Career Hauora Pilot
Career Hauora delivery of pre-prepared lessons by 80 subject teachers was first undertaken in COVID-interrupted-2022. This occurred across Hillcrest High’s 1720 students, school-wide, during form/hauora time. Despite it being an extremely disrupted year, students reported a 22% improvement in their Career Wellbeing as a result of the programme. This initiative, supported by local industry and employer experiences, has continued into its second year in 2023 at Hillcrest and further rolled out into a rural secondary school; Paeroa College, a high population Māori school; Fraser High, and a youth development organisation; Blue Light.
Participants in Pilot 2022-2023
- 2200 students/youth
- 85 educators
- 3 Waikato Secondary Schools
- 1 Youth Development organisation
- 20 + businesses
Co-created with feedback and input from:
- Secondary School staff and students (especially Hillcrest High School)
- Ministry of Education
- Waikato Wellbeing Project
- Career Development Association New Zealand (CDANZ)
- Mayor’s Task Force for Jobs
- Careers and Tertiary Educators
- Employers
- Ministry of Social Development
- Tertiary Educators
Written by leading NZ Career Practitioners
- Linda Nelson Caie, HR Expert
- Nicola Foote, Careers and Pathways Advisor
- Claire Oehley, Compass Careers
- Gabrielle Riley, Career Talk
- Heather Lowery-Kappes, Career Journey NZ
Watch our Video
Career Hauora delivers the following significant benefits
Greater retention of students at school, leading to lower NEET rates, higher achievement and better transitions into work and training.
Development and promotion of entry-level work opportunities and tertiary education training pathways.
Fosters strong local schooling, tertiary and employer connections to develop skills pipelines supporting future local labour market needs.
Positively affects rangatahi wellbeing through earlier intervention, supporting career pathways in schools.
Economic Impact
Alongside the much needed improvement in wellbeing that Career Hauora gives to our rangatahi, it also positively impacts economic development. Through Career Hauora, young people are better informed about local industries, they are more work ready, their career and study aspirations are raised and ultimately their career decisions are better aligned to growth industries. Local employers are invited to connect with schools and students, enabling real education and employment pathways. Career Hauora is scaleable as resources can be utilised nationwide across all secondary schools, all teachers and all year levels, as well as all youth organisations.