By the way (and returning, however obliquely, to the topic), let it be known that there are Kiwi biomeds working in London, so it's certainly not a "one-way street", by any means.

Still plenty of baboons about, most like to be called managers these days

Roman, Gazpacho
Another AD you may be interested in!

Lecturer/Senior Lecturer, Department of Engineering Science
University of Auckland - Auckland New Zealand
... currently has approximately 175 undergraduate and about 50 postgraduate students in Bachelor of Engineering Degrees in Engineering Science and in Biomedical Engineering, taught Masters Courses, and thesis study for both Masters and PhD degrees ... fluid mechanics areas, including biomechanics, geomechanics and composite materials. As part of the Faculty of Engineering, close linkages are maintained with the other ...
Posted on 04-07-2009
From Academic Careersr

Anyway...

Thank you all for your replies. Does anybody know someone who successfully moved to a biomed job in New Zealand from abroad?

Thanks,

Edwin.

Yes, there was (is) a guy on this forum. I forget his name, but I'm sure Huw will be able to conjure it up!

Meanwhile, have you checked-out these earlier threads?

PS: I may have been thinking of Dom. But I see he is now in Queensland, not NZ.

Hi Geoff

Remember our old mate Billy McDougal? Moved from the Western in Glasgow to Saudi then bounced over to New Zealand as a Med Gas/ Anaethetics bio med. He's still out there as far as I know.

Regards
Terry H

Oh yes, one of the infamous Glasgow Clones, as someone rather irreverently named them.

(but ... can you still name the others?)

Hi Geoff & Terry

Yes, I have checked out the previous threads. There is helpful information in this forum. Also I have had some good conversations with a couple of managers of EBME departments in NZ. Would it possible for me to get in touch with Billy McDougal you mentioned?

Regards,
Edwin.

Edwin

Sadly the last I heard regards Billy was from our Service Manager based in Australia. He was at that time getting considerable flak from a chap in New zealand responsible for Med Gas -- it just happened to be my old mate Billy. This was about 4 years ago and our Australian manager has moved on and Billy's e-mail address has been lost in the void. If you have a contact out there its possible they will know him ( big country yet not too highly populated.

Geoff -- 3 other Glasgow Clones were .......

Graham Crawford -- get a Xmas Card from him & Katie most years.
Harry Lee --- disappeared to a croft on the Western Isles
Ronnie Aitkin -- Last heard from him 8 years ago.

Hi! Can always try facebook search as well. Good Luck!

Terry.

I think I find Harry's Game the most appealing!

Cheers

Geoff

Hi Geoff
Guessed you would!!!

Hi All

I moved to NZ from the bad old UK in '92. At the time I had no experience in Biomed - may be if I had i would not have been so disapointed by England (remember by 92 Thatcher had stuffed up England,unemployment was highand it rained a lot!!).

I was trained in Marine radar and telecommunications in Plymouth College of further Education - any one remeber Chris Partington? then GEC avionics in Basilbon, then fax machine servicing in greater London, then back to Plymouth to Texas instruments.

I got to NZ in '93 (had a year in OZ first), I then applied and subsequently got a job as a Biomed in Tauranga and have not looked back since. I have moved about a bit but am now back in Tauranga and manager of the department.

I am unsure of the immigration criteria - so check out the immigration NZ website.

If you are looking for position as a Biomed in NZ, do not make the mistake in looking at the salary and then converting to pounds - it don't work out very well. Still fight for as higher a salary as possible.

As mentioned before in this thread - trademe jobs is a good website, as is monster.co.nz also NZ herald - try 'em all.

We are all busy people, but feel free to drop me line (I may take while to get back to you) but i'll do my best to help out.
My email is philippage@bopdhb.govt.nz

Oh well better get back to the BBQ and the beers - still got the arvo' to go before knock orf....

Phil Page

Nice one, Mate. I envy you.

I also escaped the so-called United Kingdom back in 1993. But due to circumstances beyond my control, I'm now back in this *Sceptred Isle, and becoming more fed up with it all as each day passes. Something's gonna have to give soon, I can feel it coming!

In fact I keep asking myself:- "what have I done to deserve this"?

* Yeah, the sceptre of Hades, that is.

Hi all,

A lot has happened since my last post. I went to NZ a couple of months ago and was offered a job at Middlemore Hospital as a biomed! So I am currently in the application process and hope we will get the green light from NZ immigration soon.

Many thanks for all your suggestions!

Regards,

Edwin.

Good luck to you, Edwin.

It certainly can't be any worse than where you are at the moment!

Hi Phil,

Could there be chances for people coming from the developing world like me from Uganda, i have some experience in Biomedical engineering and would also love working away from home get to know what is out there, salary is not what matters.

Regards

Roman
romkasirye@gmail.com

When you see the prices you will be paying for housing, food not to mention tax. Salary will matter.

Things must have changed in NZ since the 90,s then !! It was a very reasonable place to live then.

I did not only mean NZ but most of the "western" countries

Yes, Mate ... that's what we should have done twenty years ago - gone out there and set up biomed services.

It's all a bit late now, though, Tony.

Your right me old buddy !!! I like your good self am envious of Edwin, its a really Great Place. I wish him well and Godspeed.
Tone.

But (as you know, Mate) I agree with Neil's sentiments about "Western" countries ... but I had best not get started!

The way I keep my own sanity intact (?) is to avoid "society" as much as possible (you know, the Neds, Chavs, the *Pikies, the "Aliens" - illegal or otherwise - and the rest of the dross that clutter up the [over-crowded] place) and to regard England in the same way as I would view any other Third World country. You know, as a bystander, a visitor. That way I can handle it (well, just about).

I regret to say that, in the fullness of time, NZ (and even Oz, large as it is) will become the same. That is, reduced to the lowest common denominator. Canada is already well down that road, of course. And the US (as with everything else it seems), is already streets ahead!

* Not really worth a capital P by rights.