A legacy of care, learning, and leadership at Hetherington House
For anyone working across New Zealand’s health and wellbeing sectors, there would be universal agreement that high-quality care comes from skilled, supported, and confident staff. Few people embody this better than Kay Scown, whose dedication over the past 18 years at Hetherington House, a long-standing aged residential care home based in Waihi, Hauraki District, has made a real difference for both residents and learners. Through her work, Kay has also contributed to the development of the wider workforce, supporting training aligned with Careerforce, New Zealand’s industry training organisation, across the health & wellbeing, aged care, social services, disability and cleaning sectors.
Kay joined Hetherington House in 2008 as a Senior Health Care Assistant. Over the years, she has taken on a variety of roles, including Manual Handling Trainer, Physiotherapy Assistant, and internal auditor. Her versatility, reliability, and willingness to step in wherever needed have made her an invaluable part of the team.
Since becoming a registered Careerforce assessor in September 2016, Kay has spent one day a week supporting learners through their Health and Wellbeing qualifications. In that time, she has guided 78 trainees and apprentices from Level 2 through to Level 4, helping them achieve recognised qualifications and build confidence in their work.
Kay’s approach to assessment is consistent, fair, and nurturing. She works closely with learners to ensure they understand their coursework and can apply their skills effectively in the workplace. She is well known for a saying that perfectly captures her philosophy: “I am not here to do your assessment, but I am here to guide you always.” This simple but powerful message has reassured countless learners, helping them feel supported while still encouraging independence and growth.
Many learners have benefited from her extra support outside of normal working hours, including international staff who needed additional guidance to complete their studies. Her mentorship has been pivotal in helping learners overcome challenges and achieve success.
From left to right: Kuini Peteli (Regional Workplace Advisor at Careerforce), Kay Scown, and Dérene Els (Manager – Employer Capability Development at Careerforce)
Hetherington House’s commitment to staff development, combined with Careerforce’s qualifications framework, has created a supportive environment where learning and care go hand in hand. Kay has been central to this culture, showing how assessment and mentoring can transform both people and workplaces.
As Kay prepares for retirement, her impact will continue through the next generation of assessors. A new assessor, Jaspreet Kaur has recently been completed her 4098 assessor training and will take over from Kay, with Kay mentoring Jaspreet to ensure the same high standard of support continues for learners at Hetherington House.
Careerforce congratulates Kay on her outstanding 18 years of service and dedication. Her contribution demonstrates the difference one person can make in supporting learners, building capability, and fostering a culture of care and learning.
Interested in becoming a registered Careerforce assessor?
At Careerforce, we encourage experienced professionals to consider becoming registered assessors and play a vital role in strengthening New Zealand’s health and wellbeing workforce. As an assessor, you’ll support learners in real workplace settings, helping ensure they meet industry standards and deliver safe, high-quality care. It’s a rewarding opportunity to share your expertise, mentor others, and contribute directly to better outcomes for the people and communities we serve.
Click here to learn more about the process of becoming a registered Careerforce assessor.
For all media enquiries please contact Paul Williams, Senior Manager Marketing, Communications & Insights on 027 600 7395, or at [email protected].
Careerforce supports employers across New Zealand’s health and wellbeing sectors to run workplace training programmes, allowing staff to achieve nationally recognised qualifications on the job. For more information, please see: www.careerforce.org.nz
Daisy Hemmingson-White