Skills for Good - August 2023: Winter booster promotion, Te Pūkenga Annual Report, Learner success and more

Tēnā koutou

We are currently awaiting decisions on a new national Te Pūkenga structure, following a consultation period that provided all Te Pūkenga kaimahi (staff) with the opportunity to provide their feedback on the proposed structure. Once the final decisions have been made, there will then be a very carefully managed transition period for our kaimahi, to ensure that employer and learner outcomes are not impacted through this.

As part of this, I have spent considerable time reflecting. I do firmly believe that we have always had a very strong value proposition for our employers, and so our focus through these changes is to maintain this, but also leverage the opportunities that arise from being part of a larger network.

We know that the workplace-based learning model works very effectively for the sectors we support, and that via our annual employer survey, we are highly regarded by a vast majority of the employers we work with. Our employers value:

The strong relationships with our nationwide network of experienced advisors and assessors who understand your needs and challenges, and who have backgrounds in your sectors.
The dedicated team of Learning Engagement Advisors (LEAs) across New Zealand, supporting the continual development of workplace-based assessors, plus the flexibility to access Careerforce assessors.
The additional and increasing level of wraparound learner supports through the learning journey, including literacy and numeracy support, and specific strategies to support improved outcomes for our Māori, Pasifika and disabled learners.
Programmes and qualifications that reflect the skills and competencies required in the workplace, and that recognise existing skills and competencies of staff.
Training programmes that are developed exclusively for workplace learning, supported by learning and assessment resources that are continually refined and improved.
Flexible learning model where learners can progress at their own pace, and via a learning platform that best suits their needs (paper-based or digital).
Regular detailed reporting around their staff learning progress, and regular communication updates.

We are also intimately aware of the financial and funding challenges facing our employers, and that is recognised by our current Winter Booster free enrolment promotion for our Health & Wellbeing Level 2 and 3 programmes. This is only until the end of September, so please make the most of this opportunity.

Since our inception as an Industry Training Organisation back in 1994, we have supported tens of thousands of learners into life changing qualifications, and we look forward to supporting tens of thousands more into the future as part of Te Pūkenga.

Ngā mihi nui

Rod Bentham
Executive Director
Te Pūkenga, trading as Careerforce

Here's a reminder about our Winter Booster promotion to help address workforce development challenges and financial pressures that many in our health and wellbeing sectors continue to face. We are offering:

Free enrolment on all New Zealand Certificate in Health & Wellbeing Level 2 & 3 programmes – Employer-Led Enrolments
Half-price enrolment on all New Zealand Certificate in Health & Wellbeing Level 2 & 3 programmes – Full-Service Enrolments

This is for domestic enrolments only. For employer-led enrolments, the employer assigns one of their own workplace-based staff members (registered assessor) to provide assessment support to the learner. For full-service enrolments, learners are assigned an assessor by Careerforce. This offer is available until 5pm, Friday 29 September 2023.

For more information including terms and conditions, visit our website here, download the flyer or contact your Careerforce Workplace Advisor.

Working in mental health meant learning new skills. Richard had also experienced his own addiction and mental health issues, and understood some of the environments where alcohol and violence were prevalent, and where kids like his son had hung out.

This understanding meant the learning came relatively easily. Last year, and supported by his employer, Te Oranganui, Richard successfully completed his Level 4 Apprenticeship in Mental Health and Addiction Support with Careerforce | Te Pūkenga.

Discontinution of graduation badges and honours boards

As we become part of the national Te Pūkenga network, we are naturally looking at how we can align our current practices and processes. We are currently the only division (out of 24) that supplies graduation badges (Level 2 & 3), and they do represent a substantial annual cost. As a result, the decision has been made to discontinue these from 1 October. Our graduates will continue to receive formal qualification certificates in presentation folders.

Many years ago, Health Education Trust (HET) was merged into Careerforce, and as part of this, we continued their practice of Honours Boards and the associated tags. Over recent years, demand for these has shrunk dramatically, and as a result, the decision has been made to discontinue the supply of these from 1 October. No further stocks of the Honours Board tags will be purchased. We absolutely still encourage our employers to publicly recognise their staff’s professional development via whatever means and channels you have available.

Neri Johnson is busting the myth that your seventies is a time to slow down.

Neri works for CCS Disability Action supporting disabled people in the Christchurch community. Neri also chairs two community organisations which improve social connection and reduce social isolation and loneliness. She was also recently recognised by the Philippines government with an award for Services to the Community, equivalent to the New Zealand Order of Merit.

On top of her this, Neri is one of the latest graduates to successfully complete an apprenticeship in Health and Wellbeing Disability Support with Careerforce Te Pūkenga.

Neri says, “I think age is something to be celebrated and not to be scared of. Age is not a barrier. I’d like to inspire people that way. You steer the boat where you want it to go. Life is what you make it! Look at me I’m still doing something quite amazing!”

Above, Neri proudly shows off her certificate at her graduation, joined by Careerforce’s Andy Bunn to the left, and the CSS Disability Action team

We’re excited to announce the re-opening of the Primary Care Practice Assistance (PCPA) apprenticeship programme. We began accepting new enrolments on 18 August 2023.

The PCPA apprenticeship is largely for people working across administrative and clinical support roles in primary care across the Healthcare Services sector and leads to the New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Level 4).

122 credits
Expected duration 20 months
Cost $2,000 (inc GST)

In August 2022, a decision was made to close the programme following limited enrolment numbers. We have since listened to further feedback from the employers we work with in this sector and responded to the demand to reintroduce the programme. We have also revised learning resources and assessments to better support the needs for ākonga (learner) success.

For more information, please refer to our website here.
You can view or download the new flyer here.

Programme durations have been raised in recent discussions with us, largely in relation to recent changes in immigration settings. We wanted to set some context around ‘programme durations’, what they mean, and what you need to be aware of.

All Careerforce programmes have ‘expected durations’ and which are based on their credit value. They are set by the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) and while they are largely for funding purposes, they do set an expectation around the expected time for an average work-based learner to complete a programme.

However, Careerforce programmes are all competency based – people can progress at their own pace as they provide evidence that they have demonstrated the competencies/learning outcomes as outlined in the unit standards that make up their training programme.

Importantly however, our programmes are also all work-based, recognising that the learner is first and foremost an employee, not a student. All learners progress and complete at a different pace, and contingent upon a number of factors. These include, for example, their prior level of knowledge and experience, the level of support provided by the employer (e.g. paid study time), and the level of learner motivation to complete.

If you require more information, please contact your Careerforce Workplace Advisor

Being part of the Te Pūkenga network means that there are many more learning options to choose from for your staff. Check out the following online programmes delivered by Open Polytechnic | Te Pūkenga:

New Zealand Certificate in Te Reo (Bilingual) (Level 1)
New Zealand Certificate in Computing (Foundation User) (Level 2)
Communication for Learning (Level 3)
New Zealand Certificate in Business (Administration and Technology) (Level 3)
New Zealand Certificate in Business (First Line Management) (Level 4)

Select 'Read More' to see our full range of programmes. You will see that
Open Polytechnic | Te Pūkenga programmes are clearly identified.