Training for Good - March 2025: Planning for 2025, Learner support, new GoodToGo sessions and more

It's hard to believe we’re into March already, but here we are. Have you had a chance to think about your study plan for the year? How much time can you devote to your studies each week? What time of day is best for you? How can you carve out time for yourself to study? These are important questions.

We encourage you to make a study plan for yourself if you haven’t already. Regular study sessions will keep you progressing, engaged, and on your way to achieving the completion of your programme.

Do you know who your assessor is and how to get started? If not, check in with your manager, or give us a call on 0800 277 486 or email us at info@careerforce.org.nz We have a team of people here to support you, so don’t hesitate to reach out.

Are you stuck on a question or topic? Contact your assessor or manager and ask for support. They also want to see you succeed. You may also be able to seek support from colleagues who may have completed the same qualification, and who have been in your shoes.

You may be aware that we hold Achieve Study Hubs around the country. Learners at any level can come to ask questions, talk to an assessor, meet other learners, get study tips, and have a place to study. Come along if you can. See the article below about Achieve Study Hubs. More information, dates and venues, and how to register is available here.

As a learner, it’s important to pace your learning. Even though it’s great to stay motivated, here are some reasons why pacing your studies can be helpful:

Better understanding: Taking your time helps you understand the material more deeply. Rushing through, can mean missing important details or struggling to keep up.
Reduced stress: Pacing your learning helps avoid feeling overwhelmed or stressed. It allows you to focus on one topic at a time, which can lead to better results.
More retention: When you learn at a comfortable pace, you're more likely to remember what you've studied. Taking breaks and reviewing the material helps keep it in your memory.
Stronger skills: Learning step-by-step builds stronger skills. By not rushing, you can practice and apply what you've learned in real situations, making you more confident.
Time for support: Pacing your learning gives you time to ask questions or get extra help if you need it, making sure you don’t fall behind.

We encourage you to stay consistent and keep a steady pace so you don’t lose momentum. Small steps forward every day can lead to great progress.

Tip - It is important that you complete one unit standard / module before you start another. In that way we can check that you are on the right track, before you move on to the next task.

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.

Are you 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 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 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.

Are you struggling with your learning due to physical or mental health concerns or stress?

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.

Talk to your Assessor OR complete the referral form to connect with a Careerforce Wellbeing Advisor.

Support is available via phone, text, email, Teams, or in-person (location dependent).

Take the first step
Visit our website and complete the online form:

We work with a group of people who have lived experience to make sure our programmes are easy to use and helpful. We also try to find out the needs of disabled learners or those struggling with English early in their learning.

Our online platform, Aka Toi, is always being updated to help learners with different needs. We also give advice on tools that can support learners and we help them use these tools. We also offer more time to finish assessments if needed.

If you need any support, please talk with your assessor or manager or get in touch with us. We will do our best to help you succeed.

Academic Misconduct
When a learner presents assessment evidence that is not their own, gathered from another learner’s work, or from online resources (including generative AI), or from any other sources, we call this ‘academic misconduct’. This is sometimes referred to as ‘academic dishonesty’ or ‘academic integrity’.

How to avoid it – Use your own words

All assessment work completed must be your own original work and must be produced without assistance from other people. You must not buy assessment answers, copy from other learner’s work, or copy from other sources.
>>More information

For those of you who have only recently enrolled, we strongly encourage you to register for a 'GoodToGo' online induction session. These one-hour sessions are designed to kickstart your learning journey.

At the session you'll get an introduction to Careerforce, learn about work-based learning, and how to get started. We’ll walk you through our online learning platform, Aka Toi, the iportal registration for our paper-based learners, and all the support available to you, from progress reports to wellbeing resources.

You’ll also cover key roles like observers and assessors, assessment expectations, policies on academic misconduct and AI use, and the importance of staying on track. Plus, we’ll highlight networking opportunities and ongoing support.

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

Those of you who started your programme across January/February will receive an invitation to attend a session shortly.

We also welcome other learners who feel like they might benefit.
More information is available via:

https://www.careerforce.org.nz/good-to-go-learner-sessions/

Have you considered what you'd like to do when you finish your current programme? Are you keen to broaden your knowledge via further work-based learning programmes? It's never too early to think about what to study next.

For those of you coming to the end of your Level 3 programme, this is a good time to consider if a Level 4 Apprenticeship is the next step for you.

Graduates of the Level 3 Health Assistance programme may wish to consider

The Advanced Care and Support Apprenticeship
The Apprenticeship in Diversional Therapy

Graduates of the Level 3 Support Work - Disability programme may wish to consider

The Apprenticeship in Whānau, Community and Social Services
The Apprenticeship in Disability Support
The Apprenticeship in Peer Support
The Apprenticeship in Mental Health and Addiction Support
The Apprenticeship in Brain Injury Rehabilitation Support

Graduates of the Level 3 in Youth Work may wish to consider

The Apprenticeship in Youth Work

Check out the full list of apprenticeships or for a full list of our programmes, you may wish to download the latest prospectus

Your employer may also be eligible for $500/mth Apprenticeship Boost payments for the first 12 months of the apprenticeship.

March is Brain Injury Awareness Month. It's a time to raise awareness of brain injuries, promote understanding, and advocate for improved care. We’d like to take this opportunity to give a shout out to all those working alongside people living with or rehabilitating from a brain injury.

Careerforce offers an Apprenticeship in Brain Injury Rehabilitation Support where apprentices learn the tools and strategies to help maximise the independence of the people they support. Apprentices help achieve their client's rehabilitation goals, help them live the best life possible, and support their family and whānau.

As part of our continuous improvement process, we are excited to introduce some visual changes to sections of our Learning Management System, Aka Toi.

These updates are designed to:

Improve user experience, enhance navigation and simplify content.
Improve mobile responsiveness.
Enhance accessibility.

As an Aka Toi user, you should experience:

New visually improved dashboards and content.
Quick links to ease navigation to certain areas on Aka Toi.
Simplified 'how to guides' and resources.

We hope you find these improvements helpful.

NOTE: This update does not apply to any of the modules/unit standards on Aka Toi.

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, those of you 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. If you have any queries or concerns, please contact your manager or assessor.