NEW ZEALAND: Physio, Occupational and Speech Therapy Work Experience in Auckland

Gain valuable Physiotherapy and/or Occupational Therapy experience with physically disabled children at a special unit in Auckland.

You'll gain valuable experience and you'll get a wonderful sense of achievement from assisting in helping these great kids

You'll assist in a unit that has a large number of children with physical disabilities such as multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy and mobility problems. You'll work alongside and under the guidance of the current therapist at the unit helping the children with their disabilities..

The experience you gain on this unique project will be an excellent entry to your CV, going a long way to help you stand out in the crowds of job seekers or if you just want to do something to help children who need and appreciate our volunteers care and enthusiasm

ABOUT YOUR WORK:

You'll work as an assistant to the existing therapist helping her treat the children. There may be some days where you will be in charge of the children and set tasks by the unit's therapist.

You will also get the chance to work with the children in a classroom environment and this will give you additional experience in how to work with their disabilities and to overcome these obstacles within education.

Each child will have different problems that you will be required to look at and you will have an individual programme for each child. Your work may involve any or all of the following

• Positioning,
• Swiss ball work,
• Compression through the spine,
• Using standing frames,
• Looking at tone and posture,
• Massaging and maintaining good joints,

ABOUT THE PHYSICALLY DISABLED UNIT:

The Inclusion Support Centre we work with is attached to a college in the suburbs of Auckland. The unit has a round 30 children with a range of disabilities. Many of the children at the unit are wheelchair bound and require constant attention. They are split into 3 classes according to the severity of their disability. This mean that you can specialise in an area you are more interested in within these classes.

The staff at the centre are incredibly friendly and welcoming people, true Kiwis! You will be learning from qualified professionals who have a real passion and love for what they do and they are very enthusiastic to share their knowledge and time with those who truly want to learn. They are also very keen to demonstrate some Kiwi style hospitality so some post-work socialising will really make you feel like one of the team!

ACCOMMODATION AND LOCATION:

You'll live in a centrally located hostel that is friendly and relaxing, making it ideal for long-term stays. You will be sharing a room with other volunteers. There is a communal kitchen and storage area for cooking meals and plenty of space to relax. Entertainment at your accommodation includes cheap internet access, TV and free pool table. You are literally a stroll from the Sky Tower, harbor and waterfront.

Food is not provided on this project, but Auckland has restaurants to suit all tastes - the most popular cuisine is New Zealand lamb which can be ordered at many restaurants around the city and is well worth it. For meals in local restaurants, a trip to Auckland's inner city centre is well worth the effort - it bustles with activity and offers a range of choices of restaurants.

WHAT YOU'LL GAIN FROM DOING THIS PROJECT:

• An exciting opportunity to travel, see the world and experience a foreign culture first-hand.
• New skills, more confidence and invaluable personal and professional development.
• The enormous satisfaction of helping disadvantaged children and knowing that you made a difference to them.
• An opportunity to take a break from the traditional academic track or your current career path in order to gain life experience and global cultural awareness
• An entry on your CV or Résumé that will enhance your career opportunities and make you stand out from the crowd.
• Make friends, form relationships and build memories that will last a lifetime.
• Opportunities to enjoy some exciting adventure and cultural activities while on your programme.
• And best of all ... an unforgettable experience!

WHAT TO DO NEXT:

Please email or call us! If you’d like to apply for this project, please complete the application form. As soon as we receive it, we’ll liaise with you and then start making your travel adventure happen. It’s as easy as that.

Start Dates

All year round - you choose your start and finish dates! Placements may be subject to school terms.

PLEASE NOTE: We can only take one volunteer at a time on this project so we strongly advise booking early.

Costs / Benefits

From £1595 for 4 weeks, then £270 for each additional week. Price includes:

►Arranging your Programme,
►Full pre-departure support and assistance,
►Payment Protection insurance,
►Accommodation,
►Breakfast (Monday to Saturday)
►Meeting you at the nearest airport,
►Transfer to your accommodation
►Local in-country team support and backup,
►24-hr emergency support,
►Certificate of Completion

NOT INCLUDED:
Flights, Insurance, Cost of Visas (if a visa is required), Food, Return transfer to airport.

Requirements

Minimum age 18. You should be currently studying Physiotherapy or Occupational Therapy or already qualified.