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- Redesign of Vocational Education – Further Consultation
- Record satisfaction in latest employer survey results
- Reduced fees on Health & Wellbeing and Cleaning Level 2/3 programmes
- Free enrolment in Peer Support programmes
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Welcome to Careerforce's January 2025 update
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Tēnā koutou
Just prior to Christmas, the Government released its decisions on proposed changes to the vocational education system, including the need for further targeted consultation on how work-based learning provision may be structured in future following the disestablishment of Te Pūkenga. Consultation will involve organisations that provided submissions to the first proposal and will run from late January through
February. Any changes to the provision of industry training must work for industry, and any redesign outcomes need to reflect strong industry voice. Work based learning is a substantial part of the vocational education system, and based on our latest annual employer satisfaction results as detailed in this update, is a highly efficient national training model that we know works effectively for employers and learners.
While we are naturally chuffed with our annual employer satisfaction results, we know that there is always room for improvement. We have a range of initiatives planned for 2025 to improve employer and learner outcomes, and look forward to sharing these with you as they roll out across the year. One of these, as shared below, is the more than halving of our employer-led
enrolment fees for our Level 2 & 3 Health & Wellbeing, and Cleaning programmes. We know that cost can be a barrier to training, and hope that this reduction will help to support your workforce development endeavours this year.
Ngā mihi
Rod Bentham
Executive Director, Careerforce
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Redesign of Vocational Education – Further Consultation
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Commencing late January 2025, Minister Simmonds will be running a targeted consultation on two options for work-based learning, with more detailed information on the options and the consultation process yet to be provided:
- Option B – Separate standard setting entities (Industry Skills Boards/ ISBs) replacing WDCs, and delivery of work-based learning through providers (similar to current arrangements). Te Pūkenga’s work-based learning divisions would become standalone entities.
- NEW Option – ISBs would additionally provide national training co-ordination and pastoral care functions to work based learners and their employers. Tertiary providers, including polytechnics, Wananga and private training establishments (PTEs) would manage the education aspects of work-based learning, including enrolling learners, developing training materials, managing assessment and
delivering off-job training where required. Work based learning divisions of Te Pūkenga would ultimately be disestablished, with core learner functions split across multiple organisations, and potentially also regionally.
Final decisions following consultation are not expected until April/May 2025, and any implementation timeframes will depend upon the selected option.
We will share additional information, including greater detail on the proposed options, if and as it is shared with us. Most importantly, and just as it has been since the reforms were first announced in 2019, everything continues ‘business as usual’ for the foreseeable future. Keep enrolling.
Go here or more information on the Redesign of Vocational Education, or here for Minister Simmonds media release.
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Record satisfaction in latest employer survey results
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Thank you to the many of you who took the time to complete our eighth annual employer satisfaction survey at the end of last year. We take these results very seriously, and so it is always a ‘moment of truth’ when we receive the high-level results. They did however prove to be an early Christmas present, as we achieved our highest ever overall employer
satisfaction, and continued the general upwards trajectory of employer satisfaction since the survey began back in 2017.
Each year, we spend significant time poring over the results and comments to understand where we can improve. We then implement a range of actions, and it is a culmination of these combined activities across the years that have led to this record result. We never take your support of us for granted, and know that you have choice in whether and how you develop your workforce.
More detailed results, together with our subsequent actions, will be shared later in the year.
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Reduced fees on Health & Wellbeing and Cleaning Level 2/3 programmes
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We're excited to offer fantastic savings for employers on our most popular programmes in 2025. The biggest change is the significant reduction of over 50% on enrolment fees for our most popular Level 2 and Level 3 Health and Wellbeing, and Cleaning programmes. These are now just $95 (incl GST), down from $200-$230. This applies exclusively to employer-led enrolments, where employers actively support their learners with assessment.
Refer to our website qualification/programme pages for prices.
