Edvance Workplace Education

After attending this year’s ACE Aotearoa (Adult and Community Education) Conference in Auckland, our Edvance programme managers returned to the office energised and inspired by what they’d learned.

This year’s theme was Beyond the Hype: Applying Artificial and Ancestral Intelligences for Transformative Learning, and the conference explored how AI and ancestral knowledge could work together to support effective, ethical and culturally grounded learning. This is particularly relevant for us in the current environment where AI continues to reshape how people learn and work.

Our team valued the opportunity to connect with others in the sector, explore new approaches to learning, and reflect on how we can continue to support positive outcomes for learners, workplaces and communities.

Edvance programme manager Fa’aulu Tomuli-Afoa said she really enjoyed the keynote speakers and AI-focused workshops. “What stood out for me was the balance between embracing new technology and valuing the knowledge, culture and relationships that already exist within our communities. It was a great reminder that the best learning happens when innovation and human connection work together.”

Happy Pink Shirt Day from Edvance!

To mark this important day on Aotearoa’s calendar, Edvance hosted a wānanga exploring how we connect with people from different countries, cultures, and walks of life. Together, we discussed different cultural perspectives and how these shape the way we work alongside both our learners and clients.

Edvance is in a privileged position to support learners and workplaces across a wide range of industries and communities. Pink Shirt Day is an opportunity to reflect on the kind of environments we want to help create — places where people feel respected, safe to be themselves, and empowered to grow.

Kōrero Mai, Kōrero Atu, Mauri Tū, Mauri Ora – Speak Up, Stand Together, Stop Bullying.

Congratulations to the team at Online Distribution on celebrating their first graduation with Edvance!

Across Auckland and Christchurch, warehouse and distribution centre staff have been completing a bespoke Workplace Communication Skills programme designed to strengthen confidence, communication, and collaboration in the workplace.

General Manager of Operations Glen Taylor described the partnership with Edvance as an “extremely positive experience and rewarding for all those that were involved. It was a great initiative, and I'm looking forward to seeing the continued growth and development of those that attended.”

A huge congratulations to all graduates on this achievement, and well done to Online Distribution for supporting the ongoing growth and development of your whānau.

Pictured are Good to Great learners from our Mount Maunganui group, practicing New Zealand Sign Language alongside their ata mārie waiata.

Good to Great is a fully funded programme designed for adults who benefit from additional support with literacy, numeracy, communication, and everyday digital skills, particularly neurodiverse and disabled learners.

This programme takes place across several locations in the North Island, and has profound impact on the learners — a lot of the time, even after they graduate, the students return to study with us again and again.

Jodi, a support worker to one of our learners, says this ongoing enrolment reflects the strength of the experience. “They come back excited to share what they’ve been learning and it is clear to see their confidence and skills growing over time. They really value the chance to connect with others, and the friendships they build are a big part of why they keep coming back. They always have great things to say about the tutors and the supportive, welcoming environment.”

FREE* ONLINE COURSE - Pre-Entry Preparation

Upskill to sit Pre-Entry testing for NZ Police, Fire, Defence Force, Corrections

Course covers abstract, numerical and verbal reasoning, timed multi-choice test practice, literacy & numeracy upskilling, and much more.

To find out more: Join our ONLINE INFORMATION SESSION on TUESDAY 5 MAY, 7pm

Register your interest now: https://edvance.co.nz/for.../pre-entry-preparation-training/

Next course starts 27 May. Online classes Monday and Wednesday evenings for 17 weeks.

*Course can be free if you are eligible – conditions apply

Pre-Entry Preparation Training for NZ Services | Edvance Workplace Education Prepare for NZ Police, Defence, Fire & Emergency, or Corrections entry tests with Edvance's targeted training. Boost your literacy, numeracy, and reasoning skills for success.

Edvance is proud to celebrate our Image Holdings graduates, who have successfully completed our Health & Safety in the Workplace programme, delivered by facilitator Desiree Gelbart.

