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Marian's story

Maunga Pohatu te Maunga
Mataatua te Waka
Toroa te Rangatira
Roroa te Marae
Hamua te Hapu
Tuhoe te Iwi

As a Work and Income client, 55 year old Marian Ellis had to be extremely careful budgeting her money to make ends meet.  “I had been on a benefit for 15 years, the last three of which was the Women Alone Benefit”, Marian explains.  “I got paid on a Tuesday and the money was all gone by Wednesday.  There was no room for any other bills what so ever”.

Marian was born in the Bay of Plenty and trained as a Registered Nurse when she left school.  She now lives in Whangarei.  At her yearly review her Work and Income Case Manager mentioned that there was a Healthcare Assistant course being held in Whangarei and suggested that Marian give it a go.

 “I often ask my clients what it is they used to do for work and what they liked doing”, the Case Manager said.  “Marian mentioned she had been a Nurse but that she wasn’t keen to work in a hospital anymore.  I knew there was plenty of opportunity in the community for people with her skills.”

Work and Income’s Industry Partnerships scheme provides a platform for initiatives that are demand-driven and supported by various government and non-government agencies.  The Healthcare Assistants programme is one of those initiatives.  The eight week pre-employment programme delivered by Multiskill, is facilitated within the national qualifications framework.

There is large demand for home-based healthcare assistants as well as residential home caregivers and is the largest unfilled job vacancy after sales assistant in Whangarei and throughout Northland.

The number of healthcare assistants employed in the Northland region is expected to increase steadily over the next three to five years. The population of the region is ageing and more people are choosing home-based care or moving to community care houses, increasing home healthcare assistant job numbers.

Marian completed the programme with flying colours. With a Level 2 Certificate under her belt Marian is now studying level 3.  “I got an interview with a healthcare provider not long after completing the course and guess what – I got the job!” Marian exclaims.  Four months later I often say to myself and others “why didn’t I do this years ago?”

There have been big changes in Marian’s household.  More money means lots more choice.  “I can now help my family more, especially my mokopuna”, Marian said.  “I owe a great deal to my Case Manager for opening the door and my Tutor who assisted me greatly, especially in getting my confidence back.”