Trainee engagement

Learning State

Learning State, the ITO for the Public Sector, worked with members of Ngā Tahu o Te Ao Māori and other key industry stakeholders to develop “He Huarahi Pai: Māori Responsiveness Strategy for Learning State”.

Māori constitute 21% of State sector industry trainees, with Māori making up 17% of all State sector employees.

He Huarahi Pai strategy is based on Māori having access to mentoring and coaching, appropriate learning and development pathways, and pathways for career advancement. For this strategy to succeed, all State sector organisations must have the capability to respond to the needs of their Māori staff and all staff undertaking kaupapa Māori learning.

Learning State is focusing on four intermediate outcomes, targeted in the areas where long-term impacts of He Huarahi Pai are expected to be most evident. These aims are:

• State sector organisations with skilled Māori State servants;
• State sector organisations that support Māori learning and development;
• Māori contributing at all levels of the State sector; and
• Māori achieving learning success.

Learning State has seen successful implementation of this strategy in 2009.

Skills Active Aotearoa

Skills Active Aotearoa provides cultural training to all staff to ensure they have the skills and confidence to engage effectively with Māori on an individual level, and within workplaces.

The ITO has established marae-based pilots in Ngati Porou and Te Tai Tokerau, and will be progressing with further strategies with another two iwi in 2011.

To complement these pilots, Skills Active Aotearoa is working collaboratively with the Te Rautaki collective of ITOs to support further Māori initiatives.

Plastics and Material Processing ITO (PaMPITO)

In September 2010, PaMPITO launched a new Women’s Network, to support and assist women who work in the plastics and materials processing industries with training and development. PaMPITO aims to increase participation and training for women through targeted support mechanisms for trainees undertaking on-job training.

The Women’s Network is supported by the Ministry for Women’s Affairs. The Minister of Women’s Affairs spoke at the Network’s launch in early September 2010.

PaMPITO has also established a Mentors’ Network to provide professional development support to employers who play a role in training and mentoring others. Around 60 members have so far registered for the Mentor’s Network.

PaMPITO has developed resources such as the Online Mentors’ Forum to support mentor/trainee relationships, and to provide professional development opportunities.