Maori Business Network Xmas Cocktail Party 2001
MBN welcomes BMETS latest Self-Employed Graduates into the Network,
with the presentation of “BMETS Entrepreneur 2001” certificates.
Eleven certificates were jointly presented by Maori Business Network Chairman, Moses Armstrong and Manukau City Council Deputy Mayor, Anne Candy.
Graduation – BMETS Support of the Older Person Programme 2002
There were a total of 24 graduates in 2002
• 15 of them completing the NZQA National Certificate in Support of the
Older Person (Level Three)
• In addition, two of these graduates also completed the National Certificate
in Employment Skills (Level One)
Some key highlights of the two-and-a-half hour Graduation were:
• The BMETS programme's success including collaboration with the rest home industry. This meant each student was in the privileged position of graduating with a job to go to, where they could put their newfound skills and knowledge into practice.• A multicultural melting pot of students from 10 different ethnic backgrounds including Indian, Polish, English, Chinese, Korean, Iraqi, Thai, Fijians, Samoans, Niueans, Cook Islanders and Maori.
• An inspirational speech to the ceremony audience of about 80 family members, friends and other guests by Gail Harrison, Nurse Manager, Takanini Lodge, Rest Home and Hospital, about second-chance education and the important role caregivers play.
"Caregiving is an honourable job," Gail Harrison,
Nurse Manager,
Takanini Lodge, Rest Home and Hospital told the ceremony. As well as developing
people and observational skills, caregivers have the chance to be privy to the
many years of wisdom and knowledge gained by people aged in their 80s and 90s,
with 'lots of stories to tell'.
To become a caregiver people need to have:
• Patience and perseverance
• The ability to laugh and have fun
• Empathy for their fellow human beings
"It's not about mothering the way you do as your children grow up, these people are still independent and they're adults," Gail Harrison said.
Some of the rewards of caregiving:
• Learning about the meaning of life, and death
• The "sweet satisfaction" of knowing you can make a big difference
in the lives of older people, "people who could easily be our parents"
• Makes people better human beings
Gail Harrison says second-chance education, such as provided by the BMETS programme, offers good career opportunities for people who have not completed their schooling and new migrants, the chance to learn a new language and integrate into a new culture.