New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Social and Community Services)
Why Study / Key Benefits
The New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Social and Community Services) at UCOL is designed for students interested in supporting individuals, families, wh?nau and communities, particularly people experiencing mental health and addiction challenges.
Key benefits include:
Develop practical skills for working in mental health, addiction support and community services.
Learn how to build respectful and supportive relationships with individuals and their families.
Understand the importance of cultural identity, diversity and culturally appropriate support.
Develop communication, listening and interpersonal skills.
Learn recovery-oriented approaches that promote hope, independence and resilience.
Gain practical workplace experience through 200 compulsory placement hours.
Understand professional boundaries, workplace safety, human rights and consumer rights.
Develop reflective practice, self-awareness and personal leadership.
Study at three UCOL locations: Palmerston North, Whanganui and Masterton.
Prepare for entry-level employment in community support and health and wellbeing services.
Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics
The qualification consists of five courses totalling 120 credits.
Year-long programme structure:
1. Respectful Relationships – 30 credits (50 placement hours)
Students develop an understanding of socio-cultural identity, personal experiences and self-knowledge, applying this understanding to build respectful relationships with people and their families in mental health and addiction settings.
Topics include:
Active listening skills.
Building respectful relationships.
Consent processes and protocols.
Workplace practices.
Needs and vulnerabilities of children.
Pasifika cultural values.
Falefono model.
Whare Tapa Wh? model of health and wellbeing.
2. Bi-Culturalism and Marae Protocols – 15 credits (25 placement hours)
Students develop an understanding of M?ori culture, history and the relationship between people, families and wh?nau in health and wellbeing environments.
Topics include:
Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
M?ori as tangata whenua.
M?ori history and cultural understanding.
Marae protocols.
Person–wh?nau interconnectedness.
Bicultural approaches in health and wellbeing services.
3. Role Clarification – 15 credits (25 placement hours)
Students learn how their support-worker responsibilities contribute to the wider health and wellbeing sector.
Topics include:
Biological approaches to mental health and addiction.
Psychological approaches.
Sociological approaches.
Holistic and alternative approaches.
Support-worker values and professional competencies.
Professional boundaries.
Human rights and consumer rights.
Workplace responsibilities.
Stigma, discrimination and social exclusion.
4. Self Awareness – 30 credits (50 placement hours)
Students develop self-awareness and reflective practice skills to support individuals, families and wh?nau.
Topics include:
Self-awareness theories and practices.
Personal risk identification.
Risk management.
Reflective journaling.
Self-care strategies.
Resilience-building theories and practices.
Understanding the capabilities and needs of children.
5. Professional Development – 30 credits (50 placement hours)
Students learn how to contribute to professional, safe and high-quality support services while promoting the autonomy and recovery of individuals.
Topics include:
Health and safety legislation.
Workplace incident reporting.
Professional supervision.
Networking principles and practices.
Information and education in mental health support.
Advocacy for individuals and families.
Recovery-oriented support practices.
Supporting children in mental health and addiction settings.
Developing recovery plans.
Disciplines / Specialisations
The qualification focuses on Social and Community Services, with particular emphasis on mental health and addiction support.
Key subject areas include:
Mental health support.
Addiction support.
Social and community services.
Disability support.
Community health and wellbeing.
Cultural and bicultural support.
Recovery-oriented practice.
Family and wh?nau support.
Child and youth wellbeing.
Community development.
Advocacy and social justice.
Programme Highlights
NZQF Level 4 qualification.
120-credit vocational certificate.
One-year full-time programme.
41-week programme schedule.
Three campus options: Palmerston North, Whanganui and Masterton.
200 compulsory practical placement hours.
Focus on mental health and addiction support.
Practical understanding of community health and wellbeing.
Training in respectful relationships and effective communication.
Understanding of M?ori culture, Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Marae protocols.
Development of professional boundaries and workplace responsibilities.
Training in recovery-oriented approaches and resilience building.
Opportunities to develop self-awareness and reflective practice.
Connections with mental health and addiction service providers across the Manawat?, Whanganui and Wairarapa regions.
NZQA-approved qualification delivered by an accredited education provider.
Career Outcomes
Graduates may pursue employment opportunities in health, wellbeing, mental health, disability and social support services.
Potential career opportunities include:
Disability Support Worker.
Mental Health Support Worker.
Addiction Support Worker.
Community Health Worker.
Health and Wellbeing Coach.
Diversional Therapy Assistant.
Housing and Budget Support Worker.
Tamariki Ora Support Worker.
Community Development Worker.
Field Officer.
Refugee Support Worker.
Social Justice Advocate.
Potential employment environments:
Mental health support organisations.
Addiction recovery services.
Community health organisations.
Disability support providers.
Residential care facilities.
Family and wh?nau support organisations.
Community development organisations.
Social service agencies.
Refugee and migrant support services.
Professional pathway considerations:
This qualification prepares students for support-worker and community-service roles.
