Health and Wellbeing Qualifications Review

A comprehensive review

Toitū te Waiora is doing a comprehensive review of eight qualifications in 2024. As the qualification developer, we want to ensure the qualifications are fit-for-purpose for the sector – and that graduates can meet the requirements of the Health and Wellbeing workforce.   

Our engagement with our sector has highlighted the need to take a combined approach. Reviewing the qualifications together will ensure a big picture view and an aligned approach to the engagement process to address gaps in qualification pathways. 

Latest updates

Toitū te Waiora recently closed its public consultation for the Level 2 and Level 3 New Zealand Certificates in Health and Wellbeing. We received 61 responses to the proposals we made in July 24. Thank you to all those who provided valuable input, your feedback has been instrumental in determining our next steps.   

New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Level 2) [Ref: 2469]  

We consider that this qualification remains fit-for-purpose. Therefore, we are not proposing any major changes to it. However, we asked whether you agreed with the proposed minor wording changes to the Level 2 qualification document.  

13 (72%) agreed with the proposed changes, 5 (28%) disagreed.  

In response to this feedback, we have strengthened the programme conditions to include cultural responsiveness, safety and accessibility for all learners. For providers delivering programmes in disability support work they must focus on the social model of disability. 

We also asked for your feedback on the programme developer guidance document to support the Level 2 qualification.  

10 (62%) agreed with the proposed Level 2 guidance document content, 6 (38%) disagreed.  

In response to feedback the following changes have been made to the guidance document:  

• Inclusion of additional relevant legislation.   

• An amendment to the unit standard table for programmes to include unit standards 23452 and 23686 as core components.   

• An amendment to direct to the social model of disability, rather than health.  

Next steps for Level 2 

• Tracked change and ‘clean’ versions of the qualification are attached below. Please make any comments about the revisions to us by Monday 30 September ([email protected]). 

Health & Wellbeing (L2) [2469] Tracked Changes

Health & Wellbeing (L2) [2469] Clean

• Revised qualification documents will be submitted to NZQA for approval.  

• Programme guidance documents will be published on our website www.toitutewaiora.nz.  

New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Level 3) with strands in Healthcare Assistance; Integrated Practice (Family and Whānau Harm); Newborn Hearing Screening; Orderly Services; Support Work; Vision Hearing Screening; and Whānau, Kin and Foster Care [Ref: 2470]  

Based on consultation with the sector we proposed two potential options for the future of the Level 3 qualification and sought your feedback. Individuals from 59 organisations responded. Respondents agreed that there is a need to improve the relevance of the qualifications to the workplace environment. The addition of new strands was also desired. There was also recognition about the commonality of core competencies across job roles. 
 

Option 1, development of new strands within the one qualification – feedback  

21 respondents (36%) preferred Option 1  

• They believed that it was simpler, less confusing for learners and industry and allowed for flexibility between roles.  

• Tertiary Education Organisations were in favour of Option 1 because they considered it to be more manageable and cost-effective to cover a range of core subjects rather than a wide range of specialisations.   

Option 2, development of additional qualifications – feedback  

Option 2 proposed splitting the existing qualification into three, with the existing qualification concentrating on the Home and Community Support and Aged Residential Care sectors, and two new qualifications concentrating respectively on Health and Hospital Support Services and Disability Support. 38 (64%) respondents agreed with Option 2. 

• Those in favour of this option considered the structure better matched roles and environments and would allow content to be more targeted. For example, we received a range of feedback that current programmes of study were better suited for aged residential care workers than they were for a hospital-based Healthcare Assistants.  
   

• We received support from the disability sector for the development of new qualifications at Levels 3 and 4. The sector’s primary desire was for disability support work to focus on the social model of wellbeing rather than be viewed simply as an adjunct of health and wellbeing.  

• This option was felt to provide clearer pathways for those working in the sector and employers would be better able to identify a potential employee’s skills.  

• This option would allow for more specialised content to be included and better represented the hospital setting.  

• Respondents who favoured this option considered it would improve the patient experience as learning would be developed within the specialised context of the roles.  

Next steps for level 3 

• The qualification document has been revised, and we are removing two strands which have never been used – Integrated Practice (Family and Whānau Harm) and Whānau, Kin and Foster Care. 

• We are not proposing to make any major changes to the qualification at this stage.  

• Tracked and ‘clean’ versions of the qualification are attached below. Please make any comments about the revisions to us by Monday 30 September ([email protected]). 

Health and Wellbeing (L3) [2470] Tracked Changes

Health and Wellbeing (L3) [2470] Clean

• In relation to splitting the existing qualification into two (including the existing New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing and the proposed New Zealand Certificate in Health and Hospital Support Services), we need to engage in further consultation to better understand the needs of different specialised roles prior to making a final decision. 

• Further consultation will be undertaken in 2024-2025, and we expect to be able to make a decision on splitting the qualification no later than April 2026.  
• We will develop two new Disability Support qualifications at Levels 3 and 4 and accompanying skill standards and hope to have them listed in 2025.  

What’s next? 

Consultation on the Level 4 qualifications is continuing, and we will have further information to share with you in the coming weeks. 

Working collaboratively  

We still need your support. 

Guidance from sector stakeholders, providers, Māori, and other groups like Pacific and tangata whaikaha, is crucial. By reviewing these qualifications together and working closely with the sector, we aim to ensure any changes address gaps in the pathways and provide scaffolded learning opportunities.  

We want to make sure we include the voice of sector, industry, learners, providers, iwi and other key stakeholders in the review. There are a few ways you can participate: 

• Receive project updates 
• Join a consultation, or  
• Have a one-on-one kōrero with our team 

Consultation groups will ensure we have representation and insight across different specialist areas of the sector. Current providers will work with us to identify any areas for improvement for qualifications and we will also work alongside industry to identify gaps in the workforce and priorities for the sector. 

More information

Contact the team on [email protected] 

For information on how we are engaging with Māori and Pacific contact Wayne or Maikali on:

• Wayne Glen, Industry Engagement Lead Māori: [email protected]
• Maikali Kilioni, Industry Engagement Lead Pacific: [email protected]