Skills for Good - October 2024: 2024 Employer Survey, extension of Apprenticeship Boost, Support with the cost of training and more

Tēnā koutou

I have recently been travelling across the motu to share our 30th anniversary celebrations with our employers and assessors. This was a great opportunity to acknowledge the critical role that you have played in our 30 year journey, and to applaud your commitment to developing your workforce via work-based learning. Together, we have supported tens of thousands of your staff into often life changing qualifications, and this is something that we can be immensely proud of.

As part of these celebrations, I was able to share the upwards trajectory of our annual employer satisfaction survey results, and to promote the looming 2024 survey. This will be our eighth annual survey, and represents our annual ‘moment of truth’. We take the results and your comments very seriously, and I encourage you to complete the survey.

Since our last newsletter, it has also been confirmed that all our apprenticeship programmes will be covered under the extension of Apprenticeship Boost through to June 2028. This is great news for our sectors, and a recognition of the workforce pressures that remain across the health and wellbeing sectors, and the importance of apprenticeships in developing this workforce.

Finally, we eagerly await the Government decisions on the redesign of vocational education, and the organisational structures that will replace Te Pūkenga as it is disestablished over 2025. However, based on the options presented as part of the recent redesign consultation, we are very confident that regardless of the outcomes, there will be an entity that remains focused on work-based learning across the health and wellbeing sectors. We annually support thousands of employers, learners and workplace based assessors, and this mahi is just too important to be disrupted. You can 100% be confident in continuing to enrol with Careerforce.

Ngā mihi nui

Rod Bentham
Executive Director, Careerforce

Early in November, you'll receive a personalised email invite to complete our eighth annual employer survey, and we really want to hear from you. You can say as much or as little as you want to, but your responses give us an understanding on how we’re performing, and where we can improve. This year, we are also asking some specific questions around how we can improve the experience of our new learners as they commence their training journeys. While we have continually refined our service offering over many years, we do need to make sure that we are putting our efforts and resources into the things that matter most to you.

Just a reminder that this survey is conducted by an external research company, Carte Blanche, and all responses are completely anonymous. The survey invites will be sent by Carte Blanche.

The purpose and benefits of work integrated learning (WIL) was to create smoother transitions into the workplace for ākonga (learners); it gave ākonga the opportunity to see if the pathways were right for them (try before you buy), they got to complete a level 2 qualification. It also gave employers an opportunity to offer jobs and/or apprenticeships to those ākonga they trained on the job during the past 12 months (similar to the world’s longest interview)! It was also a way of building up their future workforce as we have an ageing population.

One of the main reasons I advocate for people with disabilities is my youngest son who is coming up 25 years old, who has dyslexia amongst other health issues, and learning has been a big challenge for him especially with literacy and numeracy. I have coached him throughout school, helped him get his full driver’s licence and mentored him into finding full time employment.

I fully understand first-hand the energy and commitment it takes to assist people with disabilities.

My passion is to see people succeed and reach their full potential while knocking barriers out of the way so that everyone gets a fair chance of success.

When not at work, I'm a mum of 2 young boys and our days are filled with sports, sports, and more sports! And, if we are not playing sports we are cooking and eating 😊

I am excited to be back in the adult education space and support our workplaces and our ākonga achieve successful outcomes and to also help care for our most vulnerable community.

Look forward to connecting with you.

Earlier this year, the Government announced the extension of Apprenticeship Boost through to June 2028, from its earlier scheduled finish in December 2024. While this extension was welcome news, it remained subject to confirmation of which key occupations and qualifications would remain eligible.

The Government has now confirmed that all Careerforce Apprenticeships will remain covered by Apprenticeship Boost.

From 1 January 2025, employers can claim Apprenticeship Boost payments of $500/mth for the first 12 months of each apprenticeship. Employers currently receiving Apprenticeship Boost for a Careerforce Apprenticeship can continue receiving payments in 2025 while the apprentice remains in their first 12 months of their training.

For more information, you can read the full Careerforce media release or go to the MSD or TEC websites.

See full list of Careerforce Apprenticeships here.

