Whangarei’s Northland Events Centre was buzzing with excitement recently as 70 dedicated ākonga (learners) proudly celebrated their achievement of NZQA-recognised qualifications.
Hosted by Careerforce, a national work-based learning provider for the health and wellbeing sectors, the event brought together over 200 attendees, a mix of graduates, work colleagues, employers, assessors and whānau members.
Apprenticeship Advisor, Deb White, says “It was a lot of fun and a great way to get together and celebrate these amazing people and the work that they do in the community”.
The event was the first regional celebration hosted by Careerforce and marked the immense challenges following Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023. Despite widespread damage and disruption, ākonga worked hard to complete programmes ranging from Level 2 Certificates through to Level 4 Apprenticeships across sectors including Cleaning, Youth Work, Mental Health, Whānau and Community and Aged Care.
“When you work with people for over two years, you develop a really good relationship and it was a real privilege and pleasure to be able to celebrate with them”, Deb adds.
Proud ākonga celebrate the completion of their NZQA-recognised qualifications
Careerforce supported ākonga to achieve their qualifications in a range of ways including Achieve Study Hubs, a Talanoa for our Pacific learners, workshops for the Dementia programme, Noho Marae and Wananga. These sessions were well attended with some travelling long distances and even staying overnight to attend. Many of the graduates credited these opportunities as key to their success.
Northern Employer Services Manager, Laloifi Ripley, says “These collaborative efforts built a sense of community and belonging, and as we watched ākonga succeed, we knew it was only fitting they got to celebrate their achievements with this historic celebration.”
“Graduates were welcomed onto the stage to receive their certificate along with a native plant – representing the growth and resilience on their learning journey”, she adds.
The event also included a roaming microphone – a chance for the audience of graduates, whānau, employers and assessors to share their reflections. Contributions were so popular they had to be capped to a minute each! Employers were very proud of their graduates, especially those who overcame language barriers. Graduates also mentioned gaining confidence after completing their qualification and feeling able to contribute to decisions in their workplace.
General Manager Employer Services, Stephanie Clark, shared a message for graduates “As you move forward, remember that your learning doesn’t stop here. You are leaders in your workplaces and advocates for wellbeing. Continue to share your knowledge, inspire others, and keep striving for the highest standards of care”.
For more information about Careerforce programmes and how we support our ākonga, visit www.careerforce.org.nz. Employers may also qualify for Apprenticeship Boost funding.
Isabelle Tong