Our Health & Safety training is tailored to each organisation we work with, ensuring internal systems, policies, and processes align with current New Zealand legislation, and supporting adjustments to practice to achieve a safer workplace.

Image Holdings brought forward 10 of their warehouse team members to upskill through this programme, with strong engagement and commitment throughout.

Feedback from management highlights the impact: "Working with Edvance was easy and they made the whole team feel valued. Communication was fantastic. We had one team member joining via Teams each week, and the trainer always ensured he felt included in activities. The business has gained a lot of value from this course, and the culture shift around Health and Safety has been awesome to see."

This marks our third partnership together — and we’re proud to support their ongoing commitment to continuous improvement.

Edvance enjoyed a great evening out last week at the RSM East Auckland Business Awards. We’re proud to have been named a finalist for the Excellence in Community Impact Award, which highlighted our work with employers in the East Tāmaki region.

It was a brilliant night celebrating the resilience, innovation, and community spirit that defines East Auckland’s 300-strong business community, and a great opportunity to get familiar with other organisations doing meaningful work across the region.

A highlight for us was seeing our Client Relationship Managers, Jo Austin and Jan Bruneau-Herman, meet Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, who is also the MP for Botany.

Congratulations to Times Media, publishers of the Eastern Times, on taking out the award this year, what a fantastic achievement! Thank you to Business East Tamaki, RSM New Zealand, and the Howick Local Board for bringing together such a strong showcase of local business excellence.

For us, being recognised in the Community Impact category reflects more than two decades of supporting people and organisations to build skills, capability, and opportunity — work we’re proud to continue.

Promoting a top performer into a leader? Give them the tools to succeed.

Too often, strong contributors are expected to step into leadership and simply “figure it out”, yet leading people requires a unique set of skills — communication, active listening, problem solving and emotional intelligence.

Without the right support, even your most capable staff can falter, impacting performance, culture, and retention. Leadership capability isn’t automatic, it’s developed over time with the right support.

That’s the thinking behind Edvance’s NZ Certificate in Business – Introduction to Team Leadership (Level 3), delivered in collaboration with Competenz .

Designed for new and emerging supervisors, in manufacturing and operational environments, the programme focuses on practical, applied leadership, combining self-directed learning with structured coaching so learners can build capability in the flow of work.

One recent graduate shared, “This course has helped to shape me into a far more effective leader… I’ve learned to listen differently — not just to respond, but to truly understand.”

The next cohort begins Friday 17 April, with six scheduled online sessions supported by ongoing coaching and facilitator guidance.

Click this link to file an expression of interest now!
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Edvance is delighted to celebrate our 3R Group graduates, who have completed the Skills for Leaders programme with a focus on Lean principles.

For this cohort, Edvance’s programme was delivered online across three locations around Aotearoa. It was a pleasure to see the group come together in person in Auckland for a shared graduation ceremony — a fitting way to mark the end of the collaborative learning journey.

3R supports businesses to design and deliver practical solutions that enable customers to responsibly dispose of products and packaging at end of life. Feedback on the programme has been overwhelmingly positive, with Operations Manager Dustin Raupatu Stephens highlighting the strength of the course design, communication, and facilitation, and the impact this has had on team capability — particularly in active listening and openness to challenge.

“From our first interaction via email to meeting the Edvance team, through to testing and confirming our participants, the process has been seamless and efficient. Thank you to Edvance for making the whole experience something that the whole team and I will remember for a long, long time,” says Dustin.

We are proud to have partnered with 3R to support leaders who are building stronger ways of working through Lean thinking and shared accountability.

Delivered by Edvance, Good to Great provides a safe, inclusive learning environment where learners are supported to build confidence, independence, and practical skills at their own pace. Trainers take the time to understand individual needs, creating learning that is hands-on, relevant, and tailored to the group.

We have a Pāpāmoa programme starting soon on 17 March — this will be a great fit for adults who would benefit from extra support with literacy, numeracy, communication, and everyday digital skills, and who are neurodiverse or have a learning disability.

If this sounds like a good opportunity for someone you know, please contact Amie at [email protected] to find out more.

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