When looking for a new career after teaching, it’s important to keep all your options open if you are unsure of what exactly you want to do.
You might decide that you prefer the work available in the social sector and that this is where your teaching skills and character can be best put to use. There is a good chance your teaching job is already in the social sector, so remaining in this branch of work may feel more familiar to you.
The social sector is the part of the economy which is controlled by the government. New Zealand saw the demand and availability of social sector jobs increase during and after the height of the pandemic, so if you’ve wanted to pivot careers into a different social sector job, now is a good time to do it!
What Constitutes the Social Sector?
There are many departments in the social (public) sector. They are:
- Family Violence and Sexual Violence Board
- Te Tari Taake | Inland Revenue Department
- Kāinga Ora | Homes and Communities
- Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga | Ministry of Education
- Manatū Hauora | Ministry of Health
- Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga | Ministry of Housing and Urban Development
- Te Tāhū o te Ture | Ministry of Justice
- Te Manatū Whakahiato Ora | Ministry of Social Development
- Ngā Pirihimana o Aotearoa | New Zealand Police
- Oranga Tamariki | Ministry for Children
- Toi Hau Tāngata | Social Wellbeing Agency
- Kāhui Whakamana Tauwhiro | Social Workers Registration Board
- Te Tari o te Pirimia me to Komiti Matua | Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Child Poverty and Wellbeing Unit)
New Zealand has a rich social sector which takes care of many of the needs of the people living in the country.
Each department and ministry work together to ensure the best possible life for everyone in New Zealand, and if you are thinking of leaving teaching and still want to make a difference for your community, it’s a great idea to get involved!
Some of the departments are directly inside the umbrella of the central government, and some are public entities that are separate from the central government.
New Zealand’s social sector provides support and services for everyone in New Zealand, particularly those who are vulnerable. -publicservice.govt.nz
Some job titles that fall under the public service category include:
- Customs Officer
- Defense Policy Strategist
- IT Project Coordinator
- Court Security Officers
- Public Defence Service
- Court Victim Adviser
- Judges Clerk
- Police Officer
- Administrator Workflow and Reporting
- Library Assistant
- Property Rights Analyst
- Transportation Policy Adviser
- Clinician
- Social Worker
- Community Service Coordinator
- Financial Adviser
- Accreditation Manager
- Occupational Therapist
- Alcohol and Drug Counsellor
- Systems Engineer
- Test Analyst
- Case Manager
- Residential Youth Worker
- Translator
- Grant Writer
- Standardised Test Developer
- School Administrator
- Postal Operator
- Human Resources
- Researcher
And many, many more!
Benefits of Working in the Public Sector
One of the main benefits of working in the public sector is that employees usually have job security in positions of long-term and stable employment. This does not mean to say that these jobs are invulnerable; economic factors can sometimes come into play, and redundancies are not uncommon.
That said, public sector employment is still much more secure and sustainable than that of the private sector in many ways. You will also receive government benefit plans and secure pensions, which often drive people’s decisions when deciding between sectors.
What Qualifications Do I Need to Work in the Public Sector?
Since the public sector is government-run, there may be some hurdles you need to surmount in order to be eligible to work. (Again, as a teacher, you may already have completed these requirements for your teaching job.)
First of all, only certain people are permitted to apply for public (or State) sector jobs.
These requirements include:
- being a New Zealand citizen or New Zealand Residence Permit holder, or
- being an Australian citizen or an Australian resident who holds a current Australian Resident Return Visa, or
- having lawful authority to work in New Zealand, which includes a Work Permit with conditions that allow the holder to work in the position applied for, or
- having a variation of condition to a Visitor or Student Permit that allows such work.
You may also need to provide proof of a clear criminal history. According to www.justice.govt.nz, you may have a “clean slate” if you meet all of the following conditions:
- No convictions within the last seven years
- Never been sentenced to a custodial sentence e.g. imprisonment
- Corrective Training, borstal
- Never been ordered by a Court following a criminal case to be detained in a hospital due to your mental condition, instead of being sentenced
- Not been convicted of a “specified offence” (e.g. sexual offending against children and young people or the mentally impaired)
- Paid in full any fine, reparation, or costs ordered by the Court in a criminal case
- Never been indefinitely disqualified from driving.