'Fees Free tertiary education and training' is a policy introduced in 2018 to expand participation in tertiary education and reduce student debt in New Zealand. It is targeted towards first-time learners.

The Government has announced that Fees Free for the first year of study or training will finish at the end of 2024. A final-year Fees Free policy will replace it, starting from 1 January 2025.

A first-time tertiary learner in 2025, may be able to get Fees Free for their final year of study or training. If eligible, learners will need to apply for their entitlement through IRD from 2026 onwards.

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

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 Bennet 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

Whangārei caregiver, Santana Ngawharau carries out housekeeping and laundry duties at Metlifecare’s Whangārei Park Retirement Village. Being profoundly deaf, Santana’s first language is New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL). She communicates using a combination of lip reading and NZSL.

With her own determination and support from her employer, Santana has completed her New Zealand Certificate in Cleaning (Level 2) with Careerforce and has now enrolled in the Certificate in Cleaning (Level 3) also with Careerforce.

>>Read more about Santana'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

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

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 opens soon.

Round 8*
Applications open: 4 - 17 November 2024
Applicants notified: 2 December 2024
*Dates are subject to change

To apply for the funding, learners need to complete the application form here when round 8 opens. To be eligible, learners must be enrolled in a Careerforce programme and meet all the relevant criteria.

Please note that online applications only are accepted. If learners require any assistance to complete the application, we are happy to help. Learners can 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

Careerforce is extending support to those enrolled in a Careerforce programme* through a short-term pilot programme. Our Wellbeing Advisors are available to provide assistance to individuals on their learning journey.

Our objective is to foster a positive and supportive learning environment where Careerforce programme participants feel comfortable seeking confidential support for their wellbeing. Support is available via phone, text, email, Microsoft Teams, or in-person depending on location.

To take the first step. Your learners should visit our webpage and complete the referral form. You can complete the form on your learners behalf, but please ensure you have their consent.

This pilot is generously funded by Te Whatu Ora until 20 December 2024
*This pilot excludes Gateway learners

Careerforce takes academic misconduct seriously. When a learner presents assessment evidence that is not their own, gathered from another learner’s work, or from online resources (including generative AI), or from any other sources, we call this ‘academic misconduct’. ‘Misconduct’ means some form of wrongdoing. You may also hear this referred to as ‘academic dishonesty’ or ‘academic integrity’.

Refer to our website for more information about academic misconduct. More information is available here.

Show us you know what academic misconduct means for Careerforce learners, and be in to win one of three grocery vouchers worth $50.

Follow the link below to answer 3 quick questions (by 8 November 2024)
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/S4GOct2024

For those of you with staff enrolled in Careerforce’s Health and Wellbeing Level 2 and Level 3 programmes that include: Unit Standard 20826 - Demonstrate knowledge of infection control requirements in a health or wellbeing setting,
this is a reminder that Version 6 of this Unit Standard expires on 31 December 2024.

Version 7 of the unit standard has been available to all new learners for the last few months. However, it is important that everyone currently enrolled in Version 6 completes this before the end of 2024.

Completing via Aka Toi:

All assessment tasks must be submitted for marking by Monday 18 November 2024
All assessment tasks must be marked by Assessors by Monday 16 December (11.59 pm).

Completing via paper based products

It is recommended that all assessment tasks are submitted to the Assessor for marking by 20 December 2024 (or at a date arranged by the relevant assessor).
All completed assessments must be marked and reported before 11.59pm on 31 December 2024 (via iportal).

We have contacted learners and assessors advising them of these completion dates for Version 6 of US 20826. For more information, refer to the email we sent to workplaces last week here.

Inputting Learner Results:

15 December - This is the last day your assessors can register results to ensure they are exported to NZQA on the final run of 2024.

Distribution of Certificates:

28 November - Last certificate run of 2024 for apprentices (please make sure results are in by 18 November).
16 December - Last certificate run of 2024 for trainees (please make sure results are in by 9 December).

Careerforce holiday shutdown period:

24 December - Careerforce closes at 12 pm (midday).
6 January - Careerforce reopens at 8 am.