New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Level 3)

Health Assistant Strand

Health Assistant Strand

Learn the skills to care and support people, family/whānau and the wider community and make a difference and help others. You will learn how to recognise and respond to signs of vulnerability and abuse in a health or wellbeing setting and demonstrate ethical and professional behaviour in a health or wellbeing setting.

Graduates will be able to provide person-centred care under the direction and delegation of a health professional.

Students are required to complete 124 hours in work placement throughout the duration of the programme. Competency for many of the programme’s assessments will typically be demonstrated in a workplace environment. To pass each course, the work placement component must have been met. This course is delivered 2 days a week and clinical placement is either Thursday or Friday with some 3-5 day weeks. 

Graduates of the Health Assistance strand will also be able to:

  • provide person-centred care under the direction and delegation of a health professional.
  • recognise and respond to change

Entry Requirements

  • Open entry

Regulatory requirements may apply.

Applicants whose first language is not English, or who come from a country where the language of instruction in schools or other teaching institutions is not English, are required to provide evidence of having passed such tests of English language competence as detailed in Policy and Procedure English Language Proficiency.


Required forms

Note: when you apply please make sure to complete an application before submitting these forms.

Additional Information Required

Health and Immunisation Declaration

Police Vetting Form (External link. Note that this form will have to be emailed, or printed out and handed in to reception staff)


COVID-19 vaccination requirements

Government COVID-19 vaccine mandates finished on Monday 26 September 2022, however, many placement providers will require that ākonga (students) are vaccinated against COVID-19 (up to two vaccinations and one booster), before they allow any placements to proceed.  Placements are an integral part of our health programmes and ākonga must complete these practical elements to successfully achieve their qualification.  We cannot, therefore, guarantee a placement without this evidence, as per our clinical placement agreements with placement providers.  If there are any questions or concerns relating to this, please email HealthWellnessEnrolments@witt.ac.nz in the first instance and one of our team will be in contact.

On acceptance into the programme, ākonga are required to complete a health screening to provide current evidence of their immunisation status, as required by Te Puna Whai Ora | Ministry of Health and our placement providers.  At this stage ākonga will also need to provide a copy of their Covid vaccination record.

Special Admission Criteria

  • Criminal, Disciplinary and Health form declaration
  • Referee

Programme Specific Information

Work placement components

Students are required to complete 124 hours in work placement throughout the duration of the programme. Competency for many of the programme’s assessments will typically be demonstrated in a workplace environment.

To pass each course, the work placement component must have been met.

Further study options

Healthcare graduates can also work towards meeting entry into the Bachelor of Nursing programme by undertaking a foundation course.

Career Options

Graduates of the Health Assistance programme may be employed as Healthcare Assistants in a range of contexts including Acute Care, Primary Care, Aged Residential Care and Therapeutic Programmes.

Additional expenses

Closer to the programme starting, learners will receive a list of course materials to purchase.  Examples of course materials could include textbooks, stationary, printing; uniforms, personal protective equipment, tools and a laptop.

Changes for new learners

WITT and this programme are part of Te Pūkenga – New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology 

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