New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Social and Community Services) (Level 4)

Admission and Entry

• Candidates can gain entry to this programme by meeting one of the following criteria:
  • Based on NZ high school achievement (secondary school study):
    • 40 credits at NCEA Level 1 including 10 Literacy credits and 10 Numeracy credits; or
    • a recognised equivalent; or
• Based on study completed at a NZ tertiary institution
  • A relevant qualification at NZQF Level 3; or
  • A recognised equivalent qualification; or
  • Equivalent knowledge, skills and experience
• Based on Discretionary Entrance
  • Applicants who do not meet any of the entry options stated above, and think they have what it takes to complete this programme, can apply for ‘Discretionary Entrance’. The application is based on the applicant’s ability to demonstrate a likelihood to succeed in the programme. The decision is at the discretion of the Head of School/Centre Director or their delegate.  The ability to progress into further study depends on how successful the applicant is within the programme they apply and are accepted into under ‘Discretionary Entrance’.

Selection Criteria

• All candidates are required to:
  • complete the standard Toi Ohomai application form
  • complete a self-declaration of criminal convictions
  • complete a self-declaration of mental or physical condition

Candidates may also be required to provide additional information and/or attend an interview in order for their application to be assessed.

• Candidates for the online cohort are required to be working (paid or voluntarily) for at least 12 hours a week in a health or wellbeing organisation.
• Employees and volunteers working in the health and wellbeing sectors are required to undergo initial and ongoing checks to ensure they are a fit and proper person to provide support and are required to undergo the following checks:
  • Police checks
  • Two references
  • Checks against Children’s Act 2014
  • Checks against any other relevant legislation.
• Candidates are required to disclose whether they have been convicted of a criminal offence and police vetting will be carried out on all candidates. By signing the police vetting form candidates are consenting to the police vetting process being carried out. Candidates should be aware that some types of criminal conviction may limit their ability to secure practicum placements, and thus to complete the programme requirements. When determining whether an applicant’s criminal convictions impact on their ability to meet the requirements of the practicum component, the “severity, recency, age at offending and pattern of offending are taken into consideration”. Persons who are convicted of ‘specified offences’ will not be accepted onto any programme that requires that Person to work in an organisation providing a regulated service.

Applicants must declare any pending or new convictions arising at any stage throughout the entire enrolment period. A conviction or failure to declare a conviction may also result in the student being immediately withdrawn from the programme.  

Any unsatisfactory result arising from the full safety checking process may result in the candidate being declined entry or withdrawn from the programme of study.  

• Candidates are required in their applications to indicate whether they have had a physical or mental condition that is likely to impact on their participation on the programme. Candidates should be aware that some types of physical or mental conditions may prevent them from participating in elements of the programme or in the candidate being declined entry or withdrawn from the programme of study.