Skills for Good - February 2026: New learner support team, employer guide, new Micro-credential and more

Kia ora koutou

In January, I shared how we’ve reshaped our organisation to better support what matters most, stronger outcomes for employers and learners. This month, we’re pleased to introduce a couple more of the new teams that have been established as part of that structure, each playing a key role in strengthening how we listen, respond and deliver across the sectors we serve.

These changes aren’t just about how we’re organised, they’re also about how effectively we can turn insight into action. Late last year, many of you shared your experiences and perspectives through our annual employer survey. As has been the case every year, your feedback has been incredibly valuable, and in this edition we’re sharing some further key insights emerging from the survey, alongside some insights from our ongoing graduate survey.

Most importantly, you’ll also see how that feedback is shaping what we do next. We’re excited to be sharing details on an exciting new programme, alongside an extensive refresh of one of our most popular programmes, both designed in direct response to what you’ve told us you need - practical, relevant training that supports learners to progress and employers to build capable, confident workforces.

I encourage you to read on to learn more about the teams behind this work, what we’re hearing from our employers and learners, and what’s coming next as we continue to work alongside you to build skills for good.

Ngā mihi nui

Rod Bentham
Executive Director, Careerforce

At Careerforce, our newly established Equity and Learner Support team, that forms part of the wider Learner Success team is dedicated to giving every learner the opportunity to thrive.

We provide dedicated support for Māori, Pacific, Disabled, ESOL, neurodiverse learners, and those with literacy and numeracy needs. Our tailored approach removes barriers, builds confidence, and strengthens learner success. Beyond the study, we also support learner wellbeing that empowers learners to succeed and reach their full potential.

We offer proactive, individualised support for learners with neurodiverse profiles (e.g., ADHD, dyslexia, ASD), physical/sensory disabilities, mental health challenges, and Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) needs. We use appropriate screening tools, develop support plans, and facilitate access to assistive technologies and interventions. We can also identify and support the use of assistive technologies (such as C-Pens, screen readers) and alternative assessment methods (e.g., oral assessments, recordings) to meet diverse learner needs.

Careerforce honours Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is committed to Māori achieving success as Māori. We deliver noho marae, wānanga ako, and culturally grounded learning experiences that support Māori learners to engage deeply with their learning and complete their assessments.

These settings, alongside one-to-one support are used to surface and address barriers to learner success - cultural, academic, digital, or pastoral.

See the 2026 Wananga ako schedule

Our newly established Workplace Capability team, that forms part of the wider Employer Partnerships team is here to help you build strong, confident assessor capability and deliver high-quality, inclusive work-based training and assessment.

Workplace Capability Advisors provide initial training for new assessors and ongoing wrap-around support to strengthen assessment practice. We equip assessors and learning supporters with practical tools, resources, coaching, and observer training to ensure evidence is gathered effectively and consistently. This helps create robust assessment processes that support learner progress and successful qualification completion.

We also work closely with employers to ensure they understand their role in supporting learners and are well prepared to provide a positive and effective workplace learning environment. We ensure assessor registration and assessment practices align with New Zealand Qualifications Authority requirements and national standards. Our coordinated approach to programme management, moderation, and service delivery ensures compliance, consistency, and continuous improvement across all workplace learning and assessment activities. Get in touch if you would like to learn more about how we can help.

This Employer Guide gives an overview of how Careerforce work-based learning operates and how we partner with you to support your staff throughout their learning journey.

This guide is a helpful starting point for workplaces that are new to Careerforce, as well as for new team members joining organisations already working with us.
It’s also a handy refresher for anyone currently partnering with Careerforce, bringing together key processes and highlighting updates as they evolve, all in one easy-to-follow place.

New learners are strongly encouraged to kickstart their learning by enrolling in a 'Good To Go' online onboarding session. These one-hour sessions give learners an introduction to Careerforce, work-based learning, and how to get started. We ask that you encourage your learners to attend.

From pre and post surveys amongst attendees, 15% felt very confident in their ability to complete their programme before their Good to Go session, increasing to 76% after their session.

Please keep an eye on our website for details of upcoming sessions: Learn more >>

Each month, a survey is sent to recently completed learners, so that we can better understand what aspects of their training worked well, and perhaps not so well, and also the difference their training is making to their practice. This survey has been running since 2021, with nearly ten thousand graduates having now completed the survey. Here’s a few highlights from our recent survey report covering graduates across 2023 – 2025.

Key barriers to completion remain lack of time, issues with assessment comprehension, and lack of technology to assist with study, while key enablers to completion continue to be the regular support from their assessors, support from colleagues/friends/family, and the quality of the Careerforce learning resources.
As in previous reports, nearly all graduates agreed that [as a result of their training] they gained new skills and knowledge (92%), that their work improved due to learning (88%), and that they now have more confidence to do their work (89%).
Overall satisfaction amongst graduates remains high at 8 (out of 10).

Here are some quotes from graduates:

In December, we shared early results from our annual employer survey, including our highest satisfaction score since 2017. We’ve now received the full 2025 report and are turning your feedback into clear improvement actions. In the meantime, here are a few more highlights:

Our people make the difference. Apprenticeship, Workplace and Learning Engagement Advisors all achieved record satisfaction scores of 4.4–4.5 out of 5, backed up by generous personal feedback.
You can see us listening. Year on year, results show stronger confidence that Careerforce actively seeks and responds to feedback. Please keep sharing what’s working, and what’s not.
Programmes are hitting the mark with 93.3% of respondents saying that Careerforce programmes meet their workforce development needs (consistent with 2024).
Assessments reflect real work, with 89.3% agreeing that assessments align well with workplace requirements.

