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Enrolled nursing training fees will be free for eligible students next year.
Future deaf teacher aides, nurses, conservation workers, and other helpers received an early Christmas gift – they might be eligible for free training next year.
The Government has expanded its Specific Learning and Training Fund to include three new areas of study: information technology, conservation work, and community support.
The fund was introduced in June as part of its economic response to Covid-19, eliminating fees for apprenticeships and various other courses at a sub-grade level.
Community support included registered nurses who worked in community health, cleaning and support for people with disabilities, such as teacher aides and sign language teachers, mental health and addiction support workers, and youth workers.
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“The target areas are industries where employer demand will remain strong, or is expected to grow, during New Zealand’s recovery from the impacts of Covid-19,” said Gillian Dudgeon, Commission’s Deputy Executive Director for Service Delivery Tertiary Education.
Chris McKeen / Stuff
Education Minister Chris Hipkins enjoys morning tea with teacher aides at Papatoetoe North School after all teachers received a substantial pay increase recently. Some of the new ones will be able to train for free.
The information technology included certificates in cybersecurity or web development, the commission said.
The conservation included training in freshwater management, biodiversity and biosecurity that supports the Jobs for Nature initiative.
A spokesperson said it was unclear if all courses in these areas would be eligible for funding.
Whitireia and Weltec CEO Mark Oldershaw said it was a really positive move and something that organizations had been pushing for, especially in the healthcare arena.
Organizations had seen an increase in enrollment for programs that had already been included in the fund, such as construction.
Overall, national registrations increased by 50 to 60 percent compared to the same period last year.
Training institutes have reported an increase in enrollment as people face Covid-19-related layoffs.
Currently, the fund covers a range of training for primary industries, construction and trades, manufacturing and mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and trucking, as well as some care jobs.
The construction industry has also seen an increase in enrollment, with 5,700 people taking new apprenticeships between July and early October, more than double the 2,200 switching to trades in the same period in 2019.
