A joint initiative – between Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora, the Ministry of Social Development (MSD), and local provider Te Paepae Ārahi – Te Ara Tupu is an eight-week programme for MSD jobseekers seeking training and employment in health and wellbeing.
“Health NZ is committed to growing our Māori workforce to ensure it is adequately represented throughout the sector better reflects the diversity of our communities across the motu,” said Health NZ Chief People Officer Andrew Slater.
“This means creating and funding opportunities for tauira (cadets) to have paid work experience opportunities in health within their own rohe – whether with primary or community hauora Māori partners – to recruit and develop educator and trainer capability. While Te Paepae Ārahi is a hauora Māori provider, this programme is open to jobseekers of all ethnicities and cultures who wish to pursue a career in health and wellbeing.”
Most recently this saw Health NZ and MSD working together, and funding, a local provider to train and then place jobseekers – within its own service and with other providers – and provide the needed wraparound education, and pastoral and cultural support.
Health NZ is funding an educator/facilitator for 12 months to set up and deliver the kaiāwhina programme within Te PaePae Ārahi, and to support cadets through training and development beyond the eight-week level 2 certificate in health and wellbeing programme should they choose to progress further training such as to level 3 and 4 NZQA.
MSD provides assistance for eligible participants and Te PaePae Ārahi was selected due to its strong relationships with other providers and history in education, work-ready, and mental health and addictions programmes.
“A career in the health sector can be hugely rewarding, and we are proud to team up with Health NZ to offer this cadet programme,” said MSD Wellington Regional Commissioner, Gagau Annandale-Stone.
“This is a perfect opportunity for clients with an interest and passion to make a real difference for people’s wellbeing.”
Te Ara Tupu aims to equip cadets with a strong foundation of knowledge and practical work ethic to be able to successfully obtain future employment or enter further relevant training in health and wellbeing. It will match participants with work placements to offer live, hands-on experience in the health and wellbeing sector. Cadets will take part in weekly classes and supervision sessions Te Paepae Arahi with a range of practitioners and kaimahi.
“Mental health and addiction services face increasing service demand across Aotearoa, and ensuring we have the right people in the correct settings is of increasing importance and should be addressed alongside sustainable growth models,” said Te Paepae Ārahi Kaiwhakahaere ǀ General Manager Jeremy Tumoana.
“Allied health workers make up a significant part of Aotearoa’s mental health and addiction workforce and learning on the job and building a sense of connection and purpose into these roles, is integral to ensuring that cadets are supported towards their goals and a career in health and wellbeing.”
Additional information:
- The Health Workforce Plan 2023/24 prioritises developing enduring, affordable pathways into mental health and addiction careers and sustaining growth in specialist mental health and addiction workforce training. It supports the critical initiatives in the plan related to the following national and regional skills priority areas:
- Te Ara Tupu follows the success of the Whangaitia Cadetship being offered in Hawkes Bay by Health NZ and MSD
- At present, the programme will be open to 10 participants with recruitment currently underway.
- On completion Te Ara Tupu cadets will graduate with their Level 2 Certificate in Health and Wellbeing, certificate of completion of the Te Ara Tupu Cadetship, and will receive ongoing support from Te Paepae Ārahi and MSD to transition into meaningful work or relevant study.
