SkillWise

23/09/2026

How good was the Festival of Adult Learning?! Did you come along to SkillWise's awards ceremony?

Thanks heaps to ACE Aotearoa, New World St Martins and Cook Brothers Construction for helping us to celebrate our learners.

Learners were awarded certificates for completing courses, we celebrated with kai made by cooking students and, of course, enjoyed a BBQ. 🌭

Congratulations to all the learners who achieved their goals. 😎

03/09/2026

Next week is Adult Learners' Week - and we are celebrating our learners with three events:

1. Te Tiriti at SkillWise Celebration Class - the ākonga are showing what they have been learning in the class.

2. Awards Ceremony and Class Showcase - certificates for those who have completed courses + displays/demonstrations of different classes.

3. Open Studio at The White Room Creative Space - have a go at different art forms.

24/08/2026

Next Steps is today!

📆 Tuesday 25th August
⏱️ 10am to 4pm
📍 Parakiore Recreation Centre, 50 Saint Asaph Street

See you there!

Today's the day!
Come and join us at our biggest Next Steps Expo in Christchurch so far.

📆 Tuesday 25th August
⏱️ 10am to 4pm
📍 Parakiore Recreation Centre, 50 Saint Asaph Street

With over 100 stallholders on site, it's a friendly space to explore choices for work, study, fun, friendship, support and living options. Free entry and free parking for attendees. Sensory space available. See you soon!

28/07/2026

Not long now until Next Steps Expo 2026!

Wondering about the next steps in your disability journey? Come and meet over 100 accessible services and organisations from across Christchurch and New Zealand, all in one place. Next Steps is a friendly space to discover choices for work, fun, study, friendship, support, living options, day to day activities and more. You can also take part in activities and watch local performances throughout the day. Free entry and parking!

📍 Parakiore Recreation Centre Show Courts, St Asaph Street, Christchurch
📅 Tuesday 25 August 2026
🕙 10:00am – 4:00pm

We'll see you there!

13/07/2026

Before the long weekend, SkillWise staff were busy learning more about Dyscalculia. While 'maths anxiety' is a common experience, there is a huge misunderstanding of the condition of Dyscalculia despite impacting around 12% of the population.

Michael taught us more about Dyscalculia, and the incredible work of DysCalculator. DysCalculator have designed a Calculator specifically as a tool to support people with Dyscalculia. Michael gave us a demonstration of the DysCalculator, and it is incredible. Not only is a tool for people who struggle with math, it's a tool that anyone can use.

The best thing is, it's free to use on their website at https://www.dyscalculator.app/

Thank you DysCalculator for creating this awesome tool, and doing this awesome mahi. We're so excited about being better equipped to support learners in strengthening their Numeracy skills and independence.

09/07/2026

Staff at SkillWise have been busy learning about Pathways Awarua today. Big thank you to Michael from Pathways Awarua for visiting SkillWise and upskilling us about their awesome online education platform!

We're looking forward to exploring the platform more, and utilising it to support our learners with strengthening Literacy and Numeracy skills.

08/07/2026

Mānawatia a Matariki!

Matariki is a special holiday in Aotearoa, and a highly anticipated time at SkillWise.

Three pillars of Matariki are: 💐Remembrance, 🎂Celebrating the present, and 🌠Looking forward to the future.

This year, during the lead up to Matariki, different classes have been learning about Matariki and celebrating each pillar throughout their learning.

One class, Te Tiriti at SkillWise have been focused on learning about each whetū | star individually, and the pūrākau | stories behind Matariki from different Iwi and Regions around Aotearoa.

Currently the SkillWise building is decorated with beautiful stars, and Matariki clusters, made by SkillWise learners from various classes. Can you recognise different pūrākau | stories in their art?

Whoever you are, wherever you are, Mānawatia a Matariki!

18/06/2026

Do you want to share your views or feedback about the bus and ferry network within Ōtautahi (Christchurch)?

Did you know Environment Canterbury is running a survey?

They are doing a review of Metro services.

If you complete their survey, you could also go into the draw to win one of three $300 grocery vouchers.

You have until Wednesday, 24 June 2026, to do the survey.

You can ask SkillWise staff for support you with the survey.

11/06/2026

Hey you! Have a look at IHC New Zealand's article about the SkillWise Squad.

What do you think?

With funding from the IHC Foundation, The SkillWise Squad has employed a dedicated facilitator to help its members—all individuals with learning or intellectual disabilities—develop key leadership and governance skills so they can actively represent their peers at a board level.

17/05/2026

Play netball for SkillWise! We are looking for more players for our Saturday team - you don't need to be a current member of SkillWise to play for us. Be in touch if you are interested :)