Study health and wellbeing for free^

New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Level 3)

Specialise in health assistance or support work

Overview
Details

Last chance!

Apply now for our July intake and TTAF will cover your fees^.

As part of the government’s Targeted Training and Apprenticeships Fund (TTAF) to rebuild New Zealand's economy, this programme is free^ until 31 December 2022. For terms and conditions, more information, and other programmes covered by this scheme, click here.

Programme highlights

Would you like to work as a healthcare assistant or support worker in an essential industry?

This programme will prepare you to work in a support role within a range of health or wellbeing sectors.

You will learn the skills and knowledge to provide person-centred support to individuals in their daily lives.

This programme has a focus on caring for the elderly, in particular, learning how to care and support someone living with dementia.

Choose your specialist strand

Health assistance
Become a healthcare assistant and provide person-centred care under the direction and delegation of a registered nurse. Follow a patient care plan to support and assist individuals with their daily activities. You could work in primary and acute facilities or hospitals, care homes and on therapeutic programmes.

Support work
Become a support worker and provide person-centred support to maximise client independence. You will learn how to support a client in meeting their individual needs and provide assistance with activities of daily living. You will be able to support clients within the community and primary health care settings.

This programme includes a minimum of 100 hours of work experience.

Find out more information on each course in the programme structure.

VCA checking: When you apply for this programme you will need to undergo police vetting and VCA checking. This means you must provide two character references that attest to your suitability to work in a mental health or community support work setting.

Māori and Pasifika Pathways

If you are of Māori or Pasifika descent then you also have access to Te Ara Oranga while studying this programme.

Te Ara Oranga will support you to succeed in a way that suits your needs and you will get connected with industry, opening doors to your health career pathway.

Learn more

Please note: In accordance with the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Vaccinations) Order 2021, Covid vaccinations are mandatory for workers in the healthcare sector. Placement is a compulsory component of MIT’s healthcare programmes. To go on placement in this sector, students will need to be fully vaccinated and provide proof of vaccination to MIT. Students that hold a medical exemption that prevents them from being vaccinated are permitted to work in the healthcare sector, but will have limited placement opportunities in that sector. Students that are not vaccinated, or that do not wish to share their vaccination status with MIT, will not be able to go on placement in the healthcare sector. If you hold a medical exemption, or if you are unable or unwilling to provide proof of vaccination to MIT, your placement opportunities will accordingly be limited and MIT cannot guarantee availability with placement providers. If this applies to you, we encourage you to contact us to discuss your options.

Key facts

Start month(s)	February, July See key dates
Study location(s)	MIT Manukau
Level	3
Domestic fees	Free^ Click here to see individual course fees
Youth Guarantee (fees-free*)	Available (eligibility criteria applies) Click here to find out more
Programme code	NZ2470

Duration	Full-time for 18 teaching weeks
Study method	Full-time
Credits	70
International fees	Not available to international students
Māori and Pasifika Trades Training Scholarship (fees-free*)	Not available Click here to find out more
Qualification leads to	New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Level 3) ^{with strands in Healthcare Assistance; Newborn Hearing Screening; Orderly Strand; Support Work; Vision Hearing Screening; and Whānau, Kin and Foster Care}

Entry requirements

General

Be 17 years of age or older.

Academic

Applicants must meet the following criteria for admission into the programme:

NCEA Level 1 or equivalent DAS Unit Standards.

For applicants 20 years of age and over there are no minimum academic requirements;

And

Can demonstrate equivalent knowledge/capability through relevant work experience with the approval of the Industry Manager;

Have successfully completed a New Zealand Certificate in Foundation Skills (Level 2) or equivalent.

Interviews

Applicants are required to attend an interview to determine their suitability for the programme. During the interview, the applicant will be assessed against the requirements of the Faculty’s policy for students accessing placements in the health context in terms of their suitability for placement in either the health assistance or support worker role. At interview, the suitability of students to work with vulnerable populations will also be addressed to establish the students’ suitability. The Vulnerable Children’s Act will also be addressed during the interview process.

English language entry requirements

Applicants must have sufficient competence in the English language to undertake this programme which is taught and assessed in English. Any applicant whose first language is not English will be required to provide evidence of their English language competency as follows:

English language requirements for applicants for whom English is a second language

Applicants for whom English is a second language (including international applicants) for the minimum English language requirements refer to the requirements set out in the NZQF Programme and Accreditation Rules: https://www.nzqa.govt.nz/providers-partners/qa-system-for-teos/english-international-students/

Regulatory or other requirements

This programmes includes a minimum of 100 hours of work experience. Workplace can be embedded throughout the programme where a student is in a workplace environment.

Or will be scheduled throughout the programme to ensure the student has the necessary practicum experience to meet competence.

Students will be required to undergo initial and ongoing checks to ensure they are a fit and proper person to provide support in the health and wellbeing sectors.

Applicants of this programme will need to undergo police vetting and VCA checking.

Immune status requirements as per industry needs.

This programme adheres to and is consistent with the Health and Disability Commissioner (Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights) Regulations 1996, the Privacy Act 1993, the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992, and any other legislative or contractual requirements to which the industry or role is subject.

