Specialise in mental health and addiction support
Study health and wellbeing
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Duration and study methods
Full-time for 1 year (34 teaching weeks)
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Start dates
February, July
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Qualification
New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Social and Community Services) (Level 4) with strand in Mental Health and Addiction SupportProgramme code: NZ2992 -
Credits
120 -
Locations
MIT Manukau
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Domestic fees
$7,700 (approx.)
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International fees
Not available to international students
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Free* study
Explore the free options available for this programme, and check your eligibility:
Programme highlights
Make a real difference to the health and wellbeing of the people in your community and get a career in an essential industry.
This health qualification empowers you to learn the skills and knowledge you will need to help people access mental health services.
This entry-level qualification is the best place to start if you want to develop a career supporting the health and wellbeing of others.
Specialising as a mental health and addiction support worker, this qualification allows you to work alongside people, family and whanau. Learn how to support independence of our people, family and whānau by using relevant teaching tools and strategies to foster hope, support recovery and build resilience.
This qualification includes a minimum of 200 hours of work experience.
Entry requirements
General
- Be 17 years of age or older.
English language entry requirements
Applicants must have sufficient competence in the English language to undertake this programme which is taught and assessed in English. Any applicant whose first language is not English will be required to provide evidence of their English language competency NZQF Programme and Accreditation Rules.
Regulations
Employees and volunteers working in the health and wellbeing sectors are required to undergo initial and ongoing checks to ensure they are a fit and proper person to provide support.
To establish a fit and proper person, checks will be required and, depending on the context they work in, may include:
- Police checks
- Drug and alcohol testing
- Two references
- Checks against Children's Act 2014
- Checks against any other relevant legislation.
Interviews
Applicants must attend an interview to determine their suitability for the programme. During the interview the applicant will be assessed against the requirements of the School’s policy for students accessing placements in the health context in terms of their suitability for placement in the programme. At interview the suitability of students to work with vulnerable populations will also be addressed to establish the students’ suitability. Vulnerable Children’s Act will also be addressed during the interview process.
Special & discretionary admission
Any ākonga who is 20 years of age or older and has not reached the general admission requirements for their intended programme is eligible for Special Admission. Te Pūkenga works with the ākonga to ensure they are prepared for their intended programme. Any ākonga who is not yet 20 years of age and has not reached the general admission requirements for their intended programme may be eligible for Discretionary Admission. In assessing whether to grant Discretionary Admission, the delegated authority focuses on the applicant’s level of preparedness for their intended programme.
Give yourself credit with Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
Did you know you can use the knowledge and experience you already have to your advantage?
Your previous work experience and on-the-job skills, volunteering, professional development, and other providers’ qualifications can be recognised as prior learning, matched against credits in our courses, and put towards your qualification – potentially saving you money and possibly helping you to complete your qualification faster Learn more.
Programme structure
Within the first three weeks of commencing your programme, you will need to show evidence of your immunisation status (which will incur a cost) in order to enable you to go out to your practicum placement.
You will need to complete five compulsory courses and four elective courses from your strand (120 credits):
Compulsory courses
721.405 Effective communication (15 credits)
This course will allow you to develop communication styles which respect socio-cultural identity and self-knowledge about other cultural identities.
721.406 Cultural diversity (10 credits)
You will demonstrate an understanding of cultural safety in acknowledging the role of Māori as Tangata Whenua.
721.407 NZ healthcare system (15 credits)
You will demonstrate an understanding of the NZ Healthcare System and relevant legislation.
721.408 Professional practice in the role as a support worker (15 credits)
This course will allow you to demonstrate professionalism in the health and wellbeing setting.
721.409 Safety and quality within the healthcare setting (15 credits)
You will contribute to gaining an understanding of safety and quality within a healthcare setting.
Mental health and addiction support strand
724.409 Recovery in the context of mental health support work (10 credits)
This course will allow you to gain awareness and understanding of the principles and barriers to recovery in the mental health and addiction setting.
725.406 Mental health and wellness (10 credits)
You will gain an understanding of mental health and wellness in the New Zealand context.
725.407 The role of the mental health support worker (15 credits)
You will gain awareness and understanding of the mental health and addiction work setting and role of own self in a practice setting.
725.408 Experiencing the mental health setting (15 credits)
This course will allow you to gain a practical experience of working in the mental health and addiction work setting.
Do you want to study a single course, without enrolling into the full programme?
Courses within some of our programmes may be offered as an individual Certificate of Proficiency (COP). Programme entry requirements and course fees apply. For more information, please speak to our friendly Ask Me! team.
