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INFORMATION ABOUT THE RECIPROCAL EXCHANGE PROGRAMME FOR ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALISTS.
SWITCH! The Orientation and Mobility Instructors exchange programme, is an opportunity for specialists to gain professional and personal development while living and working in another country/culture. Intercultural connection promotes networking, communication and exchange of ideas and goodwill.
Orientation and Mobility (O&M) specialists will exchange jobs and homes for one year from approximately January to December.
O&M exchange participants (exchangees) will not enter the permanent service of the host employer but will remain employed by their home/current employer who will continue to pay their normal salary, superannuation, long service leave etc The exchangee will follow the job description of the Host employers who will be asked to provide professional indemnity insurance and give written consent to the exchange.
Exchangees must return to work for their home employer for at least one year at the end of the exchange.
Applicant Requirements:
. Flexibility and adaptability
. Excellent interpersonal skills
. Diligent work ethic
. Qualification in Orientation and Mobility
. Currently fulltime permanently employed as an O&M specialist
. Minimum two years work experience as an O&M Specialist
. Accommodation to swap either owned by the applicant or a guaranteed 12 month rental paid by the applicant
. Hold a valid drivers licence
. Hold a valid passport
. International police clearance certificate
. Fluent in English
SWITCH! will act as a recruitment and matching service for applicants. The matches will be based on the following in order of priority
1. Applicants wanting to exchange to the same country
2. Educational standards and work experience
3. Same standard of accommodation
Although it is a non–profit organisation SWITCH! Charges applicants A$50 (Fifty Australian dollars) for its recruitment and matching service. This money goes towards set up, maintenance, advertising and recruitment costs.
Participants will pay for and organise their own airfare, taxes, visas, insurance, travel and living expenses (including but not limited to phone calls, amenities – Gas, electricity etc) in their host country.
They will also need to organise and pay for their mortgage/rental expenses in their home country.
SWITCH! Will be matching applicants from the following countries: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, United States of America and Singapore.
Applicants are encouraged to only apply for an exchange if they are committed to take on the challenge and their employer and colleagues are also willing to support the exchange. Withdrawal from an exchange position may cause disruption to the programme and damage to the integrity of SWITCH!
After the executive committee of SWITCH! makes a potential match the applicants will be advised of country and location. If both applicants agree to proceed applicants and employers will be sent, by SWITCH!, the respective application forms and attachments.
The two host employers will then be asked, by SWITCH! for written consent if they agree to the match. When this final match is made applicants will be notified by SWITCH! and asked to commence applying for Visas. Some host employers might request copies of academic statement of qualifications, copy of international police clearance certificate, additional references.
Once SWITCH! Makes a final match the exchange arrangement is by mutual consent of exchangees and if difficulties arise, the resolution is not the responsibility of SWITCH! The Orientation and Mobility Instructors exchange programme.
An exchangee will not be entitled to return to his or her home/current position or accommodation during the exchange period.
If you meet the applicant requirements and are financially and personally suited to participate please read the FAQ’s and send three copies of the completed application form with the $50 application fee (postal/money order) to:
SWITCH! A reciprocal O&M exchange programme
PO BOX 2024
ROSSMOYNE WA 6148
Australia.
Applications close mid January 2008 for exchanges in July 2008 and August 2008 for exchanges in January 2009.