Provisional entry

Students who have attained the age of 20 years and do not hold the minimum entry requirements for a programme or training scheme may be eligible to be enrolled. Such decisions must consider any applicable pre-requisites and will be made by the Head of School. Students who have not attained the age of 20 years and do not hold the required minimum entry requirements may also be eligible to be enrolled in exceptional circumstances where they can demonstrate capability for study at the required level. Such decisions must consider any applicable pre-requisites and will be made by the Head of School.

Programme structure

You will need to complete the below five courses from your chosen strand (70 credits):

Healthcare assistant strand

724.301 Caring within a health or wellbeing setting (10 credits)

You will demonstrate knowledge of ethical and legal frameworks which underpin person-centred support and care for clients.

724.302 Supporting a safe environment for the health assistant (15 credits)

This course allows you to demonstrate knowledge of maintaining safe work practices while providing person-centred care.

724.303 Socio-cultural awareness and safety for the health assistant (5 credits)

You will demonstrate knowledge of socio-cultural dynamics to ensure culturally safe practices when delivering person-centred care.

724.304 Functional individual client needs for the health assistant (20 credits)

You will be able to demonstrate knowledge of impact on functional ability on an individual in order to provide person-centred care.

724.305 Communication for the health assistant (20 credits)

You will be able to demonstrate effective communication strategies to manage challenging behaviour within a health or wellbeing setting.

Support work strand

724.301 Caring within a health or wellbeing setting (10 credits)

You will demonstrate knowledge of ethical and legal frameworks which underpin person-centred support and care for clients.

724.306 Supporting a safe environment for the support worker (15 credits)

This course allows you to demonstrate knowledge of maintaining safety when providing person-centred care.

724.307 Socio-cultural awareness and safety for the support worker (5 credits)

You will demonstrate knowledge of socio-cultural dynamics to ensure safety when delivering person-centred care.

724.308 Functional individual client needs for the support worker (20 credits)

You will be able to demonstrate knowledge of impact on functional ability on an individual in order to provide person-centred care.

724.309 Communication for the support worker (20 credits)

You will be able to demonstrate effective communication strategies to manage challenging behaviour within a health or wellbeing setting.

Key dates and timetables

To find the key dates and timetables of this programme, please view the health and counselling calendar.

Career opportunities

Graduates of the health assistance strand may be employed as healthcare assistants in a range of contexts including acute care, primary care, aged residential care and therapeutic programmes.

Graduates of the support work strand may be employed in a range of roles supporting people in the community including disability, ACC support work, in home support roles. For potential salaries visit careers.govt.nz.

Further training or study

MIT is becoming Te Pūkenga

Vocational education in Aotearoa is changing to better meet the needs of learners like you.

As part of this transformational change, MIT will next year become fully part of Te Pūkenga, a national network delivering skills training in a wide range of locations throughout Aotearoa. This means that while you’re applying with MIT now, from Semester 1, 2023 when you enrol you’ll become a Te Pūkenga learner.

The new system has the success and wellbeing of learners at its heart, and a review of all programmes is currently underway to help support this, including the programme that you’ve enrolled with. The aim is to make qualifications more portable, consistent and closely aligned with the needs of industry, and more in tune with where the world is headed.

As the programme review is ongoing, the courses outlined may be liable to change over time. Rest assured that we’ll notify you of any material changes to delivery that might impact what you’re studying, where you’re studying or the ways you’re learning.

_{Information is correct as at 5 May 2022. Programme fees are based on a full-time student and may vary depending on your final selection of courses that make up your programme. To provide you with an indication of costs, the approximate fees quoted in this publication are based on the indicative 2022 fee structure. The indicative programme fees for 2022 do not include the Compulsory Student Services Fee (CSSF). The CSSF is an additional levy to your 2022 programme or course fees. Further information about the CSSF can be found here www.manukau.ac.nz/cssf. Programmes stated as eligible for free study in 2022 are based on the 2021 fee structure and subject to funding confirmation for 2022. All fees are in New Zealand Dollars. You will be advised of the current fees at the time of enrolment. All courses and programmes will proceed subject to numbers and academic approval. Manukau Institute of Technology Limited is accredited under the provisions of the Education and Training Act 2020. International students must study in class and will not be able to enrol for online study options.}

_{^Free study for this qualification may be available to you under the government’s Targeted Training and Apprenticeships Fund (TTAF). If you’re enrolled in an eligible programme, TTAF will automatically cover your fees from 1 July 2020 until 31 December 2022. Visit https://www.tec.govt.nz/funding/funding-and-performance/funding/fund-finder/targeted-training-and-apprenticeship-fund/faqs-for-learners/ for eligibility criteria and more information. Students must be eligible to study as a domestic student and meet any other entry criteria as required. Some costs may also apply. Free study is subject to funding confirmation. Note: if your programme of study goes beyond 31 December 2022, your courses after this date will be subject to applicable course costs. Please talk to us at that time though, as you might be eligible for fees-free study or other options to cover the rest of your tuition fees.}