Training for Good - September 2023: Mental Health Awareness Week, Drop in sessions, learner support and more

Welcome to the September issue of Training for Good - your Careerforce learner newsletter. We mark this Spring issue with a fresh new look, that reflects
Careerforce | Te Pūkenga branding. This week is Māori language week Te Wiki o te Reo Māori and we acknowledge the event by giving away one of three books 'A Māori Phrase A Day' plus a grocery voucher to three lucky winners of the regular newsletter quiz.

In this issue we also celebrate next week's Mental Health Awareness Week and our many learners in that sector. We also provide some valuable resources and share some learner stories. If you have any stories you would like to share for our next newsletter, please get in touch.

Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW) is a great reminder that we should try to support people with mental distress and also learn how to look after our own mental wellbeing.

MHAW, run annually by the Mental Health Foundation, is endorsed by the World Federation for Mental Health and marked in over 150 countries at different times of the year. This year’s Mental Health Awareness Week theme is Five Ways, Five Days. For the five days of MHAW, they are sharing a set of proven tools to boost our mental health when we need it.

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 frequented.

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. Richard is also now embarking on a Level 5 Health and Wellbeing Diploma.

Here's a chance to chat with Careerforce advisors and get some help to progress your programme. We've started to run face to face sessions across the country to help support you with your learning. The sessions in the table below are currently scheduled, but we will be adding more later. Just drop in either for the whole time or as long as you are able. We're happy to support you.

We know that learners benefit from the opportunity for face to face engagement, and have had great feedback from the sessions to date. We have also advised employers about these sessions.

Above: Careerforce Apprenticeship Advisor Alyssia Paekau with Learner Sela Ongosia at a session in Hamilton.

Assistive Technology is an umbrella term including computer software, online tools and specialist equipment that 'assists’ access to technology-based information. It's particularly useful for those who are disabled or neurodivergent, as well as those with English as a second language, but can be beneficial for all learners and meets the needs of many different learning styles.

Ako Aotearoa has summarised a range of resources including speech to text, text to speech and screen readers.

Dyslexia is an applied neurodiversity that is not considered a health condition. It affects language processing and can lead to difficulty with reading and writing. However, people with dyslexia often show real strength in big picture skills like problem solving, creativity, and thinking outside the box. They also tend to be very observant and have high levels of empathy.

For a list of famous people who are high-achievers in their fields, who also happen to be dyslexic, take a look at this website

Even high achiever Arnold Schwarzenegger struggled to read and has discovered that he too is dyslexic. Read Arnie's story here

With good support and encouragement, dyslexic adults can do well in programmes of study.

The standard expectation is that your assessment is marked within 10 days. However, if you have not heard from your assessor within 15 days of submitting an assessment, a form on iportal lets you follow up on an assessment. From iportal, simply complete the 'Overdue Assessment form' and Careerforce will follow up with your assessor.

Careerforce is fully aware of the workplace pressures our assessors are under, and the work that our extensive network of assessors do is hugely appreciated. This form simply allows us to become aware of instances where additional support may be needed in a workplace, or even situations where a workplace assessor may have left a workplace.

First time users of iportal need to complete a simple one-off registration; simply go to: https://iportal.careerforce.org.nz/, click on ‘Register a new account’, fill in the fields and submit. If needed, a link at the bottom of the page provides helps with registration.

All learners should register for iportal, as you can also access learning resources via the Library, and access your latest training progress report.

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 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

It's important that we hold up to date contact information in order for us to connect and provide updates on your training progress. If you have recently changed home address, contact number or email address, then please let us know by submitting an email
to info@careerforce.org.nz

If you are leaving your employment or wish to withdraw from your training, then
please let us know by completing the “Training Agreement Termination” online submission form which can be found at the Careerforce website here

Tip: We suggest you check that all completed work has been assessed and reported by your assessor before requesting your training to be withdrawn. You can do this through iportal if you are a registered user or contact us on 0800 277 486.