Healthcare workers and social support professionals play a critical role in helping people live better lives. They work as carers and support workers in hospitals, rest homes, addiction centres, or community settings. The demand for these workers, including Māori and Pasifika, is increasing, especially as our population grows older and mental health services come under pressure.
Laloifi Ripley, Regional Manager Employer Services at Careerforce explains, “With a qualification in Health and Wellbeing, you’re going to help support our most vulnerable people, our elderly, our at-risk youth and those that are suffering with mental health issues.
This mahi is about kindness, communication, cultural understanding and skills. Ashleen, a tutor at Ignite College, says, “Healthcare is all about communicating. I help students build confidence so they can be themselves in the field.”
Māori and Pasifika workers bring unique strengths to healthcare and social work
When Māori and Pasifika communities face health challenges, it’s important to have workers who understand their culture.
Ashleen explains, “One day when I get older, I want someone to look after me who understands my culture, my needs.” Cultural awareness includes understanding food preferences, celebrations, dress styles, language, and values around hauora (wellbeing). These small things make a big difference in creating trust and delivering better care.
Health and Wellbeing tutor Ashleen with Level 3 Health and Wellbeing students at Ignite College.
People who bring cultural understanding are in demand in mental healthcare. Laloifi from Careerforce says mental healthcare has shifted from hospital-based care more into community-based care.
“The mental health providers that I work with are looking for somebody with people skills, somebody with empathy, who understands what a person is going through. It’s so good to see so many brown faces wanting to get into health and wellbeing because we need you so very much here in Aotearoa. There’s not enough of us doing this type of role.”
We’re on a mission to empower Māori and Pasifika
Māori make up only 8.5% of New Zealand’s health workforce but represent 17% of the population. This gap is widening as Māori are expected to make up 21% of the population by 2043. Pacific peoples face similar underrepresentation despite higher rates of chronic illnesses.
One of our goals at MPTT is to help fill the growing skills gap in the trades industry while supporting our people into successful careers. This is why we’re so excited to help our communities get trained for the health and wellbeing sectors, providing financial assistance, one-on-one mentoring and pathways into employment.
Increasing representation will improve healthcare outcomes for everyone. A diverse workforce delivers culturally safe care that meets the needs of all communities.
A group of 46 MPTT Health and Wellbeing trainees from across three training providers attending an MPTT event where they learned more about other cultures and about the career pathways in their sector.
Training options are simple to start
You don’t need any background in healthcare or social work to get started. Training programmes are designed for people with basic literacy and numeracy skills. Most will also mean you can work part-time or keep family commitments.
MPTT piloted scholarships in Health & Wellbeing in 2024 through Unitec and Ignite College. Following strong uptake and growing demand, we expanded our offering to include NZMA in early 2025. Oceania Career Academy (OCA) will also offer the training from July. You can choose from a range of Level 3 and 4 courses across different strands within the Health & Wellbeing sector. Click on the link to view up-to-date information on each course from our training providers.
Level 3 Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Health Assistance):
This course at Ignite College lasts between 22 weeks and 1 year and involves plenty of hands-on experience. You’ll spend at least 19 weeks learning in a classroom, three weeks on placement and 100 hours in work for the practical part.
Level 3 Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Support Work): This introductory course at NZMA’s Manukau campus will provide you with the practical skills and knowledge to prepare for your chosen career path as a support worker in the mental health, community health, addiction, or aged care sector. The course is completed over 20 weeks and includes a 3-week work experience at a healthcare provider.
Level 4 Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Social and Community Services): This course at Unitec’s Waitakere Campus is full-time for one year, with part-time options available. Develop the skills to support those who need mental health or addiction support, including peer support. You’ll learn by doing, by completing at least 200 hours in work placements in a mental health or addiction setting.
Level 4 Certificate in Health and Wellbeing with strands in Mental Health & Addiction, Social and Community Health and Disability Support: These more advanced courses at NZMA will help you learn about Aotearoa’s health and wellbeing sector, and then focus on your field of choice. You’ll discover the range of career paths and learn the skills necessary to work with people, groups, and communities. You’ll also gain industry experience at a healthcare provider as part of your training.
