Apprenticeship Journey

…to your first apprenticeship newsletter of 2021. This is a regular bi-monthly newsletter for all Careerforce apprentices where we share tips on assessments, relevant information on your apprenticeship training, and news stories to keep you motivated.

If you are new or recently enrolled into a programme, a very warm welcome. We hope you enjoy your apprenticeship journey. We encourage you to join the Apprenticeship Facebook Group to connect with your fellow apprentices.

In this issue, we share some tips so you can really take charge of your apprenticeship journey. We also introduce the Respecting You module for those new into their programmes. We share a story of how your fellow apprentices in Kerikeri are making a difference. If you wish to watch something on Netflix and learn at the same time, check out My Beautiful Broken Brain.

Finally, don’t forget to take the quiz to get a chance to win 1 of 3 $50 prezzy cards!

Here are some tips from our Apprenticeship Advisors on how you can take charge of your apprenticeship journey.

1. Set a target or goal.
How many modules can you realistically complete this year? Careerforce apprenticeships are typically made up of between 13-14 modules, and have an expected duration of 18-24 months. Accordingly, to complete an apprenticeship within this expected duration, you should, on average, be completing 4-5 modules over any six-month period. Discuss what is doable for you with your Advisor.

2. Complete 1 module at a time.
Keep focused by completing all assessments in one module. Reflect on the learnings you got from the module, then start another. You’ll feel a real sense of achievement having a module ticked off. Doing assessment tasks in different modules could be counterproductive.

3. Be active.
Your Apprenticeship Advisors ask that you chip away continuously. Every bit of work, no matter how small, adds up. Allocate half an hour each day to read through your learning resources. Just keep going. Ask your fellow apprentices on the Facebook page how they keep themselves motivated.

4. Be proactive
Do you have a question in mind? Are you feeling stuck? Are you ready for an assessment? Unless you have a pastoral care session or call coming up soon, don’t wait for your Apprenticeship Advisor to get in touch. You are welcome to drop them a line to get some guidance.

5. Rally your supporters
Your apprenticeship journey can be easier if shared with the right people. Find people at work who can, and are willing to support you. Are there more senior colleagues who can become an Observer? Are there peers who may be doing the same programme? Could you perhaps organise to have regular catch ups with your manager so you can get mentoring? Establish and maintain a strong support network to keep you motivated, accountable, and of course to cheer you on.

APP 100 – Respecting You
This is the first module to complete in our apprenticeship programmes. This module has no learning resource and it’s designed to recognise your ability to contribute to a culture of service quality, professionalism and ethical practice. Upon completion of this module, you will get your first 10 credits on the board and achieve unit standard 29455 Contribute to a culture of service quality, professionalism and ethical practice in a health or wellbeing setting.
What you need to do:

Identify an Observer who can attest or sign the assessment. This could be your manager, a colleague, or another professional within your workplace.
Log in to your Aka Toi account and download the Observation and Attestation form found within this module.
Read through the form so you know what is expected of you to demonstrate in order to complete this assessment.
Provide the blank form to your observer and discuss how to go about the assessment process.
Start thinking about specific examples, gather evidence, and written documents that can demonstrate that you

- are responsible for workplace health and safety

- contribute to continuous improvements

- can respond appropriately in certain situations
- act professionally and ethically in your interactions.