However, if you apply for certain positions, you’ll still need to disclose your full criminal history even if you have a “clean slate.” These positions are:
- police roles
- prison or probation roles
- judges, justices of the peace or community magistrates
- national security roles
Other tests and checks employers may administer include drug or alcohol checks, and credit checks if the position has to do with finance.
Other than these conditions, you’ll simply need to have the appropriate education and experience in order to obtain a job in the state sector in New Zealand.
Best Jobs for Ex-Teachers in the Public Sector
Depending on your talents and interests, there are many different approaches to the public sector that you can explore and decide which type of job is right for you.
Some state jobs require training, like police, firefighters, healthcare, social work, local politics, and utility services.
Other positions require less training, like clerical services and administration.
Here are some of the best jobs for ex-teachers in New Zealand!
Social Worker/Kairaranga A Whanau
Many ex-teachers navigate towards roles in social work because it is also a very hands-on way to positively impact the lives of people in the community.
You’ll likely need to attend some courses and meet the safety requirements for the Children’s Act.
Depending on which specific kind of social worker you choose to become, you’ll likely talk to children and teens, adults, and/or elders about difficult issues and be a steady and safe adult for them to rely on. Many people seek out the help of social workers to learn about and get help with applying for social programs and other resources.
Environments you might work in include schools, hospitals, homes, care centres, communities, and youth justice centres.
Some social workers enter into mentorship positions and help their clients set and achieve goals while overcoming mental, emotional, and/or physical problems. Sometimes, a social worker just needs to listen to someone get something off their chest in order to be effective.
As a kairaranga a whanau, you are also responsible for culturally-aware relationship-building and community well-being. You may need additional training to learn about cultural norms and local languages as well.
One thing all social work has in common is documentation and case management, so be sure that you’re prepared to take extensive notes and be highly detailed and organised.
Human Resources
Human resources positions are similar in many ways to being a teacher, but without needing to perform the acts of creating lesson plans and administering work to students. Human resources employees are in charge of ensuring that everyone is getting along and performing their jobs as best as they can.
They resolve workplace problems while proactively working to ensure the workplace is well-functioning, including recruiting and training new employees.
Education, Employment, and/or Training Consultant
Advise students, unemployed people, and people leaving correctional facilities for a successful next step in life.
When working with students, you might give them information and insight into their educational options including institutions domestic and abroad, scholarship information, and guidance in choosing their area of study as well as career prospects.
For unemployed people and those who are re-integrating into society, you can provide information about how to choose a career or job path as well as where and how to find training that will prepare them for that path.
Librarian
As a librarian in the social sector, you’re likely to work in a department such as the Department of Internal Affairs. The role of the librarian here is to provide schools with the ideas, curriculums, materials, resources, and books needed to foster a healthy learning environment.
You’ll need to be familiar with schools and kura kaupapa, how they operate, and how to relate to the students and staff.
Knowledge of different Māori and/or Pasifika languages is typically required or extremely beneficial.
Financial Services Officer
As an FSO, your job is to ensure that all the business’s needs are identified, met, and paid for.
You might also need to notify different people and departments of the financial resources available to them and how they may be used to meet their needs.
This role requires excellent accounting, financial, and numeracy skills, as well as risk-assessment skills.
FSOs ensure that a business, department, or ministry is funded and that finances are utilised properly and accounted for. Without someone maintaining financial well-being, it would be impossible for the entity to continue functioning.
Probation Officer
As a probation officer, your job is to support people in the care of the Department of Corrections and help them make meaningful and lasting changes in their lives. The goal is to give people the knowledge, tools, and support they need to live full, meaningful lives as valuable members of their community.
You are in charge of helping someone reshape their future.
This role also requires a hefty amount of paperwork in tandem with the social work aspect.
There are numerous jobs available in the social sector for former teachers to explore!
While it may take some time and money to shift from teaching into a new role, you certainly can pivot your career at any time. Don’t hold yourself back from trying something new if you feel that teaching is no longer a job you’re passionate about!
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