New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Social and Community Services) (Level 4) (Community Facilitation) or (Mental Health and Addiction Support) or (Social Services)

Timetable, workload and attendance 

Timetable and workload

If your application is successful, you'll be provided with:

• a detailed full year timetable 
• assessment dates 
• assessment policy and detailed attendance expectations. 

In the meantime, please note the following information: 

• the programme starts in mid to late February and ends in late November 
• our teaching weeks align with Primary School Terms as much as possible 
• the programme involves approximately 35 hours per week of study time (teacher directed and student managed learning hours) - these will not all be in class. 

In general...

• Campus students will attend classes at the Dunedin Campus (on Forth Street) from 9.00am to 4.00pm on Thursdays and Fridays throughout the year.  
• Online students will attend online classes between 9.00am and 4.00pm on Thursdays and Fridays. Online classes are generally scheduled in one or two hour blocks. 
• Wednesdays are self-directed study days but must be available for optional assessment tutorials, group work projects, assessment presentations and group evaluations. 
• Mondays and Tuesdays are flexible in the first semester (Feb - June) but need to be available during the second semester (July - Nov) for work placements. 
• There are several presentation weeks or workshop intensives throughout the year where campus students will be required to attend a full day on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 9.00am to 5.00pm. 
• On campus and online students need to be available for an orientation week in mid to late February. 
• Scheduled classes are reduced in the final term to allow for more focused time for work placements. 
• In addition to classes on campus, you will be required to access material and work through learning activities and assessment tasks independently. All courses, course material and a range of optional resources are available online to support your learning. 

Overview of programme delivery 

Attendance requirements 

Campus students are expected to attend all campus classes and engage in all learning activities. 

The online programme is more flexible and requires students to be self-managing. For online study, you will:

• have the opportunity to participate in more or less scheduled classes depending on what suits your needs 
• be required to access and work through online learning modules and activities in your own time 
• participate in group assessment activities and attend two scheduled tutorial sessions (one to two hours per week on Wednesdays, Thursdays and/or Fridays
• attend presentation days on Wednesdays, Thursdays and/or Fridays as required. 

Studying part-time 

Many students find that they are able to complete the programme in one year alongside work and family commitments. However, if you feel you'd prefer to study part-time, you can if you're studying at our Dunedin Campus. This part-time option is not available if you're studying online. 

A typical day on campus 

• We begin each day at 9.00am with a 30 minute whakapiri or engagement. 
• On most days, the entire teaching team will attend. 
• We start with a karakia. Students are invited to bring their own special blessings and share these over the year. 
• We sing some waiata and then we engage in a brief body scan or mindfulness meditation. 
• After this we discuss panui and staff and students share their important news. 
• After panui, staff who are not teaching on the day leave and we settle down to look at the agenda and work through the activities. 
• We work through until 10.45am and then we take a 30 minute break. 
• We work from 11.15am through to 1.00pm and then we take a lunch break. 
• Pre-lunch, learning activities are directed by the teaching team. 
• From 2.00pm-4.00pm, the learning environment is generally (but not always) less structured and formal. Students who want to get away a little earlier are free to do so unless we explicitly state otherwise. 
• Generally we spend this time working on course assessments. Students are able to put their name on the board and staff work around the students, attending individual questions and support needs. We find this a lovely and relaxing way to deepen relationships and offer support in a transparent and fair way. 
• At 4.00pm, we wrap up for the day.

Programme approach

Our philosophy and value base is grounded in strengths theory, empowerment and Te Whare Tapa Wha. We believe that, given the right support and the right attitude, everyone is capable of achieving whatever they set out to achieve. We aim to provide the right support for each of our students and we value the vast array of life experience and expertise that each student brings.

During this programme we have open and sometimes difficult conversations about sensitive topics such as abuse, violence, suicide, mental distress, disability, addiction, privilege, racism and discrimination. You will be encouraged to look inwards and reflect on life experiences that have shaped you. Alongside the tough work, you'll build your own practice kete, filling it with techniques and strategies to enhance your natural ability to support others. You will develop lifelong friendships with an array of caring, like-minded people who come from a variety of life paths. 

Support 

The course content can be triggering as conversations can bring up personal traumatic experiences. 

Like any social service course, there is a therapeutic element. It is impossible to learn the theories of human development and the theories that inform support without thinking about your own experience. You will be strongly encouraged to practice self-care and access personal counselling if you need it. 

