Health and Wellbeing Core Skill Standards Approval 

We are pleased to announce that NZQA has approved twelve new Health and Wellbeing Core Skill Standards that will provide transferable, sector-wide skills for use across Health and Wellbeing and Disability programmes.  

Core skill standards 

Skill standard number	Title	Level	Credits
41011	Determine responsibilities of own role in a health and wellbeing setting	2	10
41012	Determine person-centred support needs in a health and wellbeing setting	2	10
41013	Determine culturally appropriate support and communication in a health and wellbeing setting	2	10
41014	Determine practices that maintain safety in a health and wellbeing setting	2	10
41015	Implement professional and ethical behaviour in a health and wellbeing setting	3	10
41016	Apply a person-centred approach to support in a health and wellbeing setting	3	10
41017	Demonstrate culturally appropriate support and communication in a health and wellbeing setting	3	10
41018	Apply practices that maintain safety in a health and wellbeing setting	3	10
41019	Evaluate professional practices in own health and wellbeing role	4	15
41020	Evaluate holistic and person-centred approaches to support in a health and wellbeing setting	4	15
41021	Evaluate culturally responsive and inclusive support practices and communication in a health and wellbeing setting	4	15
41022	Evaluate and promote practices that maintain safety in a health and wellbeing setting	4	15

 

Why were these skill standards developed?

These standards were developed following qualification reviews completed in 2024, which identified that existing qualifications and unit standards no longer fully reflected the diverse roles and changing needs of the Health and Wellbeing sector. 

The project commenced in January 2025 and involved extensive collaboration with industry, providers, and subject matter experts. In particular, we would like to acknowledge the development and review groups for their significant contribution and thank them all for their ongoing support throughout this work. 

The approved Core Skill Standards align with the graduate profile outcomes of Health and Wellbeing qualifications at Levels 2, 3, and 4, and the Disability Support qualification at Level 3.  

What is next? 

• The approved Core Skill Standards will be available on the DASS shortly. 

• Development of role-specific skill standards will continue in 2026 under the new Education, Health, and Community Industry Skills Board, which assumes responsibility for Health and Wellbeing standards and qualifications from 1 January 2026. 

• Guidance notes for programme development will be finalised and published on the Education, Health, and Community Industry Skills Board website in the new year. 

 

For more information click here: 

Health and Wellbeing Skill Standard Development – Toitū te Waiora