Thames Information Sessions | Health and Wellbeing
Become a support worker with our Certificate in Health and Wellbeing. Join us for an information session to find out how you can begin your study journey at our Thames Campus in Semester 1, 2023.
New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Social and Community Services) (Level 4)
New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Social and Community Services) (Level 4) with strands in Mental Health and Addiction Support, Social Services, Community Facilitation, Community Health Work
HS1801
Course details
-
Feb 2023Jul 2023 - Hamilton
- One year
- Full-time
- $2,569*
- You may qualify for fee-free study under Fees Free Policy
- Level 4
- Hamilton City Campus, Online delivery or Thames
Summary
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:
- Mental health and addiction support. Apply mental health and/or addiction tools and strategies when working alongside tangata, family, and whānau to support autonomy, foster hope, and develop resilience.
- Social services. Apply community and social services tools and strategies when working alongside tangata, family, and whānau to support autonomy, identify goals, reduce vulnerability, and build resilience or achieve aspirations.
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, with the remainder of tutorials conducted online. 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.
View programme modules
Group A: Core compulsory modules
| 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
Career/further opportunities
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:
- Residential care
- Youth work
- Family violence support
- Social justice advocacy
- Community development
- Aged care
- Refugee support
- Accessibility/disability support
- Employment, housing, and budget support
- Tamariki ora support
- Wellbeing field officer
- Health and wellbeing mentor
- Mental health and addictions support
Further study opportunities
Graduates of this programme may go on to degree-level study including:
Frequently asked questions
How much time outside of class will I need to spend on study?
In addition to class time and online tutor directed learning, students are also need to complete independent learning – in total the mix of study time will add up to about 40 hours per week
Who is this certificate best suited to?
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.
What is the benefit of having this certificate?
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.
What is the difference between this certificate and the Te Are Pūtake pathway?
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.
Can I work and study at the same time?
As a full-time course of about 40 hours, we recommend that those in full-time employment study part-time. Students then can take up to two years to complete the programme.
What are the criteria for being an online student?
The programme can be undertaken online for those already employed in a healthcare support role with appropriate placement.
What is a practicum?
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.
What support will I have before and during practicum?
We will assist students in finding a placement by helping create a profile, CV and cover letters, preparing for interviews and locating appropriate organisations for students to contact. In addition, throughout the placement, the Wintec Practicum Kaitiaki will liaise with the student and the Agency Liaison to ensure students are achieving their learning goals.
How are practicums organised?
Students must be proactive about finding a suitable placement and can begin this process as soon as their application is accepted. All placements must be approved by the Practicum Kaitiaki and a contract agreement signed by each party (Wintec, student, and agency), prior to starting placement.
Who pays for costs associated with practicum?
The student must meet costs related to transport and any accommodation that the agency does not generally cover for its employees. The agency is expected to provide the student with routine resources required to complete tasks agreed to be undertaken during placement.
What happens if I am already working in the field?
The primary objective of placement is to provide work experience that assists the integration of the knowledge gained during the course and to create future career opportunities. If this can occur in the current workplace with recognition by the agency of the student’s needs and role, then it may be an appropriate placement. This would need to be discussed and determined with the Practicum Kaitiaki and Agency Liaison.
Placements
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.
Events
Disclaimers
Entry criteria
You can apply for this programme if you meet one or more of the below options.
Based on your school achievement (secondary study)
- 40 credits at NCEA Level 1; including 10 literacy credits and 10 numeracy credits;
- Or a recognised equivalent.
Based on study completed after school (tertiary study)
- A relevant course at NZQF Level 2;
- Or a recognised equivalent.
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.
Want to see full details of the entry criteria?
Don't meet the entry criteria?
Pathways
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.
Your first day
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 1 2023
Whānau evening
Date: To be confirmed
Time: 5pm-6pm
Venue: The Long Room, City Campus
Induction day
Date: Thursday 16 February 2023
Time: 8.30am-4pm
Venue: Events Room 1, City Campus
Students starting Semester 2 2023
Whānau evening
Date: To be confirmed
Time: 5pm-6pm
Venue: The Long Room, City Campus
Induction day
Date: Monday 24 July 2023
Time: 8.30am-4pm
Venue: To be confirmed City Campus
If you are an online student, we welcome and encourage you to attend this induction. If you are studying in Thames, we will contact you about your induction at the Thames Campus closer to your start date. If you are unable to attend your induction day, please let us know by email.
Prospectus (course guide)
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.
Request an emailable or printed copy of the Prospectus
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