Why Study/Key Benefits

The New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Advanced Care and Support) (Level 4) at New Zealand Tertiary College (NZTC) is designed to develop advanced healthcare assistants who can contribute to team-based care, support clients with complex needs and help improve care quality in health and wellbeing settings.

Key benefits include:

• Advanced learning in person-centred care and support for clients with complex health conditions.

• Development of communication, teamwork, client advocacy and collaborative-care skills.

• Learning about healthcare safety, risk management, medication in care and clinical observations within the healthcare assistant’s scope of practice.

• Development of leadership, mentoring and workplace-improvement skills.

• Study of culturally responsive care, including the significance of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and M?ori values in New Zealand healthcare.

• Blended learning that combines online study with practical experience and face-to-face engagement.

• A pathway to further study in health-related disciplines, subject to the admission requirements of the receiving institution.

Programme Structure and Subjects/Topics

The programme consists of the following published courses:

• HW431 — Supporting Collaborative Care: Explores teamwork in healthcare, the responsibilities of different members of the care team, and collaboration with clients and their wh?nau to achieve positive health outcomes.

• HW432 — Contributing to Change: Develops understanding of how healthcare assistants can identify areas for improvement in their workplace and contribute to changes that improve client outcomes, everyday processes and staff knowledge.

• HW433 — Person-Centred Care Practices: Covers the principles of person-centred care, personal-care planning and goal setting, including how care planning can support clients’ independence and wellbeing.

• HW434 — Supporting Complex Needs: Examines complex health conditions, clinical observations, recognising changes in a client’s health status and responding appropriately within the healthcare assistant’s scope of practice.

• HW435 — Client Advocacy: Focuses on listening to clients, supporting their choices, protecting their interests and helping ensure their voices are heard in decisions about their care.

• HW439 — Cultural Space within Healthcare: Explores culturally responsive and safe care, personal beliefs about health and illness, and the relevance of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and M?ori values in New Zealand healthcare.

• HW437 — Leadership Practices in Healthcare: Develops self-leadership, peer leadership, mentoring, coaching and support skills.

• HW438 — Risk Management and Safety: Covers recognising risks in healthcare settings and responding safely, ethically and within the boundaries of the healthcare assistant’s role.

• HW514 — Medication in Care: Introduces common medicines used in aged care, possible side effects and care interventions to prevent or respond to medication-related concerns within the healthcare assistant’s role.

• HW430 — Health and Wellbeing in Practice 2 – Field Experience: Provides practical experience applying advanced, holistic and person-centred care approaches when supporting clients with complex health conditions.

Disciplines/Specialisations

This qualification focuses on advanced healthcare assistance and support rather than separately advertised majors or specialisations.

Main subject areas include:

• Advanced healthcare assistance.

• Person-centred care and support planning.

• Supporting clients with complex needs.

• Client advocacy and empowerment.

• Collaborative healthcare and teamwork.

• Cultural safety and culturally responsive practice.

• Healthcare leadership, mentoring and coaching.

• Risk management and workplace safety.

• Medication awareness in care settings.

• Workplace improvement and practical care experience.

Programme Highlights

• A Level 4 New Zealand certificate worth 120 credits.

• One-year full-time programme.

• Blended learning combining online resources, face-to-face engagement and practical experience.

• Mandatory 200-hour work placement.

• Advanced person-centred care for clients with complex needs.

• Emphasis on teamwork, client advocacy, cultural safety, healthcare leadership and risk management.

• Practical learning designed to help students apply theory in healthcare workplaces.

• Potential progression to further study in nursing, midwifery, health science, counselling, social work, occupational therapy or physiotherapy, subject to each institution’s entry requirements.

Career Outcomes

The qualification is designed to develop advanced healthcare assistants who can contribute to team-based care and support clients with more complex needs.

Potential career directions may include:

• Advanced healthcare assistant.

• Senior healthcare assistant or caregiver, depending on employer requirements and experience.

• Healthcare support worker in residential care, hospital, hospice, rehabilitation or community-care settings.

• Support roles involving person-centred care planning, client advocacy and care coordination.

• Workplace mentoring or team-support responsibilities within the healthcare assistant’s scope of practice.

Latest Updates/Special Requirements

• NZTC currently lists January and February 2027 intakes, including 11 January, 25 January, 9 February and 22 February 2027.

• The programme page advertises a limited-time 2026 fee reduction from NZD 6,518 to NZD 525, subject to terms and conditions. The published fee table identifies the standard fees as domestic fees, so international students must obtain written confirmation of the offer’s applicability.

• NZTC lists the qualification as Level 4, 120 credits, full-time and one year in duration.

• Completion of a Level 3 Health and Wellbeing qualification or equivalent is required.

• International applicants must be at least 18 years old before starting.

• All students must submit a Workplace Support Form and complete 200 hours of work placement.

• English-language evidence must meet the applicable NZQA requirements for Level 4 international enrolment.

• Applicants should confirm placement availability, location, supervision, any health or safety checks, and the documents required before starting.

• The college’s published page does not establish a specific scholarship or international tuition fee for this qualification.

International Student Visa Requirements

International students planning to study in New Zealand should check Immigration New Zealand’s official Fee Paying Student Visa requirements. Visa approval is determined by Immigration New Zealand, not NZTC.

The main requirements generally include:

• An offer of place from an approved education provider.

• Evidence of sufficient funds to pay tuition fees, or evidence of an accepted scholarship or other permitted funding arrangement.

• Evidence of enough money for living expenses.

• Evidence of funds for outward travel or a paid ticket out of New Zealand.

• Acceptable medical and travel insurance for the required period.

• Meeting health, character and genuine-student requirements.

• A valid passport and supporting documentation required for the visa application.

• Evidence of practical work experience where applicable, if requested by Immigration New Zealand.

Living-cost funds

For tertiary study lasting one year or longer, Immigration New Zealand specifies at least NZD 20,000 for each year of study. For study lasting less than one year, the published amount is NZD 1,667 per month. These funds are separate from tuition fees and outward-travel costs.

Visa cost and processing time

• Published visa cost: from NZD 850.

• Published processing time: 80% of applications within 7 weeks.

• Immigration New Zealand recommends applying at least 3 months before intended travel.

Work rights

A Fee Paying Student Visa may allow eligible students to work up to 25 hours per week during study and full-time during scheduled holidays, depending on the conditions of the individual visa. Work rights are not automatic for every student; applicants must check their visa conditions.

Because this qualification requires 200 hours of work placement, applicants should confirm with NZTC how the placement is organised and whether it can be completed in the intended location. They should also check any visa conditions that apply to practical training or paid employment. Do not assume that placement automatically grants permission for unrestricted work.

Important point for international applicants

The programme page provides an international application route, but the separate international tuition fee and the exact visa arrangements for an individual applicant are not specified on the programme page. Before paying an application fee or making travel arrangements, obtain written confirmation from NZTC that the applicant is eligible to enrol in this Level 4 qualification as an international student and can meet the required work-placement conditions.