There are a number of different sectors that employ mental health support workers:

• Support services that are based in the community,

• Residential support services,

• Mental health and addiction services,

• Day programmes,

• Iwi health providers,

• Peer support services,

• Volunteer services in different types of communities.

Careers.govt.nz reports that support workers are in high demand and that job opportunities are good, see here. Support workers can specialise in a number of fields that include aged care or disabilities; your qualification will equip you to specialise in mental health and addictions. The government has recently improved pay equity provisions, see here. Another advantage of your qualification is that it lays a foundation for working towards advanced education.

You will be assessed on different types of activities that you engage with over the course of the programme. Assessments will be varied and will occur during classroom learning activities and your practicum. Some examples of assessment types are verbal or written reflections on what you have learned or observations of you working with a client. We will explain clearly how each assessment activity works, what it should contain, and when it is due. There are no graded levels in marking; rather you will be awarded an Achieved grade or a Not Achieved grade for each assessment, which will in turn contribute to an Achieved or Not Achieved result for each unit standard against which you are assessed.

A unit standard contains a specific set of outcomes (skills, or competencies) that a learner should acquire as a result of their learning activities. Unit standards are devised by NZQA (New Zealand Qualifications Authority) and each unit standard, when achieved, contributes to your overall qualification (the Level 4 New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing, with strand in Mental Health and Addiction Support). We will assess you against 17 unit standards during the programme, with a total of 121 credits earned to achieve the qualification.

A practicum consists of a placement in a community setting. It gives you opportunity to apply what you have learned in the classroom in a practical way by working with clients and others to support their mental health needs. With support and supervision, you will be able to practice your new skills. What you achieve during your practicum forms a significant part of your assessment. We will help you find a suitable placement or you may wish to nominate a placement of your choice; how it works will be explained at the beginning of your course.

No. We welcome anyone who wants to enrol with us.

We are governed by Board of Trustees who operate Deacon Trust, a registered charitable trust. Each member of the Board has made a legal declaration that they have no conflicts of interest in their role as governors. Our staff are employed by the Trust and are accountable to the Board in their roles and responsibilities.