Disability Workforce Development

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Disability Workforce Development at Te Pou is a programme dedicated to supporting workforce development for frontline disability support staff. Our job is to support and facilitate access to leadership and training resources for the sector. A key aim is national consistency and regional responsiveness.

In partnership with the Ministry of Health and Te Pou, Disability Workforce Development provides independent training coordination services and administers training and leadership development grants.

We believe that where strong relationships exist, anything is possible: and the close working relationship of Disability Workforce Development, Te Pou and Le Va, Pasifika within Te Pou is an exceptional opportunity for all three organisations to bring the benefits of shared resources, knowledge and relationships to all their areas of work.

Grant funding

Disability Workforce Development administers grant funding to promote sector access to training and leadership development opportunities. All grant funding is guided by the Ministry of Health’s criteria for selection and priorities for funding. Disability Workforce Development has a strong relationship with Careerforce – together we are committed to a partnership approach to support workforce development within the sector.

Between May 2010 and June 2011 more than 7,000 individuals have received grant funding through disability support services or sponsoring organisations. Find out more about grant recipients and the types of training funded.

Consumer conference attendance sponsorship

Sponsorship for disabled people to attend a disability related conference in New Zealand may be available from time-to-time. The sponsorship can cover all, or part, of the conference registration and a contribution to travel and accommodation costs, depending on the location of the conference and your home. Find out more about consumer conference attendance sponsorship.

Disability sector training directory

We are pleased to announce the disability training directory is now available to support improved awareness of available training. The directory has been developed by Disability Workforce Development in partnership with the New Zealand Federation of Vocational and Support Services (VASS), the New Zealand Disability Support Network (NZDSN) and other key stakeholders.

Resource Pacific wellbeing

Le Va has been contracted by the Ministry of Health Disability Support Services (DSS) Group to develop and deliver the new Pasifika Disability National Coordination Service. This service has been established to assist the DSS Group to implement Faiva Ora National Pasifika Disability Plan 2010-2013. It will complement the work we are doing within Te Pou and the national training coordination and grant schemes.

The Pasifika Disability National Coordination Service will primarily focus on the high Pacific population centres of Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and Christchurch regions. It is envisaged that this new service will contribute to achieving the vision of the National Pasifika Disability Plan 2009-2013, which is to ensure ' Pacific peoples with disabilities can live in their home and take part in their community in the same way other New Zealanders do'.