About us

What began as an overseas study opportunity has become a journey of resilience, growth and finding a second home on the other side of the world. 

Supported by a scholarship from the Omani Government, Tasneem moved to Aotearoa New Zealand to study paramedicine at Auckland University of Technology. At the time, Aotearoa New Zealand was largely unknown territory for her. 

"I didn't know much about New Zealand," she says. "My dad was the one who encouraged me to come here. He told me the people were kind, the country was beautiful, and that I would love it." He was right. 

Tasneem quickly fell in love with Aotearoa New Zealand's landscapes, people and way of life. While many students return home once their studies are complete, she wanted to stay and begin work and gain experience as a paramedic. 

That goal wasn't easy to achieve. After graduating, visa challenges made it difficult to secure a graduate role. She spent more than a year teaching first aid and working part-time jobs while applying for positions across the country. 

"There were a lot of moments where I thought it wasn't going to work out." 

Eventually, she made the difficult decision to return home to Oman. She sold most of her belongings, ended her lease and packed up the life she had built in Aotearoa New Zealand. 

Then, while back home with her family, she received the news she had almost stopped hoping for, she had been offered a Graduate Paramedic role with Wellington Free Ambulance. 

"I honestly didn't think I was going to get it." 

A new chapter

A few months later, she was back in Aotearoa New Zealand, driving from Auckland to Wellington with her belongings packed into her car and a new chapter ahead of her. 

Today, Tasneem works as a supervised paramedic and is continuing her development as she works towards gaining her Authority to Practice (ATP). ATP is the authorisation that allows a person to treat patients following the New Zealand Ambulance Clinical Procedures and Guidelines. Graduate paramedics typically start with no ATP and work under supervision while completing the requirements to gain their first ATP level. 

While the clinical challenges of the role have been rewarding, adapting to life in Aotearoa New Zealand has also shaped her journey. 

Growing up in Oman, family and community were at the centre of everyday life. Moving overseas meant learning to navigate a very different culture without her usual support systems to call on. 

"I come from a very collective community. You know your neighbours, you know the people around you, and everyone looks out for each other." 

One of her earliest memories of living in Auckland still makes her laugh. 

"I cooked food for my neighbours and knocked on their doors to introduce myself. One of them politely said no thank you, and I remember being so shocked." 

Over time, she came to understand that community can look different in different places. She also learned to navigate assumptions people sometimes made about her background. 

"People would ask questions based on what they thought life in Oman was like. Sometimes it came from a place of curiosity, but it taught me how important it is to learn about each other's cultures." 

Encouraging others

Those experiences have made the support she has found at Wellington Free Ambulance especially meaningful. "I've never had a more supportive manager. My colleagues are willing to learn and understand different perspectives, and that has made a huge difference." 

Tasneem believes she may be the first Omani paramedicine scholarship recipient to remain in Aotearoa New Zealand after completing her studies, something she is incredibly proud of. As one of only a small number of Omani women to study paramedicine in Aotearoa New Zealand, she hopes her journey encourages others to follow their own ambitions, even when the path feels uncertain. 

Outside of work, Tasneem stays busy running a small perfume business, travelling and catching up with friends and family whenever she can. 

She has explored much of Aotearoa New Zealand, including a solo campervan trip around the South Island and countless road trips across the North Island. Her favourite place remains Russell in the Bay of Islands. 

"It’s beautiful. The people were so friendly and welcoming. It's one of those places that just stays with you." 

Although Oman will always be home, Aotearoa New Zealand has become an important part of Tasneem's story. 

After nearly giving up on her dream of working as a paramedic here, she’s now building a career doing what she loves, supporting the communities of Greater Wellington and Wairarapa every day. 

"It's been challenging at times, but it's also been worth it. I've grown so much since I arrived here, and I'm excited to see where the journey takes me next."