Skills for Good - February 2025: New GoodtoGo sessions for new learners, Support with the cost of training and more

Tēnā koutou

Last Friday, submissions closed on the latest consultation for the Redesign of Vocational Education. As we shared via an email update earlier this month, this was a particularly pertinent consultation for both yourselves as employers and for Careerforce, as it was specially focused on the future structure of work-based learning. Based on feedback from both employers and our peak bodies, we strongly advocated for the Independent model as we feel it will much better serve employer and learner needs now and into the future. In our view, it will cause the least disruption, avoid additional complexity, and ensure a continued and dedicated focus on work based learning within our sectors.

We expect to hear the Minister’s final decision in April. In the meantime, our focus as has been the case throughout this reform process, is on maintaining business as usual and focusing on the needs of our employers and learners. As detailed in this newsletter, we are excited to launch our GoodToGo introductory sessions for our new trainee enrolments next month. These are all about ensuring trainees understand how work based learning works and what their responsibilities are, and in general, just giving them the confidence and reassurance that they can do this and to just make a start.

We are also excited to share some further findings from our employer survey, and also some findings from the most recent learner wellbeing survey. These results certainly indicate high levels of satisfaction, but we are ever aware that there is always room for improvement and we welcome your feedback at any time.

Ngā mihi

Rod Bentham
Executive Director, Careerforce

As shared in our January update, we received a record employer satisfaction result in our eighth and most recent 2024 employer satisfaction survey. We are continuing to analyse the results and your feedback, and plan to share a topline report with you in the coming months, including actions to address areas for improvement. In the meantime, we’ll tease you with a few more results:

For the first time, we asked a Net Promoter Score (NPS) question, and which simply asks to what extent you would recommend Careerforce to others. It is considered a stronger measure than straight satisfaction as it measures loyalty, and simply subtracts your ‘detractors’ from your ‘promoters’. Careerforce’s inaugural NPS score of 38 is considered a very good result as anything above 0 suggests a positive sentiment, and anything above 20 is favourable.

In response to the question “Overall, how well do Careerforce programmes meet my organisation’s workforce development needs?”, 93% of respondents indicated they either met or exceeded their needs. Less than 3% indicated they do not meet their needs.
In response to the question “Overall, how well do the assessments in the programmes match workplace requirements?”, 90% of respondents indicated they either met or exceeded their needs. Less than 3% indicated they do not meet their needs.

"[Careerforce’s] unwavering commitment to providing exceptional support and guidance has been instrumental in helping our organization meet its workforce development goals. Careerforce consistently delivers high-quality training programmes that are tailored to the practical needs of the workplace, ensuring that learners gain skills and confidence directly applicable to their roles."

"Our learning environment has not always been the best or encouraged. Going back to Careerforce and actively engaging with workers/akonga has been an overwhelming positive experience for all involved especially our staff. Confidence is contagious so when one of them succeeds, it continues to encourage others to either give it a go or do just as well :). Our business is better for it."

In addition to our annual employer survey, we also participate in a bi-annual Te Pūkenga- wide learner survey, latest of which was in November 2024:

Our learners are highly satisfied with us - 94.9% agree with the statement ‘overall, I am satisfied with my experience at Careerforce.’
Our learners are highly likely to recommend Careerforce to others -Careerforce [learner] Net Promoter Score (NPS) is 44.2.
Our learners have a high level of overall wellbeing - 94.7% of Careerforce learners agree that their overall wellbeing is supported while training.

On 26 March we’ll be supporting Brain Injury Waikato at their Brain Injury Awareness Month event. If you're in the neighbourhood, come along to connect, learn, and support each other while exploring the impact of brain injury. The free event is open to individuals, families, supporters, and anyone keen to learn more. Connect with community organisations and discover valuable resources.

