In Oita Prefecture, there are three JET PAs based in Oita City, one CIR-PA and two ALT-PAs, as well as a Japanese PA. It is somewhat important to note that these are not simply titles, but it means that we are expected to fulfill our PA duties on top of our respective CIR/ALT duties.
**Note: We strongly recommend talking to your supervisor before consulting the PAs in nearly all cases. Certain administrative measures cannot be done without the knowledge and consultation of your supervisor, so if you need something done related to the JET Programme, it is most effective to start this by communicating openly with your supervisor.
For more information about how the PA system works, please contact your PA.
what do prefectural advisors do?
Outreach PAs spread awareness about the available support systems and methods of contacting us for questions and/or concerns.
First Year Check-ins (First Year JETs) Once every two months, PAs send out a bi-monthly report to all first year ALTs asking them keep us updated on how they are doing. The report is divided into various sections about how they are adapting to their workplace and to life in Japan. There is also a section where ALTs can write their questions and concerns for the PA. We read these and respond with advice and information that we think will be helpful to their situation.
Addressing JET Participant Questions and Concerns When contacted via email or phone call, PAs respond to various questions and concerns from JETs. Depending on what the JET is looking for, we will provide information relating to the JET Programme and daily life and work in Japan. If we are unsure of the answers, we will still try to help by pointing JETs in the right direction to find the information themselves.
Checking on JETs in Emergency Situations When something like a natural disaster occurs that may be potentially dangerous for JETs in Oita Prefecture, we utilize our Regional Advisor (RA) system to make sure all JETs in Oita Prefecture are safe and sound.
Prefectural Advisor Work-Related Administration This includes work such as making sure that contact information for all JETs is up to date, responding to bi-monthly reports, writing PA reports for our supervisors to describe our PA work for the month (always vague to maintain confidentiality), attending PA Meetings, and sending emails to JETs about important dates coming up, information pertinent to their lives and upcoming training seminars.
Prefectural Advisor Conference Twice a year, the PAs go to Tokyo to attend Prefectural Advisor Conferences for PA training. This is a one day conference. PAs also help run events like Prefectural Orientation and the Skills Development Conference.