We’re excited to bring you the latest updates, insights, and stories from our journey towards building a skilled, and qualified workforce in Aotearoa New Zealand, across the health, education, community and social sectors. Thank you for being a part of our workforce community. Each edition will keep you informed about our programmes, initiatives, and events, as well as share resources to help you either as a provider or a person interested in the work we do.
Toitū te Waiora has had another busy month delivering on our work programme, while continuing to work on our transition planning to the new Health and Community Industry Skills Board (ISB) on 1 January 2026.
It has been announced today that the new Establishment Advisory Group (EAG) members have been appointed for this ISB.
Jen Pelvin is the Chair and Tamati Shepherd-Wipiti and Orquidea Tamayo Mortera. All EAG members had an induction late last month. You can read more about the role of EAGs on the Tertiary Education Commission’s website.
We will begin working with these members shortly, supporting them however we can, to ensure a smooth transition and to make sure the ISB is set up for success from day one.
It’s expected these members will transition across to form part of the membership of the new ISB boards.
On the qualification development front, we are delighted that NZQA has approved 34 new skill standards and 45 expiring unit standards in Civil Defence and Emergency Management.
This follows a huge amount of work by our qualifications development team over several months. Thanks to those of you who were involved in this project or provided valuable feedback during the review process in May this year. You can read more below.
If we receive any further updates from the TEC before our next newsletter in September, we will be back in touch with you.
Ngā mihi Sean McKinley Chief Executive
These proposed skill standards are now ready for national review and feedback. They have been developed in partnership with the disability community, service providers and the wider sector. The work is part of our commitment to ensuring vocational qualifications are responsive to the aspirations of disabled people, tāngata whaikaha Māori and the workforce that supports them. Read more here.
The Toitū te Waiora team, alongside subject matter experts from across the health and wellbeing sector, has been working to develop a new set of health and wellbeing core skill standards across Levels 2, 3 and 4. These standards are designed to be transferable across roles and settings, supporting a more flexible workforce.
The draft standards are now being finalised and will be going out for National Consultation very shortly so watch this space. We are incredibly grateful for the dedication of the development and review groups who have brought us to this point.
We are seeking input from all parts of the sector. We hope you’ll share your thoughts on the draft standards — your feedback is essential to ensuring they reflect the needs of the diverse workforces using the Health and Wellbeing qualifications.
Published our draft outcomes from the 2025 national consultation on the first aid unit standard review. You can read a summary of the consultation outcomes and review the draft skill standards and micro-credentials here. Feedback is open until Tuesday 12 August.
Toitū te Waiora has reached a milestone in its review of CDEM standards gaining NZQA approval for 34 skill standards.
The team worked with the emergency management sector during 2024 to identify the knowledge and skill required for multiple sector roles. Development of the skill standards took place in 2024 in consultation with specialist groups: CDEM foundations, treaty partnership, rescue, welfare, recovery, CIMS and response leadership.
During this process, relevant unit standards were updated to skill standards and new skill standards were developed. Wider consultation on these skill standards was sought through the Toitū te Waiora website in December 2024 and subsequent revisions were made early 2025.
We are pleased to share a recently-released position paper on behalf of the Social Work Alliance. Developed by sector leaders including Toitū te Waiora kaimahi, it provides an internal view of the key challenges faced across the social work profession. There are eight priorities for action, which could strengthen the workforce and improve services to whānau and communities across Aotearoa New Zealand. Read the position paper here.
A reminder to providers about key NZQA submission timeframes. The last submission date for programme endorsement and micro-credential support is Friday 29 August if you need to meet the NZQA annual close off date in October. You can find all of the information and key dates on our website.
The second round for the fund opens from 12 August until 12 September. There is about $15m to spend down over three years to benefit the following workforces: aged support, cleaning, disability support, home and community health services, mental health and addiction support, social services, urban pest management and youth work.
The purpose of the fund is supporting innovation in workforce development and demonstrating the value of strategic investment.
Organisations within the above industries that can effect positive change at significant scale are encouraged to find out more. The fund agreed to support six projects in its first round and you can read about them here.
You can stay up to date with our current and future qualifications work programme on our website.