When: Wednesday, 26 March 2025 Time: 9am-12pm
Where: Kai Hall, 487 Tuhikaramea Road, Templeview, Hamilton More information

Ten years ago, Melissa Hunt started at Wairarapa Care Network (now Waicare Day Activity) as a kitchen hand peeling potatoes and doing the dishes.

“I saw all the fun the attendees and staff were having, so I approached my boss and asked if there was an opportunity for me to progress,” she says.

Beginning her studies with a Level 2 Health and Wellbeing qualification, Melissa progressed to Level 3. She then pursued the Level 4 Apprenticeship in Diversional Therapy. Now Melissa manages the elderly day care centre.

Anastasia (Stacey) Bell is an Activities Coordinator at Christchurch’s Burlington Village Care Centre, where she is completing an 18-month Apprenticeship in Diversional Therapy with Careerforce.

Starting her apprenticeship a year ago, Stacey says she loves how it backs up what feels instinctive to her in her day-to-day work. “The apprenticeship has boosted my confidence and helped me advocate better for residents.”

Stacey has gone to extraordinary lengths to create wonderful experiences for those she supports, even arranging a casino visit for one resident, an outing that involved careful planning and creative solutions. It was one that gave lasting memories for the resident and his family to share.

Starting mid-March, we’ll be hosting monthly 'GoodToGo' online induction sessions. These one-hour events are designed to support and guide newly enrolled learners, enhancing their onboarding experience.

These sessions will introduce Careerforce, explaining what workplace learning is and how to get started with the learning process. Key topics also include understanding Careerforce’s online learning platform, Aka Toi, and the iPortal registration process.

Trainees will learn about the supports available, such as progress report emails, resources on the Careerforce website, and wellbeing support. The session will also cover key roles, including trainers, observers, and assessors, as well as expectations for starting assessments and maintaining progress.

Trainees will be informed about academic misconduct, policies on AI use, and the consequences of not starting or completing assessments. Finally, the session will conclude with an encouragement to start assessments, opportunities for networking among trainees, and follow-up support.

These events are for Level 2 and 3 learners, plus Level 4 Dementia LCP and Level 4 Advanced Care and Support learners.

We encourage you to support your new learners to attend. There will be four sessions per month, and learners will receive their invites shortly after enrolment. More information will be available shortly.

Do your learners need some extra support with their training programmes? Our Achieve Study Hubs are face-to-face sessions where they can drop in, ask questions, meet with other learners, and receive help with their learning.

Achieve Study Hubs are scheduled across the country. Learners are also welcome to attend sessions outside their area. See the full schedule on our website. We also contact learners about these sessions and they can RSVP by completing the online form on our website.

We all know that lack of time is the biggest barrier to training success, so please encourage, and allow time, for your staff to attend these Study Hubs. We know that learners who have attended these events have found them very beneficial.

Are you supporting a Māori learner? - Our Rōpū Taupuhipuhi Āmio / National Mobile Support team provides options for kanohi-ki-te-kanohi (face-to-face) kaupapa Māori approach support through wānanga mahi and noho marae. Check out the current 2025 schedule on our website.

Are you supporting a Pacific learner? - Our Pacific team understands Pacific learners' needs and are here to help them. The team runs Talanoa (study support sessions), and face-to-face and online Fono (workshops). Check out the current 2025 schedule of Talanoa.

The Careerforce Manaaki Fund provides temporary financial assistance to learners facing unexpected hardship that is impacting upon their studies.

The fund can be used for a number of things including necessary medical, dental or optical costs. Check out the FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) to see examples of what the fund can be used for.

Round 10 - Applications open:
16 February – 1 March 2025
Applicants notified: 17 March 2025
Round 11 - Applications open:
23 March – 5 April 2025
Applicants notified: 21 April 2025

Successful applicants will receive a one off payment of $400 to help with alleviating financial barriers. Find out about the criteria for eligibility and how learners can apply for funding.

Do you have a Careerforce learner who is going through a tough time and may need support?