It is not a registered nursing qualification.
It does not provide a clinical scope of practice.
It does not automatically qualify graduates as registered nurses, counsellors or other regulated healthcare professionals.
Further study may be required for advanced healthcare or professional registration pathways.
Latest Updates / Special Requirements
Latest programme information:
UCOL currently lists the programme for February 2027 commencement.
All three campuses display the same published dates: 22 February 2027 to 3 December 2027.
The international tuition fee currently displayed is NZD $28,982.
The programme continues to be offered as a Level 4, 120-credit qualification.
Full-time and part-time study options are advertised.
A total of 200 placement hours is required.
Special requirements:
1. Practical placement requirements
Students must complete 200 placement hours.
Placements provide opportunities to observe and participate in activities supporting people in mental health and addiction settings.
Students must follow the policies and procedures of the placement organisation.
UCOL has relationships with mental health and addiction service providers across its three regions.
UCOL can organise limited placements at the beginning of the academic year.
Students should discuss placement arrangements with the programme lecturer before enrolment.
2. Police vetting and background checks
Students must declare previous criminal convictions.
UCOL requires authorisation to obtain a New Zealand Police background check.
A criminal conviction does not necessarily prevent enrolment.
However, a criminal history may affect eligibility for certain workplace placements and completion of programme requirements.
3. Child safety requirements
UCOL undertakes safety checks in accordance with the Children Act 2014.
Where placements involve services supporting people under 18, additional checks may apply.
These checks can include employment history verification, referee checks and police vetting.
4. Interview requirement
Applicants must attend an interview with the programme lecturer.
The interview forms part of the programme's admission process.
5. Health and wellbeing responsibilities
Students should be prepared to work with people experiencing mental health and addiction challenges.
They must demonstrate appropriate professional conduct, respect, confidentiality and boundaries.
Students should be capable of participating in practical community-based learning.
6. Learning resources
Required and recommended reading materials are provided through course outlines.
Students may use books, journals, online databases and internet-based resources.
7. Recognition of prior learning
UCOL accepts applications for Recognition of Prior Learning, including credit transfer and assessment of prior learning.
Applications are assessed individually under UCOL's academic policies.
International Student Visa Requirements
International students applying from India generally need a Fee Paying Student Visa from Immigration New Zealand.
Main visa requirements:
1. Offer of Place
Students must receive an offer of place from UCOL.
UCOL must be an approved education provider.
The offer must confirm the programme and relevant study details.
The education provider must assess the student's academic capability and English-language ability.
2. Tuition fee payment
Evidence of sufficient funds to pay tuition fees.
Evidence of tuition fee payment or an acceptable arrangement approved by Immigration New Zealand.
Scholarship documentation, if applicable.
3. Living expenses
For tertiary-level study lasting one year or more, Immigration New Zealand currently requires:
- NZD $20,000 per year for living expenses.
Alternatively, students may demonstrate an acceptable sponsorship arrangement.
Students must also demonstrate sufficient funds for onward travel or provide an acceptable travel arrangement.
4. Medical and travel insurance
Comprehensive medical and travel insurance is compulsory.
Insurance must cover the relevant period of study and stay.
UCOL automatically enrols international students in its preferred Studentsafe insurance arrangement.
The insurance cost is included in the Offer of Place.
Students who arrange their own insurance must provide evidence that it meets UCOL's requirements.
5. Health and character
Applicants must meet Immigration New Zealand's health requirements.
Applicants must satisfy character requirements.
Medical examinations and police certificates may be required depending on individual circumstances.
6. Supporting documents
Applicants should prepare:
Valid passport.
Passport-size photograph.
UCOL Offer of Place.
Academic certificates and transcripts.
IELTS or accepted English-language test results.
Tuition fee payment evidence or financial arrangements.
Bank statements and source-of-funds evidence.
Sponsor documents, if applicable.
Medical and police documents, if requested.
Insurance evidence, where required.
7. Genuine intention to study
Applicants must demonstrate genuine study intentions.
Their chosen qualification should be consistent with their previous education, experience and future career plans.
Immigration New Zealand may request further evidence to assess the applicant's circumstances.
Visa conditions and benefits:
Students may study full-time in the approved programme.
Eligible student visa holders may work up to 25 hours per week during study periods, subject to their individual visa conditions.
Full-time work may be permitted during scheduled holidays, depending on the visa conditions.
Students must maintain satisfactory attendance and academic progress.
Students must comply with all visa conditions and maintain valid insurance.
Current published visa information:
Visa application cost: From NZD $850.
Processing time: 80% within 7 weeks.
Maximum visa duration: Up to 4 years, depending on eligibility.
Recommended application timing: At least 3 months before intended travel.
Important programme-specific consideration:
The qualification is 41 weeks long. As it is a full-time Level 4 qualification, students may be eligible for student visa work conditions allowing up to 25 hours per week. However, work permission is not automatic and must be confirmed on the student's actual visa.
