Farah Ali, Facility Nurse Manager at Catherine Lodge, has long partnered with NZSE College, impressed by the quality of learners undertaking work placements at the retirement home. When NZSE introduced its work-based learning programme — the New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Advanced Care and Support) (Level 4) — Ali welcomed the opportunity to upskill her staff while they remained working in their roles. .
Her primary goal was to build confidence within her team and encourage them to think beyond the immediacy of day-to-day tasks..
“I think aged care is quite a unique sector,” says Ali. “We come in and we can become so task-focused. We can become quite enmeshed in the routine, and we forget about why we’re doing what we’re doing..
“Without that understanding of each task, our work can lose purpose. NZSE’s Learn & Earn programme really opened up opportunities for me and my staff to bridge that gap between knowledge and their practice.” .
Two healthcare assistants at Catherine Lodge, Majorie and Merrydel, took on the challenge to gain their Level 4 qualification. Ali says that when they first arrived at the retirement home, both were reserved and hesitant in their roles. Over time, however, Ali has witnessed a clear transformation.
“I have noticed them really flourish,” she says. “They’re asking thoughtful questions, digging deeper into the ‘why’ behind our processes, and advocating for both themselves and their residents.”
That shift has extended beyond day-to-day care. In staff meetings, Majorie and Merrydel now contribute ideas, raise concerns, and engage more confidently with their colleagues — a change Ali attributes directly to the knowledge and confidence gained through their studies.
Designed specifically for those working in healthcare, the Level 4 qualification supports professionals to deepen their expertise in caring for people with advanced and complex needs. Delivered through a work-based model, the programme allows learners to build skills while remaining in their roles, ensuring no disruption to staffing with immediate application of new knowledge in practice being applied on the floor.
Beyond technical care, the qualification also fosters leadership and mentoring capabilities, equipping staff to take on greater responsibility within their teams.
“This qualification definitely opens up a lot of doors for healthcare workers,” Ali says. “It provides scope for becoming a leader, to support your colleagues and the facility.”
For employers like Ali, the value is clear — not only in improved capability, but in the confidence and readiness of staff entering or progressing within the workforce.
“If I’m interviewing someone, and they don’t have any experience in caregiving or in aged care, but they have gone to NZSE, I would definitely be leaning towards the person that has done their qualification,” she explains. “They already have a foundation of knowledge and understanding of what this workforce is all about. They won’t approach situations with intimidation or fear — they will be prepared to do the work.”