We’re committed to promoting a healthy learning environment where Careerforce enrolled learners can talk to someone confidentially about their wellbeing when they need to.

We know that many factors may impact on a person’s wellbeing including:

Physical health concerns
Mental health concerns and stress
Financial concerns and hardship
Whānau and relationship issues
Bullying, harassment and discrimination

Learners can take the first step and complete the online form. If you are completing this form on behalf of a learner, please ensure that you have their consent.

To strengthen cybersecurity and protect user data, Careerforce is restricting overseas access to our Learning Management System, Aka Toi, from 10 March. This measure will help to prevent unauthorised access, and cyber threats while ensuring compliance with data protection regulations.

What does this mean for you?

After 10 March, your learners and assessors who use Aka Toi will no longer be able to access Aka Toi from outside New Zealand. Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our learning environment secure. We will shortly be advising your learners and assessors as well. If you have any queries or concerns, please contact your Careerforce Workplace Advisor.

Here's a tip to help support your employees with their training.

It’s important that you work with your staff to help them develop training goals. Setting training and professional development goals are important to retain high-performing staff and keep them engaged. Setting SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time bound) for your staff doing training will help them:

clarify their ideas,
focus their efforts,
keep them motivated, and
use and manage their time well to achieve their qualification.

Give them short, small targets to start off with until they feel confident.

We would like to remind you that Version 1 of Unit Standard 32418 has been updated to Version 2. The new title is:
Describe application of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its benefits, in a health or wellbeing setting

This Unit Standard is part of Careerforce’s Health and Wellbeing Level 3 Trainee Programmes and is also included in some Apprenticeship programmes.

Version 2 of the Unit Standard has been developed by Toitu Te Waiora (Workforce Development Council) in conjunction with the sector. The key changes and information on Careerforce’s assessment and resources updates have been summarised here.

The timeframe is as follows:

Version 1
The last day for submitting assessments for Version 1 is 8 May 2025, with version 1 closing for assessment reporting on 1 June 2025.

After this date all trainees who have not completed version 1 will be transferred to version 2.

Version 2
All new enrolments in US 32418 are being enrolled in version 2 of the unit standard.

If you have any queries about this email, please contact your Careerforce Workplace Advisor or the Careerforce Client Services Team or call 0800 277 486.

For more information, refer to the original email here.

The basic criteria fundseekers need to meet includes: being from one of the eight specified industries; and having a project that supports innovation in workforce development through greater use of technology, collaboration across workforces, or that builds/improves service delivery.

Executive Officer Sue McCabe says it's also essential that initiatives have a large impact on the eight eligible workforces at a sector/industry level in the medium term.

“The fund will support Innovative ideas that seek to address a key workforce-wide issue or opportunity. Applicants need to demonstrate significant industry support that evidences the value of the proposed project. As well as larger scale initiatives, pilots to test innovations are also eligible,” Sue said.

Given the fund’s intent, organisations who have assessed they are eligible after reading the guidance need to contact the fund to discuss their project before they can submit an application.

“This is intended to help organisations know whether to invest their time in making an application and to provide help, where appropriate, with application development.

Eligible organisations can apply up until March 16 via www.workforcefuturesfund.nz.
If you have assessed you are eligible, contact admin@workforcefuturesfund.nz to organise a time to chat.
To receive updates on the fund, sign up here.

Find out more about:

Manaaki Fund for learners >>More
Achieve Study Hubs >>More
Free Wellbeing Support for Learners >>More
Careerforce forms - Please ensure you use the latest forms >>More
Apprenticeship Boost >>More
2024-25 Prospectus >>More
Jobs for Good - you can list your vacancy for free >>More
Free Counselling for all Careerforce | Te Pūkenga learners >>More
Te Pae Ora - Wellbeing hub for learners >>More
Careerforce Qualification Programmes >> More
Gateway and Vocational Pathways >>More
How to contact your local Careerforce Workplace Advisor >>More