Training for Good - November 2025: Persistence pays off, Christmas Food Bag, and more

At 62, Sue Moxom is nearing the completion of her Diversional Therapy Apprenticeship through Careerforce, after two previous attempts. Working at Metlifecare’s The Orchards in Auckland, she credits her success to strong support from her Careerforce Advisor, helpful Study Hubs, and connecting with other learners.

Inspired by a TV show, Sue introduced an intergenerational programme with local school children, which has brought joy and purpose to residents. She’s gained confidence and hopes to support other diversional therapists in future.

Fees Free tertiary education and training was a policy introduced in 2018 to expand participation in tertiary education, and was based on a first-year Fees Free policy. Effective from 1 January 2025, this changed to a final-year Fees Free policy.

It is possible that you could be eligible for first-year Fees Free, based on your training over 2024, and it is important that you are aware that this only remains available until 31 December 2025. Go to www.feesfree.govt.nz to determine your eligibility, and if you believe you are eligible, you need to submit a completed statutory declaration form before 31 December 2025.

For more information about the transition from first-year Fees Free or the final-year Fees Free policy, visit ird.govt.nz/fees-free.

Simply answer three questions by 30 November 2025 to go in the draw to win a Classic Christmas Food Bag (or vegetarian version) Valued at $280.

It's a Christmas spread inspired by Nadia’s Farm Kitchen for 4-6+ people including a starter, two proteins, four sides and dessert. This Christmas menu features premium local ingredients to create fresh, seasonal recipes inspired by Nadia and the produce on her farm. Includes a 2kg free-range ham and butterflied leg of lamb, perfect for a smaller group.

Find a study group or a workmate to be your study buddy. Studying with someone can be motivating.
Stick to your target assessment and completion dates as best as you can. Pace yourself.
Make time to study each week to keep that momentum.
Celebrate the small wins and the big wins. When you complete, celebrate again!
Remember this is on-the-job learning and is about what you do in your role every day. Assessments will just need to confirm what you already know and can do. You’ve got this!

Learners who are new to Careerforce are strongly encouraged to attend a 'Good To Go' online onboarding session. These sessions for Level 2 & 3 learners, and Level 4 Dementia Care (LCP) and Advanced Care and Support learners. They give an introduction to Careerforce, work-based learning, and how to get started. Recently enrolled learners should check your inbox for an invitation to the next events on 26 November 2025.

Did you miss the last onboarding session? Catch up with this short video highlighting what we covered.

Are you 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 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.

Click on the image to the left to hear Danny Fearon and Avril Hunt introduce themselves.

As your Wellbeing Advisors at Careerforce, their role is to walk alongside learners who may be finding things tough, whether that’s with study, work, or life outside of learning that might be impacting their learning.

Support is flexible: by phone, text, email, Microsoft Teams, or face to face (depending on location).

Complete a self-referral form here or email us with any questions at wellbeingsupport@careerforce.org.nz

(*Excluding Gateway learners)

You can also access free confidential counselling through Vitae, a professional employee assistance provider, available 24/7 https://vitae.co.nz/Te-Pukenga-wbl/

Are you completing the Careerforce Dementia Care LCP Level 4 programme?

Have you considered what you want to do next? Talk to your manager about enrolling in an Advanced Care and Support Apprenticeship when you’re finished. Find out more. You’ll already be well on your way, having completed the LCP programme.

Learners who’ve completed the Dementia Care LCP can now access a further $110 (incl. GST) discount on enrolment into the Advanced Care and Support Apprenticeship.
During October and November 2025 only, the enrolment fee is further reduced to $890 (incl. GST) for LCP graduates, a saving of over 50%.

Although a learner may have completed the Dementia Care LCP programme, there is an expectation that they have successfully completed the Level 3 Health & Wellbeing programme to enrol in the Advanced Care and Support Apprenticeship. Learners also need the support of their workplace.

A team of researchers at AUT and University of Auckland are undertaking research to understand how support workers in community settings experience workplace violence. The research involves a one-off interview, and is open to participants nationwide. The research is led by Professor Katherine Ravenswood.
If you are:

a support worker
work in home/community support, disability support, mental health & addiction support at some point in the last 5 years
have witnessed or experienced workplace violence

Then they would like to hear from you. Contact emma.hitchcock@aut.ac.nz

The Careerforce offices will be closed for the holidays. Offices close from 25 December and re-open on Monday 5 January 2026.

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 25 December 2025 until Monday 5 January 2026.