Work Counts

In June, IPS supervisors and practitioners from across Workwise, Odyssey, Ember, Ka P**a Ka Ora Emerge Aotearoa, Mahitahi Trust, WALSH Trust, Equip Mental Health Services, Work and Income (Ministry of Social Development NZ), and Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora came together for a series of IPS Together Days focused on collaboration, learning and continuous improvement.

The two sessions were a valuable opportunity to connect as a sector, strengthen relationships, and share experiences from the frontline of IPS services in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.

As reflected in participant feedback, the skills, knowledge and experience required to support people into meaningful employment are often underestimated - despite the significant impact they have on the lives and recovery journeys of tāngata whai ora.

The Together Days were a powerful reminder of the expertise that exists across our IPS network and the importance of continuing to learn from and support one another as a sector.

An important aspect of an employment consultant's job is being aware of opportunities in your community that could lead to employment.

Keeping vigilant, having ongoing conversations with employers and asking different questions can lead to opportunities that people may not have thought of.

This is a core aspect of our Three Cups of Tea workshop - one of our most in-demand offerings. Participants have found this workshop engaging and practical. Registrations still open for:
- Auckland: 29 June
- Hamilton: 30 June

You’ll be guided through hands-on activities and paired exercises – making in-person visits in the afternoon to employers in the surrounding area.

Register via our website!

Three cups of tea: Developing employer relationships - Work Counts This one-day interactive workshop will support employment consultants with approaching, engaging and developing relationships with employers.

Do you support people with individual goal planning? If so, get up to speed on vocational assessments with Work Counts this June!

Launched last year, From Assessment to Action is about learning useful strategies that can be applied immediately in your practice.

Come along to our Auckland session (18 June) where you’ll identify a person’s strengths and aspirations, then develop a plan to address challenges and barriers.

This training is suitable for:
- Employment consultants and career advisors
- Work and Income case managers
- Mental health, addiction and disability support workers.

Spaces are still available, and you can register via our website!

(See link in comments.)

Wellbeing Planning for Work - Mahere Oranga is a new workshop that supports practitioners to build confidence in guiding health-focused conversations with tāngata whai ora. Help people to create practical, meaningful and culturally grounded wellbeing plans for both securing work and staying well in work.

Launched in April, so far we’ve taken the workshop to Wellington and Hamilton, and now it’s coming to Auckland!

Date: Friday 12 June 2026
Time: 9am to 12.30pm
Venue: Harakeke House, Manukau

Register via our website (link in comments) - see you there!

Announcing our newest workshop - Prepping for Success - is now open for registration!

Learn about sustaining employment through good in‑work support planning and problem‑solving. Valuable for any organisation assisting people with maintaining employment or setting in-work goals.

“This workshop helps with thinking about the bigger picture for the person and bringing together existing supports as part of a planned approach. We'll look at the aspects that we sometimes take for granted or overlook - to make a person feel as comfortable as possible in the workplace," says Robert Williams who has developed the new training.

When: Wednesday 3 June
Times: 9am - 12.30pm
Where: Harakeke House, Manukau

Register via our website! (link in comments)

Does your role involve building relationships with employers? Would you like to have deeper wellbeing conversations with people who are in work?

Work Counts is returning to Wellington on 30 April and 1 May with our popular 'Three Cups of Tea' workshop, followed by our brand new training 'Wellbeing Planning for Work - Mahere Oranga'.

At the Three Cups workshop you'll be introduced to the “three cups of tea” approach, which focuses on building relationships before transactions. Gain confidence, refine your skills and make employer engagement something you look forward to!

At our new Wellbeing Planning workshop, we'll help you to have health-focused conversations that lead to practical, meaningful and culturally grounded wellbeing plans for both securing work and staying well in work.

With only three weeks to go, visit our website to register now! (See link in comments.)

Ngā mihi nui to everyone who joined us in Ōtautahi Christchurch last week!

A huge thank you to Choices NZ, Odyssey House Christchurch, and Pegasus Health for attending our Work Counts workshops over a couple of days. It was fantastic to have you all in the room, contributing your insights, energy and commitment to strengthening employment support in your community.

We also want to express appreciation to the Wise Group for the warm hospitality and use of their training space. Thank you to Thrive Catering (Christchurch City Mission) for the quality kai that kept everyone fuelled throughout the day.

We also had a parent attended one of our workshops to learn employer development techniques to support their family member. They brought a unique and powerful perspective we don’t often get in this space, and it was a strong reminder of why we do this mahi.

Moments like this ground our work in real whānau experiences - and that’s invaluable.

We hope the workshops offered valuable learnings, fresh perspectives and practical tools.

Mā te wā.

Increase your engagement and confidence with employers in 2026 - due to popular demand, we're returning to Christchurch on 12 March with our Three Cups of Tea workshop.

At the workshop you'll be introduced to the “three cups of tea” approach, which focuses on building relationships before transactions.

Our facilitator will share practical strategies, real-world experiences and help you develop your own unique approach to employer engagement. Then, go a step further by putting theory into practice through hands-on activities and paired exercises – making in-person visits to employers in the local area.

Join us to gain confidence, refine your skills and make employer engagement something you look forward to! We look forward to hearing from you!

Visit our website to register now (link in comments).

Have you ever thought about "what to share, when to share, how to share and if to share" - when it comes to managing personal information?

Our half-day workshop will help you understand what is meant by managing personal information in an employment context - and why it's such an important consideration.

Register your place for upcoming workshops on:
Wednesday 25 February (online) - limited spaces!
Friday 13 March (in person, Christchurch)

For more information, reach out to the Work Counts team, or visit our website:

Managing personal information - Work Counts Understand what is meant by managing personal information within an employment context, and why it is an important consideration.

First workshop for 2026 done and dusted!

Thank you to our participants from the NNew Zealand Red Crossand WWorkwisewho chose to start the year with a Work Counts workshop on building relationships with employers.

Robert Williams was the facilitator on the day. “What an entertaining experience! It was a pleasure to meet you all and learn more about your mahi across the Bay of Plenty and the Waikato. I hope the learnings and topics we discussed benefit you and your tāngata whai ora. I look forward to hearing how your employer connections lead to job opportunities for people,” said Rob.

Thank you to the Workwise Bay of Plenty team for hosting us at their offices in Rotorua.

It's not too late to register for our February workshops - check out our website https://www.workcounts.co.nz/workshops/