Te Matau a Māui Hawke’s Bay resident Afa Marsh-Fepuleai used to change tyres for a living. Now he has his sights set on becoming a nurse.
He is one of many young Kiwis who have completed the Te Whatu Ora – Hawke’s Bay health cadetship, funded by Ministry of Social Development for people on a main Work and Income benefit, and gone into a rewarding career in health.
Caring for his mother who was ill is what inspired Afa to enrol in the eight-week, paid health cadetship, which provides both on-the-job experience and enrolment in a Level 2 certificate with education providers such as Careerforce Te Pūkenga.
Te Matau a Māui Hawke’s Bay, health care workers: Left to right Afa Marsh-Fepuleai, Morgan Matahaere, Kylie Ellen
Since completing the cadetship, Afa has become a Care Associate for the Medical Day Unit at Hawke’s Bay Fallen Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital, and plans to further his studies to become a nurse.
“Seeing the impact that we have on the patients is pretty fulfilling,” Afa says.
“When they get to go home, knowing I was able to help and make a difference for the community is a great feeling.”
Programme is paving the way for life-changing career shifts
The cadetship involves eight weeks of work for 30 hour a week, paid at union rates, at Te Whatu Ora Hawke’s Bay, for example in aged residential care or at Hawke’s Bay Fallen Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital. All cadets complete the NZ Qualifications Authority (NZQF)-approved Level 2 NZ Certificate in Health and Wellbeing within the 30 hours.
As it did for Afa, the programme is paving the way for life-changing career shifts for people from a wide range of backgrounds into new, secure and rewarding career pathways.
Kylie Ellen was in search of a career that was more secure than her previous job as a seasonal worker. She completed her cadetship placement in a rehabilitation ward, where she cared for patients recovering from procedures such as hip replacements.
She says cadets are well supported throughout the programme.
“We each have a buddy, someone who will shadow us as we go from patient to patient,” Kylie says.
“The staff took the time to really care about our learning, and our journey,” she says.
“By empowering and educating our healthcare assistants we not only help them, we also support our nurses and help bolster the workforce.”
Te Whatu Ora Clinical Nurse Educator Anna Walter adds in addition to being buddied up with an experienced staff member, each cadet has regular catchups with a programme support person.
“This support, combined with the Level 2 qualification, sets them up to either pursue a Level 3 qualification which offers a bridge into nursing training, or to go straight into permanent roles,” Anna says.
“By empowering and educating our healthcare assistants we not only help them, we also support our nurses and help bolster the workforce.”
Morgan Matahaere, another recent cadetship graduate, now plans on completing her Level 3 certificate through Careerforce Te Pūkenga.
“It doesn’t really feel like a job to me, coming to work and taking care of people. It just feels natural,”
“The learning has been very helpful,” Morgan says.
“We spent every Monday for two hours with the whole class doing our papers.”
Previously a factory worker for 15 years, Morgan enrolled in the cadetship to try something new. Now at a Health Care Assessment Unit, Morgan supports several types of patients, some with mental health issues and some with various disabilities.
“It doesn’t really feel like a job to me, coming to work and taking care of people. It just feels natural,” says Morgan.
Kylie Ellan adds: “You become involved in people’s care. You see the change in them, as they go through their journey, it’s really rewarding.”
More information
For more information about the health cadetships in Hawke’s Bay, e-mail Whangaitia Cadetship whangaitia.cadetship@hbdhb.govt.nz
To see the full range of Careerforce Health and Wellbeing programmes from Level 2 to Level 5, contact Careerforce, a business division of Te Pūkenga.