The Government recently announced a $320m Targeted Training and Apprenticeship Fund (TTAF), as part of a training package to support training in the health and wellbeing sector.
This development is very good news for the aged care sector, and Careerforce Chief Executive, Jane Wenman, welcomes the announcement.
“The health and wellbeing sectors continue to face workforce shortage challenges, brought about by an ageing and increasingly diverse population, and an associated ageing workforce in many areas. This is being exacerbated by COVID-19 related immigration restrictions. Any Government funding that will support new people into the sector, and remove any barriers to workforce development is welcomed.”
The fund effectively removes enrolment costs for eligible programmes in targeted areas for learners and employers, through to December 2022. The fund is targeted towards industry skill needs where demand from employers for these skills will continue to be strong, or is expected to grow, during New Zealand’s recovery period from the impacts of COVID-19.
The aged care sector has been included as a targeted area, with “care for elderly” specifically highlighted. Effective from 1 July 2020, there are no enrolment costs for the following programmes:
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- NZ Certificate in Health & Wellbeing Level 2 & Level 3
- NZ Certificate in Health & Wellbeing Level 4, Advanced Support
- Apprenticeship programmes*
- New Zealand Diploma in Health and Wellbeing (Level 5) Applied Practice
- Dementia LCP (Limited Credit Programme) Level 4
Careerforce recognises that cleaning and business leadership & management qualifications are also highly relevant for the aged care sector we support, especially in the COVID-19 environment. Disappointingly, enrolment fees for these programmes are not covered by the Targeted Training and Apprenticeships Fund (TTAF), despite a strong case being made to the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) by Careerforce.
However, as a gesture of goodwill, Careerforce has made the decision to waive enrolment fees on the New Zealand Certificate in Cleaning Levels 2 and 3, and the New Zealand Diploma in Business Levels 5 and 6 through until 31 December 2020.
Further from Jane Wenman, “the aged care sector was already facing significant workforce shortages, and these have been exacerbated by COVID-19. There has never been a better time to develop and upskill existing staff with nationally recognised and on-job acquired qualifications, and to attract a new workforce with a commitment to supporting their career development within the aged care sector”.
Contact Careerforce for more information. www.careerforce.org.nz
*The Apprenticeship in Health and Wellbeing (Social and Community Services) Community Facilitation strand specialising in Diversional Therapy is a suitable apprenticeship for the Aged Care Sector.
