Āhei Program
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About us
Employment is one of the biggest factors that lock tāngata whaikaha (people with disabilities) out of society. Raising work and career opportunities provides an essential place for connection and lifts the model for next-generation practices.
Āhei is a service provided by NorthAble that works to provide meaningful, enjoyable work opportunities for tāngata whaikaha. We bring partner employers and businesses together with motivated members of the disabled community, creating a meaningful employment future for tāngata whaikaha.
We want to invest in diversity development to see a fair representation of tāngata whaikaha working across organisations to reflect the communities we live in and assist in furthering the independence of the community. Our partner organisations share this vision, and we offer the support to implement diverse and inclusive practices and develop our interns to bring their enriched perspectives into the workplace.
Become an Intern
We understand that society disables individuals, and the employment sector is no different. The Āhei program is an internship that removes barriers to the workforce by providing direct access to corporate, commercial, non-government and community organisations across Whangārei so tāngata whaikaha (people with disabilities) can participate in work.
Our Process
Step 1: Application
· You apply for the program and our mentors meet with you to discuss your goals.
· Both you and the Āhei team decide if the internship is right for you and which cohort you’ll join.
· We aim to match you to a work placement role that suits your capabilities, goals and interests.
Step 2: Internship
· You attend a three-week long introduction course, three days per week, to get you ready for your placement.
· You then start your internship work placement.
· You also attend our readiness course, one day per week, which will support you to understand the skills you are learning at work.
· We give you individualised mentorship throughout your placement if you need support.
· We also liaise with your host employer to ensure a successful placement.
Step 3: Employment
· At the end of your internship, we help you find paid employment.
Why Āhei
SUPPORT
Āhei has a team of mentors to guide you through every step of your internship placement, from commencement to graduation.
LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT
We guide you through your employment development with workshops, training, peer sessions and job placement to provide learning opportunities along the way.
GROWTH
We provide opportunities to grow professionally in the workplace and personally through an alternative approach to the program that supports your individual learning needs.
COMMUNITY
We help you build social connections with peers, actively working to create a collegial atmosphere between you and your fellow interns.
Eligibility Criteria
- Aged between 15 to 24 years old
- Have a disability that is likely to last six months or longer
- Available for the approximately 20-week internship placement and committed to participating in the full length of the program
- A New Zealand citizen (or hold an appropriate visa)
- Be able to reasonably carry out the full length of the internship’s job placement and workshops (including travel to and from the NorthTec classroom and work placement)
The Ideal Applicant
- A long-term desire to be employed
- Understand your disability as an individual or have a willingness to understand and self-advocate (we can help with this)
- Willingness to participate and engage with others, upholding the values of the Āhei project and the Enabling Good Lives approach.
Become a Partner
Āhei works to provide internship placements for tāngata whaikaha (people with disabilities) into government, commercial, corporate and non-profit organisations.
Why Āhei?
SUPPORT
Āhei has a team with expertise to guide partner organisations and interns through the program.
LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT
We offer disability competency training by specialists in the field to our partners and individualised support for host business with interns in work placement roles.
COMMUNITY
We are connected to various community organisations and network with our partner businesses with other authorities and diversity initiatives in the sector.
TALENT
Our interns create a talent pool that is diverse, which in turn diversifies and adds immeasurable value to your business profile and social capital.
NETWORK
We create network of businesses across the region, creating a community of like-minded organisations.
How You Can Help
- Active partnership
Provide placement opportunities for our interns
- Passive partnership
Sponsorship of events associated to Āhei
Or talk to us about exploring other ways to collaborate
How active partnership works
INITIAL MEETING
We meet on-site to discuss the program and what you can offer an intern. We then conduct a site assessment to help ensure we select the most appropriate intern for your environment.
MATCHING
We select an intern from our talent pool according to their interests and your needs for a purposeful placement.
UPSKILLING
We provide intensive, individualised training to Āhei interns in preparation for their work experience placement.
WRAP-AROUND SUPPORT
The Āhei team provides ongoing mentoring and assistance to interns and partners, ensuring a well-supported experience for everyone.
