Become a Peer Support worker. Foster hope and build resilience, self-determination and autonomy. Focus on peer support tools, communication strategies, leadership and the power of your own story to support peers and wh?nau who are experiencing distress.

 

What you will learn

The Lived Experience (30 credits)

This course provides the opportunity for the student to demonstrate the skills and knowledge to work effectively as a peer support worker. Students will demonstrate an understanding of self-care strategies and their contribution to wellbeing. Students will reflect on their own lived experience and how this lived experience can be shared in a safe and professional way to support peers and wh?nau who are experiencing distress.

 

Whnaungatanga Building Relationships (30 credits)

This course develops skills and knowledge to enable students to build effective professional relationships with peers (people who have experienced similar adversity). Students will demonstrate an understanding of socio-cultural and historical factors that impact on health and/or social outcomes. Students will reflect on their use of appropriate communication strategies that are respectful of diversity and that demonstrate working in partnership with others.

 

Peer Tools (30 credits)

This course develops the skills and knowledge to enable the student to demonstrate the ability to work effectively as a peer support worker. Students will demonstrate an understanding of advocacy relevant to working alongside peers who have a similar experience. Students will reflect on the peer support tools and strategies used to foster hope and build resilience, self-determination and autonomy.

 

Leadership (30 credits)

This course develops skills and knowledge that enable students to protect and promote the health and wellbeing of peers and wh?nau. The student will demonstrate an understanding of their role in quality improvement and its impact on improving health and wellbeing. The student will reflect on their own personal leadership and their ability to influence effective teamwork and policy-relevant to work with people and wh?nau accessing peer support services. Students will also reflect on the ethical and legal implications related to their role.

 

Designed for those working in the sector. The New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Peer Support) uses blended learning methods for delivery that combines face to face, online delivery and work-integrated learning. Students attend the polytechnic for eight two day block courses, with the remaining hours completed in the workplace. Workplace hours are a minimum of six hours per week and independent study is approximately nine hours per week. The New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Peer Support) will be delivered in collaboration between Kites Trust and Whitireia.