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Boost your workforce skills and motivation with Careerforce pathways
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Strengthen your workforce: Empower employees from Level 2 to Level 5
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Careerforce can support your staff
to pathway from Level 2 to Level 5 programmes and help build their skills, competence, and confidence. By providing these development opportunities, you not only enhance their motivation and morale but also demonstrate your investment in their career growth. This approach can help create a more qualified, competent, and engaged workforce, benefiting both the individual and your organisation.
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Passion for learning propels support worker from Level 2 to Masters in 6 years
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Married at 18 and a mother at 19, Jennifer Earl doubted her academic abilities for years. But completing a Level 2 New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing in 2018 ignited the start of a lifelong passion for learning. “For years I had put off studying, thinking I’m not clever enough,” says Jennifer, “But the Level 2 was made so easy, which also made me determined to do Level 3,” she says. “That felt easy too, which inspired me to tackle a Level 4 apprenticeship, also with Careerforce.” Jennifer supports a tetraplegic client in her role with HealthCare New Zealand in Christchurch. Following a chat with her manager, she enrolled in the Careerforce Apprenticeship in Advanced Care and Support (Spinal Injury Care) to help her better support her client. Jennifer recently completed the 18-month apprenticeship through Careerforce, gaining skills to support her role. “Naturally, I’m a caring person, and I enjoy the physical and mental challenges of helping others,” she shares. Inspired by her own experience overcoming mobility challenges, Jennifer supports her client who has been a tetraplegic for 16 years following an accident, to live as independently as possible. “From personal care to cooking and entertaining, I’m there to help him live a full life. I get real satisfaction. It’s incredibly rewarding to end the day being able to say, ‘right I’ve done my best today.’”
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Apprentice graduate Jennifer Earl (left) with Careerforce Apprenticeship Advisor Cathy Briones
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What are the next steps from your learners?
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The Careerforce Qualification Pathways chart offers a 'visual' of training options, showing possible progression from one level to the next. It can help with planning workforce development by identifying the right learning path for each employee which can then support organisational success.
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Click on the chart to view/download a bigger version
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Supporting your learners to excel
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New Achieve Study Hub dates for 2025 now published
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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.
Please encourage
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.
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Additional Training Support for your learners
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As you know it's really important that learners keep progressing with their training. If they don't regularly submit assessments for marking, they may be withdrawn from their programme.
Please remind your learners that they can check their progress at any time via iportal,
Another way learners can keep motivated is to check out the many supports available on the Careerforce website.
The training support section of the website gives advice for new learners to help get them started, and for those already on their learning journey, to help them stay engaged and keep motivated throughout. Please direct your learners to this page.
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Free enrolment in Peer Support programmes
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Invest in your team with free Peer Support training
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Invest in your team with free Peer Support training. The Peer Support Apprenticeship is for employees in relevant roles with lived experience who are ready to formalise their skills and make an even greater impact. Support them to inspire
others and leverage their lived experience to better support others. This apprenticeship is free with the Peer Support grant, funded by Health NZ | Te Whatu Ora. The funding is subject to eligibility.
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Peer Support Apprentice triumphs over challenges to celebrate graduation
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Lived experience can be a strength and valuable asset in Peer Support roles.
Juanita - Leisha Watene set herself a goal to complete her Peer Support Apprenticeship Level 4 in time for graduation day, achieving it through hard work and determination despite taking time off for surgery.
Her success was celebrated recently
at the Māori Celebration of Success event at Te Papa o Rotu Marae, Whatawhata, Waikato, hosted by Careerforce.
Employed by Te Hā Oranga o Ngāti Whatua, a Kaupapa Māori based organisation, she supports the whānau in the rohe of Ngāti Whātua to live healthy, fulfilling lives.
Juanita began her journey three years ago with Te Hā Oranga as a kaimahi with the Covid Response team, kaimanaaki for mobile nurses and then moved over to social services as a Whānau Ora tautoko and then Mental Health and Addictions Kaimanaaki. For the past two years, she has served as a Pou Manaaki, guiding, and supporting tangata whaiora to thrive and achieve their best.
