Fresh from completing her Diploma in Leadership and Management with work-based learning provider, Careerforce, Katene Morris is already putting her learning into action.
The Community Coordinator at a kaupapa Māori health provider in Ōtaki says she’s found new confidence and practical tools to support her community mahi.
For Katene, no two days are ever the same. As part of Te Puna Oranga o Ōtaki’s ‘Special Projects’ team – affectionately known as the “pick and mix team,” her role spans everything from housing and education to food support, community events, and kaumātua wellbeing.
Careerforce Diploma graduate Katene Morris
“In the morning, I might be working on housing, and by the afternoon I’m planning a community event,” she explains. “It’s all community-led, and being able to take what the community needs or wants and bring that to life is what I love most.”
“I do believe we’re making a difference,” she says thoughtfully. “It’s a big statement, but there’s definitely an impact on the people we work with and the wider community.”
Inspired by the community
What inspires Katene most is simple: It’s the people. “Honestly, it’s being able to provide for our community,” she says. “When I think about the events we do, it’s all community-led. We’re a small, tight-knit community, and every week I come to work thinking, ‘what can I do to support our people?”
One highlight was an event she organised recently that brought together all the kōhanga reo, early learning centres, and Montessori groups in Ōtaki.
“The community really wanted something for the under-fives, not a competition, just to see them up on stage. So, we created our own event and invited everyone,” she recalls. “We had over 200 tamariki under five performing, their teachers, and around 400 community members watching. Just knowing that that was a dream of a lot of people in Ōtaki for many years, and we were able to execute it. It was bloody amazing and now they’re talking about making it an annual event.”
A journey into leadership
Katene’s journey into leadership came with encouragement from her manager, who saw her potential early on.
“My manager brought the Careerforce Diploma in Leadership and Management to my attention,” she says. “At first, I thought, ‘I’m not good enough for that, I’m not a manager.’ But she kept saying, ‘you never know where you’ll be in a few years, and I see you as a manager here.”
As her responsibilities grew, so did her understanding of the value of the diploma.
“Once I stepped into a leadership role, I could totally see how doing the diploma would benefit me,” she explains. “It has really helped me in that journey.”
Learning on-the-job
The Careerforce Leadership and Management Diploma is completed on the job, 100% online, self-directed 8-12 hours per week with supported online resources. A leadership and management coach/assessor is provided for the duration of the programme.
Returning to study after more than a decade was a big step for Katene, and even more so while balancing motherhood.
“It was challenging at times because I had a baby in between,” she says. “I think I finished and submitted a module a week before I went into labour, with my son. But that was the best thing about it. I could work at my own pace, with support from my assessors. and I wasn’t tied down to attending lectures or being somewhere at a certain time.
“I remember breastfeeding in the middle of the night and looking at modules online,” she laughs. “Actually for me, it was the best way to learn.”
She describes herself as a “learn on the job” kind of person, which made the work-based study style a perfect fit.
“I’d be learning about compliance or leadership styles, and then the next day I’d be applying it at work. It also helped me understand our organisation better – things like why certain decisions are made by our operations manager or CEO. It really opened my eyes.”
Katene Morris organised event for 200 Ōtaki tamariki
Supported every step of the way
Over the course of her study, Katene worked with several Careerforce assessors, including Colleen Eason and says the support was incredible.
“All my assessors were really committed to helping me succeed. They wanted me to get over the line,” she says.
She also appreciated the practical tools available. “There was lots of extra support and study tips, and the Aka Toi online learning platform made learning easy to access.”
Looking ahead
Now that she’s completed her diploma, Katene says her focus is on applying what she’s learned.
“For now, I just want to put everything I learned into practice. There’s so much that will benefit me in my role,” she says.
Katene’s already recommending the programme to others. “I’ve told people in our organisation about it,” she says. “I’d absolutely recommend it to anyone thinking about leadership, or even those already in management. It’s helped me so much.”
A true community champion
From housing and education to kapa haka festivals and kaumātua care, Katene’s work touches every part of the Ōtaki community.
“At the end of the day,” she says, “it’s all about supporting our people and making sure their voices are heard. That’s what keeps me coming back every day.”
For more information about Careerforce work-based training programmes, contact Careerforce: www.careerforce.org.nz
Susan Tattersall