... or going to university – or doing an apprenticeship! The thought of leaving school and heading out into the world to university or work can be exciting – but also a little scary or overwhelming.
Hopefully your school may have been helping you think about transitioning from school to a university or towards getting a job for a while now. Your parents or caregivers will be keen to support you too, and guess what – even the government of NZ is ready to help you find work!
The good news is that with the right support it is perfectly possible for you to achieve your goals. And there are plenty of very helpful people out there who know it's going to be a bit harder for you to move towards your goals, and who are keen to help you make it work.
• Below is our list of Universities and Polytechnics around Aotearoa – we've made it easy for you by finding the disability support web-page and email for each of those we have listed.
• Click here to go to our list of Transition Programmes around the motu which can help you transition from school into work.
Tertiary Study
If you're transitioning into tertiary education, all universities and other tertiary institutions in NZ have whole departments to look after students who may need learning support. It's now a legal requirement – make use of them as much as possible!
As a general guide, universities are more academic and polytechs learning programmes are a little more hands-on.
Our list of Universities is below.
Click here to go to our list of Polytechs.
Universities
• Auckland University Student Disability Services
Email: [email protected]
• AUT Auckland University of Technology Disability Support Services
Email: [email protected]
• Massey University Disability services
Email: [email protected] (same for all campuses)
Phone Auckland Campus: 09 213 6203
Phone Palmerston North Campus: 06 951 6171
Phone Wellington Campus: 04 979 3192 or 04 979 3193
• Victoria University of Wellington Disability Services
Email: [email protected]
• University of Canterbury Disability Services
Email: [email protected]
• University of Otago Disability support
Email: [email protected]
Polytechs
• ARA – Christchurch: Disability Support Services
Email: [email protected]
• EIT – Eastern Institute of Technology Disability Support Services
Email: [email protected]
• NMIT - Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology Disability Support Services
Email: [email protected]
• MIT – Manukau Institute of Technology Disability Support Services
Email: [email protected]
• The Open Polytechnic (online learning) disability and access services
Email: [email protected]
• Otago Polytechnic Disability Support Services
Email: [email protected]
• Primary ITO – agriculture and horticulture Disability Support Services
Email: [email protected]
• Service IQ – service industry training Disability Support Services
Email: [email protected]
• SIT – Southern Institute of Technology Disability Support Services
Email – Invercargill / Queenstown / Gore: [email protected]
Email – Christchurch: [email protected]
Email - Telford: [email protected]
• TPP – Tai Poutini Polytechnic (West Coast) Disability Support Services
Email: [email protected]
• Toi Ohomai – Waikato and Bay of Plenty Disability Support Services
Email: [email protected]
• Unitec Disability Support Services – Auckland
Email: [email protected]
• UCOL – Universal College of Learning, Manawatu/Whanganui region Disability Support Services
UCOL Te Pūkenga Manawatū
Email: [email protected]
UCOL Te Pūkenga Whanganui
Email: [email protected]
UCOL Te Pūkenga Wairarapa
Email: [email protected]
• WINTEC – Waikato Institute of Technology Disability Support Services
Email: [email protected]
• WITT – Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki (New Plymouth)
Email: [email protected]
Whitireia and Weltec – Porirua and Petone
Email: [email protected].
Finding a job – the right job for you
Around New Zealand there are some great Transition Programmes – these are all about helping you to move into employment, community services or other activities. They'll work with you, your family/whānau and your school to make the transition to adult life as easy as possible. Your planning will involve working through setting goals and developing skills and experiences to lead a purposeful and productive life after school. If you're already working, but want a different job, they can help with that, too.
There are some listed below, but there will be others in your area.
National offices
Ministry of Social Development
There is general information on finding work, as well as self-development programmes, on the MSD page here.
If you have a disability or health condition (including a mental health condition or neurodiversity such as FASD), and you want to work, you can apply to join one of the MSD's 'Mainstream' programmes. They can help support you towards getting a long-term job.
Mainstream programme
Workbridge – all over NZ
Workbridge has centres all over Aotearoa NZ – they work with you to figure out what kind of job you want and how to focus on your skills, not your disabilities.
Workbridge | Building a bridge over employment barriers
Emerge Aotearoa
This group have offices around the country and offer all kinds of helpful services including help with employment.
Click here for more info.
CCS Disability Action
Also with offices around the motu, CCS Disability action can help with all kinds of things including finding a job and transitioning. Look for an office in your area.
Click here for more info.
APM - national offices
APM's Work Assist Health programme will help assess you for work, find a job and liaise with employers on your behalf.
Employment Services for NZ Job Seekers - Let Us Help You Find a Job | APM NZ
Regional offices
Spectrum Care – Auckland and Wellington
Spectrum Care is based in Auckland with a branch in Wellington and can help with all kinds of respite care / holiday programms as well as transitions into work and housing.
Transition Support from school to work - Spectrum Care
Kia Roha / Your Way - Kirikiriroa / Hamilton
Transition Programme - from school to adult life.
Click here for more info.
Enrich Services – Waikato, Bay of Plenty and King Country – based in Te Awamutu
Supporting teens to find work.
Click here for more info.
Catapult Services - Canterbury
Catapult’s vision is for all people to have the opportunity to participate in paid employment, including those who live with a disability or health issue. They support employers, too.
Click here for more info.