Gaining work experience

Volunteering

Voluntary work can provide an opportunity to gain work experience and skills, and to make contact with potential future employers.

Volunteers also make a valuable contribution to the community. Find volunteer opportunities at a Volunteer Centre or look online at Seek Volunteer.

Activity in the community is a programme through Work and Income that provides work experience opportunities in sponsored community projects. The work is unpaid, but some expenses may be covered.

Timebanking provides an opportunity to trade skills with other people in the community. Visit Timebank Aotearoa to locate a timebank near you.

Internships and work experience

Internships or work experience can be a good opportunity to learn skills. Many internships or work experience are unpaid, so it’s important that interns benefit from the experience by learning real and relevant skills.

Tertiary students may find that completing a period of work experience is an important part of earning their qualification. The tertiary provider will be able to give some guidance about how to arrange an internship.

There are also internship programmes designed to support people with disabilities. The Be. Accessible internship programme organises paid employment for students within an organisation for four to 16 weeks. The aim of the programme is to create opportunities for students, whilst providing a valuable and positive experience for employers. Applicants should contact their tertiary provider’s disability student services, or enquire at Be. Accessible.

The Mainstream Internship Programme provides a subsidy and other support to enable employers to employ disabled students in short-term internships that are relevant to their course of study. Applicants should contact disability support services at their tertiary provider for information about eligibility.

Get support from a mentor

Finding a mentor can be valuable for anyone who wants advice about how to reach their career goals.

Carabiner Mentoring supports young people with disabilities to reach their goals by matching them up with adult mentors who have expertise in their area of interest. Participants need to be aged 17-24 years and demonstrate passion and perseverance for their goal, whether it’s recreational, academic or in work. Visit their Facebook page to learn more.

Find other mentoring opportunities at the New Zealand Youth Mentoring Network.