Apprenticeship Journey - November 2024 - Digital prize pack, celebrating learners, where to from here and more

To help us improve the wellbeing support we offer all our learners, we’re running a short three minute wellbeing survey.

We have sent all Careerforce learners this short survey on behalf of
Te Pūkenga’s Learner Journey and Experience team. The survey aims to monitor learner wellbeing across the country, and is completely anonymous.

Thank you to those of you who have already completed the survey. If you haven't yet, there is still time. The closing date has been extended to 12 noon on Sunday 1 December 2024.

You can enter a prize draw to win a Digital Prize Pack valued at approximately $2866, containing an HP Pavilion 16" Laptop, Targus Cypress 15.6 Hero backpack - Grey, Technics EAH-A800 Wireless Noise Cancelling Over-Ear Headphones - Black and Logitech G309 Lightspeed Gaming Mouse by clicking on a separate link to the prize draw form.

To start the survey, please click on the link below.
Learner Wellbeing Survey Two 2024

Thanks to her employer, Oceania Healthcare and Careerforce, Ruth Snowden was very proud to successfully complete her Apprenticeship in Diversional Therapy.

“This has been a big accomplishment for me. I feel very proud that I’ve done it, and very thankful,” says the Auckland based diversional therapist. Careerforce Apprenticeship Advisor, Shane Bennett says “Ruth has an infectious passion for her residents and supporting her to transfer that dedication into her apprenticeship assignments was a genuine pleasure.”
>>Read more about Ruth's journey

Joanna Hood is overcoming the challenges of dyslexia to succeed as a diversional therapist at Alzheimers Manawatu. The apprentice helps to run day centre programmes for people affected by dementia across the region and she is bringing joy to people’s lives.

Joanna lives with Irlen Syndrome, a particular type of dyslexia, where the brain is unable to properly process visual information, because of sensitivity to certain wavelengths of light. Careerforce Literacy and Numeracy Advisor Cushla Wilson is helping Joanna to work with various tools that can successfully support her apprenticeship training.
>>Read more about Joanna's journey

Central Hawke’s Bay diversional therapist Nika Harley has ‘found her place’ in aged residential care and wants other young people to consider the career path too.

The youngster from Takapau is an Activities Assistant at Waipukurau’s Woburn Rest Home. It’s a role she never even knew existed. “I absolutely love this job, it allows me to do everything I enjoy, every day,” says Nika. She has successfully completed her Diversional Therapy Apprenticeship which will enable her to advance her career in the health and wellbeing sector.
>>Read more about Nika's journey

Frank Malley discovered his true passion, supporting elders in a role he was born to do. While Covid ended his career as a sports reporter, a role he held for over 17 years, he is now finding fulfilment working in the rewarding care and support sector.

A few challenges resulting from the pandemic led Frank to pursue a role at Switzer, a rest home, hospital and secure dementia unit in Kaitaia, and in 2023 started a full-time role as a diversional therapy assistant.
Frank has now qualified in his new chosen career, having completed his Apprenticeship in Diversional Therapy.
>>Read more about Frank's journey

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 8 of the fund is now open.

Round 8*
Applications now open: until 17 November 2024
Applicants notified: 2 December 2024

To apply for the funding, you need to complete the application form here. Within your application, it is important that you:

Are clear and specific with the nature of your current financial hardship, that the fund will help to address.
Detail how the one-off payment will support you in your learning.

To be eligible, you must be enrolled in a Careerforce programme and meet all the relevant criteria. For more information, please refer to our FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions).

You will be notified of the outcome of your application within two weeks of the fund closing date. Recipients of the Manaaki fund will be asked to provide feedback to Careerforce to enable us to measure the impact of this funding.

Please note that online applications only are accepted. If you require any assistance to complete the application, we are happy to help. Please contact us at Manaaki.Fund@careerforce.org.nz or on 0800 277 486 (and ask for the Manaaki Fund Team).

We have already supported a number of learners with a one-off payment of $400 to help with alleviating financial barriers:

"Thank you so very much for the funds. It will help enormously with food, transport, power and school. The struggles are real and receiving these funds is very much appreciated."

