Course details

Apprenticeship in Mental Health and Addiction Support (Level 4)
NZQF Level 4

About the course

Programme overview

This apprenticeship programme leads to the awarding of the New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Level 4) (Social and Community Services) Mental Health and Addiction Support strand qualification. It is well-supported and resourced with a team of Apprenticeship Advisors providing pastoral care and support.

The Mental Health and Addiction Support apprenticeship programme enables apprentices to develop and demonstrate the skills they need to work alongside people, and their family and whānau who are accessing social and community services, to support autonomy, foster hope and develop resilience. The underpinning philosophy of this programme is to build a person-centred, critical thinking workforce.


Learning outcomes:

  • Engaging and communicating with people, family and whānau who are accessing mental health and addiction services in a manner which respects their socio-cultural identity, experiences, and self-knowledge.
  • Developing relationships and supporting a goal of improving outcomes for people with mental health and addiction issues.
  • Demonstrating knowledge of Te Tiriti o Waitangi when providing support in their role.
  • Understanding New Zealand’s health and wellbeing aims and purpose and the impact on their role.
  • Demonstrating a knowledge of kawa and tikanga and the ability to relate the unique place Māori have as tangata whenua of Aotearoa in their role.
  • Applying physical first aid while supporting people in their role.
  • Displaying self-awareness, reflective practice, self-care, and personal leadership in the workplace.
  • Actively contributing to a culture of professionalism, safety, and quality in the workplace.
  • Gaining in-depth knowledge of mental health, addiction and co-existing conditions, their impacts, and applying the new knowledge to the people they support.
  • Applying advocacy plans for the people they support.

Download qualification brochure


Watch the short video to see why Tracy loves her role and her apprenticeship learning journey.


Funding to support your business

Several grants and funding options are available to help meet the costs of attaining Careerforce qualifications. Employers may also qualify for the Apprenticeship Boost which provides a wage subsidy for new and existing apprentices in their first two years of training, encouraging employers to retain their current apprentices, and to take on new apprentices.

You can view these options at careerforce.org.nz/fees-funding 

Learn more about Careerforce Apprenticeships

About the provider

Start a career and contribute to New Zealand’s social good The growing and vital health and wellbeing sectors have a shortage of qualified workers. There are significant employment opportunities for young people to start a lifelong, rewarding career. Through on-the-job training such as an apprenticeship, there’s an opportunity to earn while you learn, get practical skills and work towards achieving a nationally recognised qualification without taking on a student loan. Careerforce is the Industry Training Organisation (ITO) for the health, wellbeing, social and community sectors, we support New Zealand workplaces to run workplace training programmes for their staff. Visit the Careerforce website for more information: https://www.careerforce.org.nz/

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