SIT's New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (social and community services) (Level 4) with strand in Social Services is a great place to start if you are considering a career in the areas of social work, community work, youth work, counselling or iwi social services. In this challenging but highly rewarding programme, students examine aspects of their own lives and each others, as they develop self-awareness and skills as practitioners. Small class sizes and experienced, approachable staff ensure a supportive classroom environment.
SIT also offers specialised courses in the areas of Mental Health at both Invercargill and Christchurch campuses. These are ideal for people who are already working in the industry or looking to gain further qualifications or specialise.
SIT's School of Social Services has an excellent reputation with employers, with many coming directly to SIT when they are recruiting new staff. Feedback from past Social Services graduates is overwhelmingly positive and students often express amazement at the positive changes they have been able to make in their own lives, and the lives of their clients. See below for graduate profiles.
At present in light of the current COVID-19 pandemic, all students applying for entry to a health related /social services programme are highly recommended to be vaccinated against COVID-19. All health sector organisations engaging health care workers have obligations under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 to take all reasonable steps to eliminate, or otherwise control, the risk of COVID-19 transmission in the workplace. The NZ government has mandated the vaccine for frontline health care workers. As a result the health care providers we work with are requiring their staff, including any students on placement, to be vaccinated and provide proof of vaccination. If you are unvaccinated or if you choose not to disclose whether or not you are vaccinated or to provide evidence if asked, then this will have an impact on healthcare placements that you can be allocated to as part of your undergraduate health programme and will have an impact on successful completion of the programme.
Employment agencies accessed by students of programmes of study other than health/social services may also choose to only accept those students for placement who are vaccinated against Covid 19. On this basis SIT cannot guarantee placements for unvaccinated students and therefore cannot guarantee programme successful completion for those students who choose not to be vaccinated against Covid 19.