Again, thank you to everyone who completed the survey - your feedback is directly shaping the types of programme improvements and new initiatives that we’re excited to share in this newsletter.

We’re excited to announce the launch of a new Micro-credential: Health of the Older Person - Kaiāwhina-led Non-complex Support Plan Review.

For those of you working in the Home and Community sector, this is a great opportunity to strengthen your workforce, improve service delivery and enhance outcomes for the people you support.

In just 4 weeks, this new 3 credit Micro-credential (Level 3), can empower your experienced Kaiāwhina Support Workers and Health Assistants with the skills and confidence to complete non-complex support plan reviews, easing the load on nursing staff and ensuring timely, person-centred care.

Graduates will be able to:

Explore and summarise different approaches for completing non‑complex support plan reviews.
Understand and summarise the risk and escalation procedures involved in these reviews.
Conduct support plan reviews in the homes of older people, ensuring the process is guided by Māori values and perspectives.

Take the step toward a more confident, capable workforce today. Visit the website, download the flyer, or reach out to your Regional Workplace Advisor to enrol staff.

We’re pleased to let you know that the Dementia Care (Limited Credit Programme) Level 4 has been refreshed and redesigned. From Tuesday, 3 March 2026, updated learning and assessment resources will be available on both our online learning platform, Aka Toi and through the Careerforce Resource Library via iportal.

What's been updated?
While there is no change to the programme version, we’ve made some important improvements and enhancements:

Introduction of updated unit standard versions: 32416 v2 and 23921 v5
Rewritten assessments designed for greater clarity and ease of use
Enhanced learning resources aligned with current sector information
New practical job aids to support learners and workplace assessment
A new Welcome Module on Aka Toi
An integrated assessment option for unit standards 23920 and 23921 (available for paper-based learners as an alternative to completing individual assessments).

The aim of these improvements is simple: to provide clearer resources, stronger alignment with current practice, and to better support learners in applying their knowledge and skills directly within the workplace.

Further information about the programme is available on our website.

If you have any questions, please contact your Regional Workplace Advisor or our Support Centre on 0800 277 486.

We're inviting those of you involved in the training of support workers in the disability sector to participate in a short survey designed to help us understand the level of interest in two new Disability Support qualifications. More information>

As part of our early scoping work, we're gathering insights from across the sector to better understand current training availability, what is working well, and where gaps may exist. Your perspective is incredibly valuable in shaping this work.

There are two surveys available. You're welcome to complete one or both. We also encourage you to share the link with others in your organisation, particularly those responsible for training management or coordination, as well as individuals with lived experience who may wish to contribute. Each survey will take about 10 minutes to complete.

Survey 1 - Complete Disability Workforce Training Needs & Viability Survey
Survey 2 - Complete People with Lived Experience Workforce Training Survey

We genuinely appreciate your time and the opportunity to hear your thoughts.
Please note that these surveys will close on Monday 2 March at 11:00 pm.

This Accessibility area is designed to help your staff learn in a way that works best for them. It brings together tools that support things like reading support and font/colour changes. These options help remove barriers to learning, support independence, and make it easier to stay engaged and confident as they learn.

We have also recently changed to a new Accessibility Widget. This tool lets learners customise their viewing experience using different functionalities that are designed to adapt to individual needs and can be turned on whenever they need it.

Learners not sure how to turn on accessibility features on their device?
The Accessibility area also includes step by step help guides, with screenshots, showing how to enable accessibility tools on:

Windows and macOS
Mobile (iOS and Android)
Common tools like Microsoft Teams, Word, PDFs, and web browsers

These guides make it easy to find and use the right features for the device or tool they're using.

The Accessibility Widget also appears on the main Careerforce website www.careerforce.org.nz

Applications for the Workforce Futures Fund | Tahua Rāngaimahi Anamata are open until 31 March 2026.

The Fund supports innovative, practical projects that strengthen Aotearoa’s care and support workforces. Organisations working in aged support, cleaning, disability support, home and community health services, mental health and addiction support, social services, urban pest management and youth work are encouraged to learn more.

The Fund supports innovation in workforce development and demonstrates the value of strategic investment through enabling greater use of technology, collaboration across workforces, and projects that amplify workforce capacity and capability. These priorities continue to guide Round Three.

With $15 million available, and $5 million already invested across 11 projects, the Fund continues to support initiatives that strengthen Aotearoa’s care and support workforces. You read more on the funded projects here.

If you’re thinking of applying, please get in touch with Anika Speedy the Executive Officer early so they can help determine whether your project is a good fit and support you to shape a strong proposal. Contact admin@workforcefuturesfund.nz.

More information is available on the website: https://workforcefuturesfund.nz/

*The Workforce Futures Fund is operated by CSSITO and was established with reserves from Careerforce’s trading activities as an Industry Training Organisation prior to its transition into Te Pūkenga, and subsequently the Education, Health and Community ISB. Please note that Careerforce no longer has any legal association with CSSITO.

We have worked very closely with Building Service Contractors NZ (BSCNZ) for many years to support the development of our substantial cleaning workforce across Aotearoa.

We are very proud to be supporting their inaugural Workforce Development Excellence Award as part of their 2026 CleanSweep Industry Awards in July. The cleaning industry is built on people, and this award recognises cleaning providers that demonstrate a genuine, sustained commitment to training, upskilling and developing their workforce. Note that entry is only open to BSCNZ members.