Sharon Hope is a support worker with HealthCare NZ. She has been working with us for 7 and a half years and has another 23 years' experience working with older people in rest homes.

Training has always been something that Sharon has felt is important, and she has been quick to take up the training opportunities on offer.

“I feel very strongly that if you aren’t up with the play, you can’t do a decent job. Ideas change about how you do things in your day-to-day work, and I think it’s important that you know that you’re always providing the best care for a client.

“Since I’ve been with Healthcare, I’ve completed my NZQA Level 2 and Level 3 training. It was daunting going back to the classroom, but I found the course really practical. The tutors were really good; they talked to the group at our level and respected the experience we already had.

“My manager was really supportive, and because of the training I’ve had, my work now includes a lot of high-needs clients. I’m now doing more than personal care and household management, and I really love it. I feel I’m really helping someone to stay in their own home and live their life.

“I would encourage anyone who is thinking about doing training to go for it. You’re never too old to learn or to do new things!”

Mel Walley works for NZCare and was part of the recognition of current competency project that assessed her existing skills and abilities against the NZQA standards for Level 3.

“When I first agreed to do Level 3, I had no idea of the sense of achievement and satisfaction that I’d feel after completing the qualification,” says Mel.

“Answering the questions made me really think more deeply about the work I do and why I’m doing it.”

“Because of this, my qualification has really benefited the people I support. It has made me more involved with clients and helped me to better support them to do what they want to do.

“I’ve learnt a lot from it, and I’m really pleased that I stuck with it.”