Commenting on the transition plans for Community Support Services ITO (t/a Careerforce) and Skills Active Aotearoa, TEC Deputy Chief Executive – Delivery Gillian Dudgeon said: “We are delighted that two further TITOs have submitted plans that show their commitment to the reform of vocational education and training for the benefit of learners and employers, and the whole of New Zealand.

“A lot of work has gone into progressing these transitions and credit is due to those who worked tirelessly to achieve this.”

Community Support Services ITO (t/a Careerforce)

The TEC Board has formally approved the Community Support Services ITO’s plan to transition its arranging training functions to Te Pūkenga Work Based Learning (Te Pūkenga WBL) where it will operate as the Careerforce business division.  

Careerforce supports workplace-based training, enabling employees to achieve nationally recognised qualifications, and deliver superior outcomes across the health and wellbeing sectors. It works across the aged residential care, disability support, home and community support, healthcare services, mental health and addiction, social services, youthwork, cleaning, and urban pest management sectors.

Careerforce has developed and supports the delivery of over 40 training programmes (Levels 2-7), across both traineeships and apprenticeships. Over 2021, it supported a record number of 19,541 learners and worked across a record number of 2,042 employer worksites. It employs over 150 staff, including a nationally distributed field team supporting its employers and learners.

All arranging training functions, learners and employees, and current staff, programmes, systems and processes will transition to Te Pūkenga WBL on 1 September 2022.

Responsibility for most of its qualifications development, moderation, consent to assess, and programme endorsement moved to Toitū te Waiora and Ringa Hora Workforce Development Councils in October 2021.

Careerforce Chief Executive Jane Wenman said the approval of the transition plan represents the culmination of significant work since the reform was first announced back in February 2019, and since the formation of Te Pūkenga in April 2020. “This TEC decision provides greater certainty for our employers, learners and staff, and our focus now shifts to ensuring as seamless a transition as possible into Te Pūkenga WBL on 1 September.  Our employers and learners are already under immense pressure due to ongoing systemic workforce shortages combined with the impacts of Covid-19 across the health and wellbeing sector, and it is critical that we minimise any further disruption.”

Toby Beaglehole, Chief Executive Te Pūkenga Work Based Learning Limited, says the organisation is excited to formally welcome Careerforce into the Work Based Learning whānau in September. “Careerforce supports a wide range of industries, particularly in the health and wellbeing sector, and they will be a great asset to our growing organisation.”

Skills Active Aotearoa

The TEC Board has agreed in principle to Skills Active Aotearoa’s plan to transition to its Arranging Training to Skills Active Te Mahi Ako (Te Mahi Ako). The Board recognises that, as an aspiring private training establishment (PTE), Te Mahi Ako needs to meet relevant regulatory requirements so that final TEC Board approval to the transition plan can be given.

Skills Active supports te ahumahi ā-rēhia – the active recreation, leisure and entertainment sector, which includes the following industries: exercise, outdoor recreation, community recreation, aquatics, sport, entertainment and events, and snowsport. Skills Active maintains over 50 training programmes. It supports about 5,000 learners and 1,700 employers, and employs 50 staff. 

Skills Active plans to transfer all of its arranging training functions and learners to new private training establishment Te Mahi Ako on 1 October 2022. All staff will be transitioned either to Te Mahi Ako, or to new roles within the Skills Active Group. Responsibility for most of its qualifications development, moderation, consent to assess, and programme endorsement moved to the Workforce Development Council Toi Mai on 4 October 2021. 

"This follows more than two years of engagement and development to bring Te Mahi Ako into being," says Skills Active chief operating officer Maren Frerichs. "We have been building the foundations of a new organisation that will strengthen vocational education for and maintain a total commitment to its learners and sectors.

"It has been a huge piece of mahi by our team and we couldn't be more proud. Most of all we are excited for what this means for te ahumahi ā-rēhia – our active recreation, entertainment and leisure sectors. They will continue to have a dedicated provider to champion their workforce, and the huge contribution they make to health and wellbeing in Kiwi communities."