Tautoko for excellence in te ahumahi ā-rēhia: Te Mahi Ako 2022 scholarships
E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e ngā karangatanga maha, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātau
He hōnore, he kororia ki te Atua, he maungarongo ki te whenua, he whakaaro pai ki ngā tāngata katoa. Ki ngā iwi I runga I ngā motu e rua, arā, Te Ika a Maui me Te Waipounamu, tēnā koutou, tenā koutou, tēnā tātau katoa.
As the national work-based learning specialist in active recreation, leisure and entertainment, Te Mahi Ako provides the Volunteer Development and Small Business scholarships.
Heather Grady (left photo) is the recipient of the Volunteer Development Scholarship.
This scholarship comes with a trophy and a $500 grant towards future enrolments. It recognises the amazing volunteers in our sectors, as well as the people who support them.
Heather is the founder and chair of Outdoor Training New Zealand. OTNZ provides training and advice for outdoor volunteers, schools and organisations like Duke of Edinburgh, and the Te Araroa Trail Trust, covering safety, bushcraft and more.
In recent years Heather also advocated for high quality education opportunities for volunteers, when she was on the industry training working group as part of the reform of vocational education.
The Small Business Scholarship has gone to McMillan’s Aquatic Centre, a Christchurch swim school owned and run by Karen and Blair McMillan (Right hand photo: Karen on the right right is photographed with Amanda from Te Mahi Ako).
This award is open to small employers that demonstrate a commitment to enriching the knowledge and skills of their staff, and it comes with a trophy and a $1500 grant towards future enrolments for the organisation.
MAC’s has supported numerous swim teachers to complete a Te Mahi Ako apprenticeship, and Karen provides extensive learner support all the way through the qualification from start to finish.
Interim chief executive Maren Frerichs says Te Mahi Ako is thrilled to be able to support hard-working people with lofty goals – whether that’s better training for outdoor recreation volunteers, more qualified swim teachers, or better Māori health outcomes.
“Ka mau te wehi to all our scholarship recipients this year,” Ms Frerichs says. “These exceptionally talented people are a reminder of the vital importance of sport and physical activity to the fabric of Kiwi life, and we are honoured to support them.”
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Media contact for Skills Active: Lance Tomuri | lance@skillsactive.org.nz | 027 2425 974
Skills Active Aotearoa is the transitional industry training organisation for recreation, exercise, sport and performing arts. We are a non-profit organisation, 50% owned by Māori shareholders, and funded by government to support Aotearoa businesses, organisations, iwi and community enterprises to get their staff and volunteers trained and qualified.