Further training or study
The qualification may lead to further study at Level 5, or bachelor's degrees in related health and wellbeing subject areas. It may also lead into leadership and management roles.
- New Zealand Certificate in Public Health and Health Promotion (Level 5)
- Bachelor of Applied Counselling (Level 7)
- Bachelor of Applied Social Work (Level 7)
Career opportunities
Mental health and addiction support worker, and peer support worker. For potential salaries visit careers.govt.nz.
“Before studying I was a secondary school student at Rosehill College. I had heard a lot about MIT, and everyone seemed so happy and excited about studying there. After I had enrolled, I went to the orientation which was very informative, and they talked a lot about the support they provide which made me feel relieved to start studying at MIT.
I really enjoy how friendly the people and staff are. The support I get at MIT is really unique and there are multiple different support people you can ask for help from. The work can sometimes be challenging but to overcome this I just email my lecturer questions or anything I need help with, and they make it really clear to understand. I manage to fit in at least an hour of studying a day to keep up with my course so that I can also make time for myself and my family.
Once I finish my programme in health and wellbeing I’m planning to pursue my goal of becoming a psychologist. I’ve had a passion for the health field ever since I was a child. I wanted to become a doctor but as I grew older, I decided I wanted to become a psychologist and I figured that this mental health course would be the best one to help me get started.
If you’re considering it – just go for it. It doesn't take long to apply, and the field is very informative and helpful and influences everyday life.”
Brooke Harper
MIT student
"I’ve chosen to study health and wellbeing at MIT as at this stage in my life I wanted to be working in a job that made a difference to peoples’ lives in a meaningful way. After some time to reflect and evaluate what was involved with a healthcare assistant role it felt like a good fit for me.
The programme is delivered at MIT Manukau and it’s a pretty cool campus with wonderful helpful staff. I really enjoy its familiar and family kind of atmosphere. All the students and staff have been so friendly and welcoming.
I really appreciate that as an older student coming into this course it was a little daunting at first, as I had left school at 15 without even school certificate as it was back in those days. So any kind of study was a bit of a learning curve.
I have had some amazingly kind peers in my class who have been kind enough to give me some guiding help with using various technology, tools and apps. MIT also has lots of help available for anyone needing to increase those skills.
My goal is to work in end of life care as a healthcare assistant or in an associated way. When I finish the course, I intend to work in a hospital for 6-12 months to get wide scope of experience and become effective as a HCA. Perhaps while I am working in this role another path might become clear for me in following my ultimate goal of palliative care.”
Duncan
MIT graduate
“If making a difference in your community is something you want to achieve then a career in health is a career for you. As a Samoan one of the core values I was taught growing up is tautua which means service. So serving our parents our families our elders and our community. That was one of the main reasons I decided I wanted to study health.”
Tino Tevaga
MIT graduate
Ready to put your plans in place?
Fees Free scheme: Free study for the first or final year of your Level 3 or above qualification may be available under the Government’s Fees Free study scheme. Visit feesfree.govt.nz for eligibility criteria and more information. Students must meet New Zealand residency criteria. Note: The Government has announced that Fees Free for the first year of study will finish at the end of 2024. A final-year Fees Free scheme will replace it, starting from January 2025. Learners who have already used Fees Free in their first year of study won’t be able to access Fees Free under the new final-year policy. However, from now until the end of 2025, first-year Fees Free will operate under ‘first-year transition rules’. For more information, visit feesfree.govt.nz. All free study is subject to availability and funding confirmation. Proof of residency status required. Entry criteria, and some costs, may also apply. Eligibility for student allowances or student loans may vary. Contact StudyLink for more information.
Information is correct as at 28 August 2024. Programme fees are based on a full-time student and may vary depending on your final selection of courses that make up your programme. To provide you with an indication of costs, the approximate fees quoted in this publication are based on the indicative 2025 fee structure. The indicative programme fees for 2025 do not include the Compulsory Student Services Fee (CSSF). The CSSF is an additional levy to your 2025 programme or course fees. Further information about the CSSF can be found here www.manukau.ac.nz/cssf. Programmes stated as eligible for free study in 2025 are based on the 2024 fee structure and subject to funding confirmation for 2025. All fees are in New Zealand Dollars. You will be advised of the current fees at the time of enrolment. All courses and programmes will proceed subject to numbers and academic approval. Manukau Institute of Technology is part of Te Pūkenga – New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology. Te Pūkenga is accredited under the provisions of the Education and Training Act 2020. International students must study in class and will not be able to enrol for online study options.