Changing lives, one apprenticeship at a time; Makayla makes that 4,000 apprenticeship completions for Careerforce.
Careerforce recently celebrated a significant milestone with its 4,000th apprenticeship graduate. Makayla Cole, who has just finished her Level 4 Apprenticeship in Diversional Therapy, is the apprentice marking this achievement, highlighting the impact of on-the-job apprenticeships across Aotearoa’s care sector.
While the number itself is worth celebrating, it is the story behind it that truly reflects the impact of Careerforce apprenticeships, and Makayla’s journey is a powerful example of why this work matters.
Makayla’s pathway into care began early. As a teenager, she lived with her nana and became her primary caregiver after her nana experienced a TIA (transient ischemic attack). That experience shaped her future. Through Gateway programmes at school, Makayla began volunteering at a rest home, turning up consistently and continuing even after school finished, and was then offered a job as a caregiver.
After moving into the activities team at BUPA Crofton Downs, Makayla began her Apprenticeship in Diversional Therapy with Careerforce, learning on the job while supporting residents to live full, meaningful lives.
Alongside her training, she navigated significant personal challenges, including the sudden loss of her nana; the person who inspired her career and continues to motivate her every day.
“She is the reason I do everything,” Makayla said.
“Every resident I make a difference for, I know they can go and tell her about it. I genuinely believe this is why I’m here.”
Makayla also lives with fibromyalgia, managing chronic pain and fatigue while working full time. She says completing her apprenticeship strengthened not only her professional practice, but also her confidence to advocate for herself, her residents, and her role.
“Everything I’ve learned through my apprenticeship helps me advocate for my residents and for myself. I love my job. I get paid to make a huge difference in people’s lives and create bonds and a legacy I know my nana would be proud of.”
Her Careerforce Apprenticeship Advisor, Danny Fearon, praised her determination and resilience as she completed her 120-credit Level 4 apprenticeship in Diversional Therapy.
“You should be extremely proud, Makayla,” he said.
“You’ve shown resilience, determination, and a whole bag of knowledge, skills and capability.”
Tracey Sprott, General Manager, BUPA Crofton Downs, said apprenticeship training lifts both individuals and teams.
“Doing training lifts you to be better in your role. It benefits our residents and the company. I’m super proud when our team members reach this level.”
Careerforce’s health and wellbeing apprenticeships were only launched in 2016, and have made up a steadily increasing share of overall enrolments and completions. These Level 4 apprenticeships are challenging traditional perceptions of what apprenticeships look like, while creating meaningful, long-term career pathways. No longer are New Zealand apprenticeships just for the traditional trades as commonly perceived.
More than 2,000 learners are currently enrolled in Careerforce health and wellbeing apprenticeship programmes across New Zealand.
Careerforce has supported work-based training across the health and wellbeing sectors for over 30 years, partnering with more than 2,000 employers and supporting learners to achieve well over 100,000 official NZQA qualifications, all on the job. Since 2015 alone, learners across Aotearoa have completed more than 40,000 New Zealand Certificates in Health & Wellbeing (Levels 2–4) with Careerforce.
Careerforce Executive Director Rod Bentham said the significance of each apprenticeship completion goes far beyond the qualification itself.
“For each one of these qualification completions, it is life-changing not only for the learner, but also for the vulnerable New Zealanders that they have the critical responsibility of providing care and support for.”
For Makayla, being Careerforce’s 4,000th apprentice graduate is meaningful because of what it represents – better care, stronger advocacy, and real impact for residents.
“This might just be another day at work for us,” she said.
“But this is our residents’ lives. This is everything for them.”
As Careerforce celebrates its 4,000th apprenticeship completion, it also celebrates Makayla, and the thousands of apprentices like her whose skills, compassion and commitment are strengthening health and wellbeing services across Aotearoa, one apprenticeship, one resident, and one life at a time.
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