"I am absolutely thrilled that I have been accepted for the Manaaki fund. I feel very blessed to be acknowledged in this kind Koha towards my education."

"Good morning, I have received the financial assistance, thank you very much to you and to Careerforce. You guys have been with me in my apprenticeship journey and even in my personal matters. My family is very grateful."

Recent Manaaki Fund recipients

Do you have a compliment that you would like to share, or a concern that you would like us to address? We’d love to hear from you.

Your feedback helps us enhance our services and serve you better. Let us know by completing our new Compliments and Complaints form on our website.
For more information, please read the Careerforce Compliments and Complaints Policy.

In this policy, we cover:

The service expectations people should expect from Careerforce
How to resolve complaints
The procedure if an investigation is required
How complainants can appeal
Other organisations a person may wish to contact, if necessary, to deal with their complaint
Providing feedback about the process.

We're extending support to learners enrolled in a Careerforce programme* through a Wellbeing support service. Our Wellbeing Advisors are available to provide assistance to individuals on their learning journey.

We aim to help Careerforce learners feel comfortable seeking confidential support for their mental health and wellbeing. Support is available via phone, text, email, Microsoft Teams, or in-person depending on location.

To take the first step, visit our webpage and complete the referral form.

This initiative is currently funded by Te Whatu Ora.
*Excludes Gateway learners

Do you need some support with your apprenticeship programme? Come to one of our upcoming Achieve Study Hubs. These face-to-face sessions are designed for you to drop in, ask questions, meet with other learners, and to help you with achieving unit standards towards your qualification. There are still a few more dates in the calendar for 2024. Watch this space as 2025 dates will be published shortly.

Our Achieve Study Hubs are scheduled for different locations across the country. Apprentices are also welcome to attend sessions outside their area. See the full schedule on our website.

Additional study support options for Māori and Pasifika
If you identify as either Māori or Pasifika, we also have study support resources and face-to-face study options available including wānanga, noho marae and talanoa events. See our Māori support page. See our Pasifika support page.

Learners can RSVP by completing the online form on our website.

Aimee Rubio is passionate about supporting people to achieve their goals and to be as independent as possible.

Starting as a Flexible Supports Coordinator with the Florence Nightingale Agency five years ago, Aimee’s focus was giving choice and control to people to support them to stay in their home or community and make a meaningful difference in their lives.

“I was looking for more challenges within our organisation, and was given the opportunity to look into more training,” says Aimee.

The Level 5 Leadership and Management Diploma stood out to her, and so with support from Careerforce, she embarked on the 18-month programme. Aimee completed the Diploma and has secured a leadership role as Client Services Manager with the agency.

Having completed the Diploma, she looks at things in a different way now and can strategically look at her tasks to better support her team and the work they do.
“It has really helped me progress within my role and advance my knowledge and skills,” says Aimee.

The Level 5 Diplomas we offer are:

The Diploma in Business (Leadership and Management) Level 5 >>More
The Diploma in Health and Wellbeing (Applied Practice) Level 5, offered in the following specialisations/contexts: >>More

Community and Public Housing
Disability Community Support
Financial Mentor
Family Violence Sexual Violence
Health Coach
Mental Health Community
Mental Health and Addiction Peer Support
Mental Health Forensic Services
Positive Behaviour Support
Trauma informed therapeutic care and education
Victim Support
Whānau Support
Youth Support
Employment Support

We are currently offering free enrolments (a saving of $2,000 incl GST) in the Diploma in Health and Wellbeing (Applied Practice) until 30 November 2024 (subject to applicants meeting the full eligibility criteria). >>More

The Careerforce offices will be closed for the holidays. Offices close at midday on Tuesday 24 December, and re-open on Monday 6 January 2025.

For those of you using Aka Toi, our online learning and assessment platform, this will be available for you to continue your learning during the holiday period. You can still work on your assessments over the holidays and submit them to your assessor for marking. Careerforce support won’t however be available from midday on 24 December 2024 until Monday 6 January 2025.