This one-year health and wellbeing course will provide students with the foundation knowledge, skills, and practical experience required to work alongside individuals, families, and whānau accessing social and community services.
Students gain a wide range of transferable skills essential to the role of a support worker and select from one of the following strands to further strengthen their learning:
A key benefit of this programme is the flexibility in how it is delivered. Students then have the option to study face-to-face with tutors and their peers two days a week and have three days for independent study or placement. For those already employed in a health care support role, this programme can be undertaken online.
Students will undertake 200 practicum hours in a work setting relevant to their selected strand to apply their knowledge and skills, enhance their learning, and develop professional practice.
We welcome all new students with an induction at our Hamilton City Campus at the start of the programme.
| Module code | Module title | Level | Credits | Pre-requisites | Co-requisites |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COMC409 | Introduction to the Health and Wellbeing Sector | 4 | 10 | ||
| COMC410 | Preparing for Practice | 4 | 15 | ||
| COMC411 | Te Ao Hauora Māori | 4 | 15 | ||
| COMC412 | Contemporary Issues in Health and Wellbeing | 4 | 15 | ||
| COMC413 | Working with People | 4 | 15 |
Group B: Mental Health and Addiction Support strand compulsory modules
| Module code | Module title | Level | Credits | Pre-requisites | Co-requisites |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COMC414 | Mental Health and Addiction Support Practicum 1 | 4 | 20 | ||
| COMC415 | Mental Health and Addiction Support Practicum 2 | 4 | 30 |
Group C: Social Services strand compulsory modules
| Module code | Module title | Level | Credits | Pre-requisites | Co-requisites |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COMC416 | Social Services Practicum 1 | 4 | 20 | ||
| COMC417 | Social Services Practicum 2 | 4 | 30 |
Group D: Community Facilitation strand compulsory modules
| Module code | Module title | Level | Credits | Pre-requisites | Co-requisites |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COMC418 | Community Facilitation Practicum 1 | 4 | 20 | ||
| COMC419 | Community Facilitation Practicum 2 | 4 | 30 |
Please note, this strand is currently not available.
Group E: Community Health Work strand compulsory modules
This qualification meets the requirements for the Care and Support Workers Pay Equity Settlement. Completion will allow employees and those seeking to enter the industry to follow a career path with qualification attainment linked to wage increases.
Depending on the strand you choose, graduate opportunities may include:
Further study opportunities
Graduates of this programme may go on to degree-level study including:
It is suitable for people who currently work in, or who wish to work in support worker positions in the areas of disability, aged-care, mental health, and community work.
Those who hold this certificate can attain higher wages through the Care and Support Workers Pay Equity Settlement. You can find out more about that here.
The difference between the Certificate in Health and Wellbeing and Te Ara Pūtake, is that the certificate has two distinct purposes. Those who successfully complete it can either transition to further study in Social Practice (using it as a pathway qualification), or improve their employment and pay outcomes in the role of a Support Workers. The core role of Te Ara Pūtake is as a bridging qualification that students generally complete with the intent to continue studying further.
Practicum is a period spent in the field working alongside individuals, families, and whānau accessing social and community services. The idea of practicum is that you have a context in which to take on the role of support worker while still being guided and supervised.
Practicum placements provide students with the opportunity to gain practical skills and experience in the field such as understanding agencies, systems, and accountability processes, developing awareness of professional roles and responsibilities, collaborative collegial relationships, working with tangata whaiora, and application of professional and ethical practice.
As part of your programme of study, you will spend 200 hours in a practicum placement; this is where you link the theory you are learning with practical application.
Face to face
You will be expected to be proactive in finding work placements. Think about the agencies you already know about or are connected with and agencies whose work you are most interested in experiencing. Once your study
has started, you will be supported by the practicum coordinator to approach and confirm your placement. Note that some placement options are limited, and you may be required to undertake a placement experience in an agency that is not your first option.
Online
As an online student, you will be expected to complete your placement hours in your current workplace.
Covid-19 vaccination information
On 11 October 2021, the Government announced that the ‘groups of affected persons’ in the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Vaccinations) Order 2021 (Order) will be extended to include high-risk workers in the health and disability sector,
school and early learning staff, and support people who have contact with children and students. The effect of this is that vaccination will soon be mandatory for health and education workforces, which will extend to those seeking to work within
those sectors on placement.
To complete this programme of study, it is necessary to complete a placement/placements. With the introduction of the Order, we cannot secure placements for learners who are not vaccinated or do not wish to share their vaccination status and who will not, therefore, be able to successfully complete the programme.
You can apply for this programme if you meet one or more of the below options.
Based on your school achievement (secondary study)
Based on study completed after school (tertiary study)
Based on your work experience (on the job)
If you can demonstrate relevant knowledge, skills and experience that you have gained through work experience, that will help you to be successful in the programme.
Based on discretionary entrance
If you don’t meet any of the above options, and you think you have what it takes to complete this programme, you can apply for discretionary entrance. Your application may be accepted if you can demonstrate a good chance of success. Approval of discretionary entrance applications is decided by the relevant manager. If your application is approved, your acceptance into further programmes relies on you demonstrating success in this programme.
English language requirements
Candidates who have English as a second language are required to have an academic International English Language Test System (IELTS) score of 5.5, with no individual band score lower than 5.0; or equivalent.
To check what you need to gain entry to a course, review the entry criteria available on each programme page. These assist you in understanding what qualifications or experience are typically required to gain entry. You can contact our team at info@wintec.ac.nz or 0800 2 Wintec at any time for further guidance.
Are you ready for your first day of class? Check out your start date and where you need to be. You can also find useful information about studying at Wintec on our welcome page.
Students starting Semester 2 2023
Whānau evening
Date: Monday 17 July 2023
Time: 5pm-6pm
Venue: D1.36, D Block, City Campus
Induction day
Date: Monday 24 July 2023
Time: 9am-3pm
Venue: D1.36, D Block, City Campus
If you are an online student, we welcome and encourage you to attend this induction. If you are unable to attend your induction day, please let us know by email.
The Wintec Prospectus (otherwise known as a course guide) outlines everything you need to know about Wintec. It contains information about the Wintec campuses, student life, and the programmes that are on offer.
Access your copy of the Wintec Prospectus
The Wintec Prospectus (course guide) is available by downloading the file - click on the document below to access the file. Alternatively, to request a copy via email or the post, please complete the form below.
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