At Flying Kites, we often say that the right support person can change your world. A huge part of our work is our Personalised Recruitment Support Service, where we do the "heavy lifting" to help disabled people and whānau find staff who aren't just skilled, but are the perfect personality fit.
But we’ve noticed a missing piece of the puzzle.
Often, people enter support work with a lot of heart but very little orientation to how the disability system actually works in Aotearoa. On the flip side, employers want to hire people who already "get it", people who understand the Social Model of Disability and the importance of self-determination.
That’s why we are launching our new free online series: Foundations for Being a Great Support Worker.
Bridging the Gap Between Training and Recruitment
This isn’t just another training course. It’s a direct link to the way we recruit.
When we help someone find a support worker, we are looking for candidates who understand that the best support starts with the disabled person leading the way. These workshops are designed to give you that exact mindset.
- For aspiring workers: These sessions make you a "stand-out" candidate for the roles we recruit for.
- For current workers: They provide the professional boundaries and communication tools that turn a "job" into a career.
- For employers: It’s a resource you can point your new hires toward to ensure they have the right foundations from day one.
What We’ll Cover
The series is broken into four practical, one-hour sessions:
- Session 1: What is Support Work? – Unpacking the day-to-day reality and key ideas like Enabling Good Lives (EGL).
- Session 2: Your Communication Kete – Building a basket of skills to navigate different styles and tricky situations.
- Session 3: Beyond the Shift – Getting clear on boundaries, trust, and how your growth links to pay equity.
- Session 4: Getting the Job – This is where it all ties together. We’ll look at what employers are really looking for and how Flying Kites can support you into the right role.
A Format That Fits Your Schedule
We know that filling out a registration form can feel like a "big ask" if you aren't sure you can make every date. We’ve made this series as low-pressure as possible:
- Pick and Choose: You can attend the whole series or just the one session that interests you.
- The 30/30 Split: Each session features a 30-minute presentation (which we record and send to you) followed by a 30-minute informal, unrecorded kōrero to ask the "real" questions.
- Can’t make it live? Register anyway! We’ll email the recording to everyone on the list so you can watch it when you have a gap between shifts.
The People Behind the Series
These workshops are facilitated by the Flying Kites team, drawing on over 15 years of experience in disability support and recruitment. Because we are actively recruiting for roles across Aotearoa every day, we know exactly what makes a support worker "great" in the eyes of the people they support.
Ready to learn how to be a great support worker?
Whether you’re looking for your first role through our recruitment service or you’re a seasoned support worker looking to sharpen your "Communication Kete," we’d love to see you there.
Dates: Tuesday mornings (10:30 AM – 11:30 AM) from May 21 – June 11.
Click here to view the full schedule and register
If you’re an employer looking for help finding the right staff, you can also contact us to learn more about our Personalised Recruitment Support Services.