Level 4 Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Primary Care Practice Assistance): Starting in July 2025 this programme will be delivered by Oceania Career Academy (OCA) at their Māngere Campus. It will give you the skills and confidence to support clients in primary care settings with a strong focus on working with Pasifika communities. Learn on the job through a work placement in partnership with a primary care organisation, build your communication and teamwork skills, and get ready for a rewarding entry-level role in the health sector.
Courses and scholarships are subject to availability and eligibility criteria apply.
After completing Level 3 or 4, you can also go on to study nursing, midwifery, or social work.
Ashleen shares success stories: “Some students have gone overseas into mental health fields; others have pursued nursing or midwifery through MIT.”
You’ll learn in and beyond the classroom
These programmes focus on more than just skills; they build confidence too, especially through hands-on experience. Ashleen helps students at Ignite feel comfortable by encouraging them to share their culture. “Students showcase their culture by sharing quotes in their language and translating them into English, so others can learn.”
Group activities also help tauira connect with classmates: “I rotate groups so they get to know everyone in the classroom. This helps them communicate better.”
For mental health and addiction support learners, the training emphasises compassion and kindness while teaching practical strategies like advocacy plans and communication techniques. You’ll learn how to empower others while respecting their socio-cultural identity.
Each level of training includes a practical work experience requirement. For Ignite’s Level 3 students that’s 100 hours spent on clinical placement at an aged care or disability facility organised by Skills Ignite.
MPTT students at Ignite College learn by doing in a supportive environment.
You can pursue many different paths
Careerforce supports employers in New Zealand’s health and wellbeing, social and community sectors to run workplace-based training for their staff, allowing them to achieve nationally recognised qualifications on the job.
Talking to a group of MPTT Health and Wellbeing students, Kailash Devan from Careerforce recommended that you find an area that suits your personal calling.
“In peer support programmes, you have people with lived mental health experience helping others navigate through the complex issues that they’ve been through. It’s a very rewarding sector.
“In the healthcare assistance area, you might find yourself setting up activities or programmes for residential clients who are living in rest homes or private hospitals.
“Social services are all about taking care of the social needs of a person in the community. You can help make sure they’re in a safe and secure environment and are connected to other external organisations.”
The Careerforce team including Laloifi Ripley (right) and Kailash Devan (centre) shared career insights with Health and Wellbeing students at an MPTT event.
Challenges are real but manageable
Many Māori and Pasifika learners face barriers like financial struggles or cultural isolation. Tutors like Ashleen provide extra support: “If I see that my students are struggling, I will have a one-on-one conversation with them to create a plan.”
She stays connected even after tauira finish their courses: “I check where they are—whether they’ve gone into another course or started working.”
Pay and job security make it worth your time
Healthcare work is hard but rewarding. You can start earning with the Level 3 certificate, but can expect to earn more while growing your employability even further with a Level 4 certificate. There are also opportunities for specialisation or moving into administrative or managerial roles.
Ashleen reassures learners: “Healthcare has good pay and job opportunities. It’s worth going into.”
Kailash agrees and says the employers he works with are crying out for cultural support workers.
“They are looking after people with addiction in the community, along with gambling addiction and domestic violence issues as well. So it’s a good career pathway.”
Success stories inspire others
Many tauira start these courses after years of raising children. Ashleen says, “They tell me, ‘This is my time.’ Their success stories inspire others.” Level 4 graduates often secure well-paid roles with District Health Boards or private organisations.
“Others continue learning through advanced studies or move into specialised fields like mental health support or addiction recovery.”
MPTT scholarships make training easier
The Māori Pasifika Trades Training (MPTT) scholarship offers free fees for eligible tauira. It also provides practical support like mentoring through Navigators who guide you from training to employment. The programme connects tauira with employers while offering ongoing encouragement to aim high.