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Enhancements to our Youth Work Level 3 programme
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On 3 February 2025, we will be launching the refreshed New Zealand Certificate in Youth Leadership (Level 3), replacing the current Youth Work Level 3 programme.
Key changes in the new programme:
- Updated resources, and new unit standard versions for;
- 28522v2 - Human Development Theory
- 32418v2 - Te Tiriti o Waitangi
- Assessment videos to support ākonga with the assessment (Aka Toi only).
- New design of documents for assessments and learning guides.
- 32419 (Māori values) has been removed as an elective from the programme, meaning all unit standards become compulsory.
- The credit value increases from 43 to 44.
- The duration of the programme will remain 8
months.
From 27 January 2025, any new enrolments will be held and enrolled into the New Zealand Certificate in Youth Leadership (Level 3) from 3 February 2025.
To view the full communications regarding the enhancements to the Youth Work Level 3 programme, click here.
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Enhancing Teacher Aides' skills through Careerforce Apprenticeship Programmes
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Schools can improve the quality of their support staff, boosting team effectiveness, and providing professional development for teacher aides with one of three apprenticeships.
These apprenticeship programmes will enable teacher aides to achieve a relevant Level 4 New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing. It will help build on their skills and experience to further develop critical thinking and self-reflective practice. The apprentice will develop a deeper understanding of the students they support.
Applicants may qualify for scholarship funding to cover the enrolment fees, subject to eligibility. For more information, please contact your Careerforce Workplace Advisor
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Teacher aide graduate helps struggling kids to shine
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Alora Hill was once a troubled teenager who didn’t do very well at school. Today, the teacher aide at Waitaki Girls’ High School is helping young people, struggling as she once did, to shine.
“It all stems from how I was as a teenager. If I had a
teacher aide working alongside me who understood my behaviours were due to many outside factors and supported me, then I probably could have done a lot better at school. I want to be able to give students the opportunities that I didn’t have. Schools are changing in the support we can offer, and I want to be a part of that positive change,” says Alora.
Although she left school at 15 without an NCEA qualification, with support and encouragement from Waitaki Girls’ High School and Careerforce, Alora has successfully completed two Level 4 Health and Wellbeing qualifications and has gone on to excel as a Youth Work Apprenticeship graduate. She has completed the Community Facilitation and Youth work certificates at Level 4. Read more about Alora here.
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Manaaki Fund to support learners
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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 9 of the fund has closed. The next round opens in February 2025. Please keep these dates in your calendar.
Round 10*
Applications open: 6 February – 1 March 2025
Applicants notified: 17 March 2025
*Dates are subject to change
'Read more' to find out about the criteria for eligibility and how learners can apply for funding.
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"I wanted to extend my heartfelt thanks for all your help. I checked my account on Tuesday night and found that the funds were already deposited on Monday. My family and I are sincerely appreciative for your support, and we will never forget your kindness."
Manaaki Fund recipient
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Jobs for Good – list your vacancies now
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Jobs for Good is a free job portal connecting employers across the health and wellbeing sectors with jobseekers looking for meaningful employment.
Employers with job vacancies are welcome to list them here for free. Jobseekers actively looking
for a role across these sectors, can view current vacancies, and reach out directly to the employer.
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Over the coming months we will be driving more job seekers to the portal via a promotional push.
If you have a vacancy, make sure you don't miss out. Please let your People and Capability or HR teams know about the job portal as well, if they place job ads for your organisation.
Remember, Jobs for Good is free, it’s easy to list vacancies, and it’s super-targeted.
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Important - Please use the most up-to-date Training Agreements and other forms
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It is important that workplaces use the most up to date Training Agreements.
Current versions of Training Agreements can be accessed from the forms page on the Careerforce website. It's important that you use the latest form, as these documents are frequently updated. This also applies to other forms, such as the Organisation Registration Form, or the Standalone Unit Standard Application.
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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
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Please share with your colleagues
We hope you're enjoying Skills for Good, and encourage you to share our newsletter with your colleagues. We also welcome your feedback.
Contact us.
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