The ability to ask for help and the capacity to develop skills and strategies to manage your own risks, triggers and anxieties is an essential skill in health and wellbeing work. 

We have excellent support networks in place and you will always be able to speak with a member of the teaching team to chat about what support options are available for you.  

We look forward to welcoming you into our whare. 

Entry requirements 

• Open entry (no academic qualifications needed) but you must:
  • disclose any criminal convictions before commencing the programme,
  • give permission for a police check to be completed prior to commencing the programme.
• You will take part in an informal discussion with the Programme Manager to check your readiness to engage with the programme.
• International students will be individually assessed to ensure you are ready for this study. 
• If English is not your first language, you must provide:
  • New Zealand University Entrance OR
  • Overall Academic IELTS 5.5 (achieved in one test completed in the last two years), OR
  • Acceptable alternative evidence of the required IELTS (see here for NZQA proficiency table and here for list of recognised proficiency tests).

If you need to improve your English Language skills, we offer a wide range of English programmes. 

Other recommended skills  

This programme is all about preparing you to hold the wellbeing of vulnerable people in your hands. As such, you need to be self-managing, self-aware and culturally-competent. These three skill sets are fundamental to our discipline, highly desirable in health and wellbeing work and underpin all learning in this programme. 

Self-management 

To self-manage means to take responsibility for your own experience and success. Self-managing people read instructions, ask questions, seek support, make effective decisions, show up, keep promises, follow process, organise themselves and meet commitments in a timely manner. 

Self-awareness 

To be self-aware means to understand how your experiences have shaped your behaviours, values, beliefs and biases. Self-aware people recognise their own risks and triggers, manage their anxiety and stress, receive and give constructive criticism and identify and set goals to address personal and professional development needs. 

Cultural competence 

To be culturally-competent means first and foremost to recognise that Aotearoa New Zealand is a bi-cultural society and that there are multi-ethnic peoples living here. Being culturally-competent requires the ability to work with diversity whether that be related to ethnicity, gender, sexuality, age or any other status. 

We will support you throughout the programme to develop and hone these skills. However, we expect that you will bring a natural inclination towards self-management, self-awareness and cultural competence. 

Literacy 

As a support worker, you need to be able to read policy and read and write case notes. During the programme, we will actively support you to develop these skills alongside academic literacy skills for higher level study. However, this is not a literacy programme and you do need to be able to read, comprehend and write from the outset. If you have concerns about your literacy skills, consider starting with one of our foundation programmes, talk to teaching staff during your application interview and look out for student support literacy workshops during the first term and throughout the year. 

Computer literacy 

• Online study - computer literacy is essential if you are keen to study in the online stream. At a minimum, you need to be able to set up a word document, word process, send an email, attach a document to an email, use an online forum, manage your own microphone and camera, contribute to the programme's Facebook page and find information online. 
• On campus study - computer literacy is also essential in this stream as all course information is provided online and most assessments require word processing skills at a minimum. 

You will need to be computer literate in most support work roles as client notes are recorded and stored online. We will support you to develop essential computer literacy during this programme but if you're concerned about your level of computer literacy, please take steps to develop your skills or consider starting with one of our foundation programmes. 

Driver's licence 

Upon graduation, a driver's licence is desirable as this is a requirement in many support work roles. If you do not currently have a driver's licence, maybe consider aiming to achieve this alongside your other study goals. 

Covid-19 vaccination information

You don’t need to supply evidence of your Covid-19 vaccination status to apply for this programme. However, most placement providers will require evidence from you that you are fully vaccinated before allowing you to complete a placement at their organisation. Placements are an integral part of this programme and you’ll need to complete these to be able to successfully achieve your qualification.

Want your existing skills recognised?

If you are currently working in the industry and have at least five years' of experience in your chosen strand, you may already meet learning outcomes for one or more courses. If this sounds like you, please talk to staff at your interview about the possibility of being awarded some credits and participating in an individualised programme. 

Fees Free 

If you’re a domestic student and this is your first time doing tertiary study in New Zealand (over 60 credits at Level 3 or higher), you may be able to get free tuition fees for this programme. 

All the details and criteria are on the Fees Free website and you can check whether you’re going to be able to access funding by entering your National Student Number. 

