6 May 2010

Twelve Pact Otago staff celebrated completion of a new intellectual disability qualification at the Pact office in April, alongside a staff member marking completion of a post-graduate diploma.

Last year was the first year Pact offered the National Certificate in Community Support Services (Level 3) to our staff who support clients with an intellectual disability. We are supplied with materials from industry training organisation CareerForce, but we deliver and assess the course at no cost to staff.

Pact CEO Louise Carr told those gathered for the graduation that completing the certificate was a great achievement. She said it is a qualification that can stretch people, as well as confirm what they had already learned in the course of their work.

"I think this qualification is particularly welcome to our sector because at last it gives some recognition of prior learning, which you guys certainly have in droves. I also hope there was something in the course that extended you or made you think differently."

Louise said the great uptake of the certificate confirmed to her that Pact is a learning organisation and that helped people stay vitalised and committed to their work.

"And of course it benefits the people we support with intellectual disability. This qualification at last recognises the place that people with an intellectual disability have within our community and that’s been a long time coming."

She says it also augurs well for the sector that the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) recognises work in disability as a viable career opportunity for people. She hopes it’s a career choice younger people may make in future.

"All of you can be mentors for them as they come through the sector and help them learn. One of the things we lost in the sector with the closure of institutions was a huge amount of institutional knowledge and experience.

"This qualification is really vital in retaining some of the knowledge that we all need. Although we support people who are individuals and all have individual needs, it’s imperative to have a knowledge of their disability and how it affects them and how they learn and behave ."

She said the qualifications can give people a lot of self confidence and self-esteem.

"It doesn’t matter how old you are, you still attain educational qualifications. And these are well-recognised."

Pact educator/clinician Katie Wilsher was thanked by those attending for her work. Katie said she loved running the CareerForce sessions and assessing people.

"I’ve learned a lot from it myself. It’s extended me."

Katie said NZQA is working on Level 4 and 5 qualifications, which will be introduced either this year or the next.

Pact Otago community support, outreach and rural manager Korozaan Fourie encouraged people to continue on with study.

"You can turn around and say, yes I did it.... That’s something you can feel proud of."

Clinician educator Matthew Peppercorn said it was good people could get credit for what they already knew.

"It gives the qualification a lot of weight – you can take it with you and be proud of it. And of course at the end of the day it’s the people we support who benefit as well."

Louise also congratulated Pip Stewart for attaining her post-graduate Diploma in Social Work through the University of Otago.

"That’s a great achievement."