A private training provider is encouraging people to join a free online health course to learn how to care for seniors.
The health and aged care sector will be facing enormous demand. Photo: 123RF
The course, with NZQA Unit Standards, is offered by MySkill and funded by the Ministry of Social Development.
Chief executive of New Zealand Health Group - the parent company of MySkill - Jo Gagan said the course provides entry level training for a support worker role and it leads to "a world of opportunity" in the healthcare sector.
She said as early as 2035, the number of people aged 65 years and over is expected to double to around 1.2 million - nearly a quarter of the population, so the health and aged care sector will be facing enormous demand.
She said the course targets at those who lost their jobs due to Covid-19.
Chief executive of New Zealand Health Group, Jo Gagan Photo: supplied
"Even though it's devastating to lose your your job and there is fantastic training that is free and that we do support all the people who enroll and complete the training into a permanent, sustainable employment.
Gagan said more than 650 have enrolled in the training, and a majority of them are from retail and hospitality industries and Air New Zealand.
She also encourages people from all ethnic backgrounds to join the healthcare workforce.
"New Zealand's multi-ethnic society has grown...we need to provide quite a large and diverse ethnic pool of health care workers," she said.
MSD Industry Partnerships director, Amanda Nicolle, said it was a priority to support New Zealanders into a meaningful career and help boost the sector's workforce, where there's a need for skilled workers.
"We're finding this training is being seen as a valuable opportunity by people impacted by Covid-19 and at risk of being on a benefit long-term."