If you can access it, we’ll organise your fees with the Tertiary Education Commission when you’re enrolled to study with us. This funding doesn’t include additional costs or living costs.   

Check whether you can access funding here >

Student Services Fee 

For most students, your tuition fee shown above includes a Student Services Fee – also known as the Student Levy. This compulsory fee covers your access to the student services we offer. This cost is tailored depending on how you're studying.

Tuition fees

The tuition fees shown above are approximate only. There may be a slight fee increase per year once Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) rules and guidelines are applied. These fees also don't include additional costs or living costs.

How do I apply?

Step one

To apply online, click the APPLY button at the top of this page. 

There are quite a few questions on the online application form so give yourself plenty of time to complete it. You can save the form and come back to it later if you need to. 

You will need to scan and upload your filled in applicants pack when you apply so make sure you have it easily accessible. 

If you need help at any stage with your application, contact our friendly staff - info@op.ac.nz or 0800 762 786.  

The online application form requires that you:

• disclose existing or pending criminal convictions
• give consent for police vetting (see further info about what this means below)
• declare any issues that may impact on your ability to be safe and successful in the programme and field work placement 
• provide contact details for two referees who can vouch that you are suitable for study and work in health and wellbeing 
• provide parent or caregiver consent if you are under 18 
• provide proof of competence in English Language if English is not your first language (overall Academic IELTS of 5.5 achieved in one test completed in the last two years)
• write and upload a personal statement (TIP: prepare your personal statement before you apply). 

For your personal statement, please explain in a maximum of 250 words:

• Why you want to complete this qualification and why you have chosen the specialty strand that you have? 
• What knowledge, experience, skills or values you will bring to this mahi (work)? 
• What aspects of study might be a struggle for you and how you might best be supported?

Police vetting 

An important part of the programme is work experience. In order to arrange work experience for you, we need to assure the employer of your suitability in working in their service with vulnerable clients. As such, we require information about any criminal offences that apply to you. 

All applicants are required to:

• declare existing or pending criminal offences during your application 
• provide consent for the Polytechnic to request a New Zealand Police Vetting Report 
• provide consent for the Polytechnic to share your New Zealand Police Vetting Report with a proposed organisation for the purpose of them determining your suitability to carry out a placement in their organisation with vulnerable clients 
• inform your Programme Leader of any criminal charges or pending charges you receive after completing the original declaration and throughout your year of study. 

Please note: Failure to declare charges prior to enrolment or during study may result in you being withdrawn from the programme.

Some offences may affect our decision on whether or not to accept your application for the programme. In this case, we will make every effort to advise you in person and to offer you alternative study options.

Please also note that it is becoming increasingly difficult to secure social and community work experiences for students with recent criminal convictions. If we have concerns, we will discuss these in person at individual interviews. If you have concerns, please feel comfortable to raise these with us. Criminal convictions will not necessarily prevent you from completing the programme, but they may restrict work experience placements we can offer you and impact on your employability. 

For more information about police vetting, please see the Police Vetting Guide.  

Step two - Applicant interviews  

When you have completed your application and submitted all of the necessary documents, your application will be sent to the school. 

The programme administrator will then send you an email inviting you to a two hour group interview and workshop. 

You will need to organise your time so you can attend the full two hours. 

You will need to bring two original forms of ID to your interview. One primary and one secondary. At least one ID must include a photograph. For examples of primary and secondary ID sources, see Evidence of Identity, page 3 of the NZ Police Vetting Guide.

Please note that your application cannot progress until two original forms of ID have been witnessed, stamped and signed by staff. These are required to initiate the police vetting process. 

The interview will provide you with an opportunity to:

• meet staff and fellow applicants 
• ask questions and clarify concerns 
• engage in learning activities typical of the programme including some work with a partner, some group work and a reading and writing activity 
• discuss any specific concerns or fears with a member of the teaching team. 

Once the interview has finished, if you realise the programme is not quite right for you, you can withdraw quickly and easily by letting staff know directly or by withdrawing your application online. 

Step three - Application outcome 

Following the interview, you will receive notification of your application status. 

A change for 2023 enrolments

When you apply to study with Otago Polytechnic in 2023, you will be enrolled with Te Pūkenga, the new national network of vocational and applied education in Aotearoa New Zealand. You will learn in the same way, in the same place, and with the same people, and you will graduate with a Te Pūkenga qualification.