During recess we often get to spend five, six or seven days working as local MPs. Lots of people think the most interesting stuff happens in Parliament – but thats not my view. Today wasn’t that unusual but thought readers would be interested in the variety.
- Radio interview re Christchurch Festival of Cycling which I’m supporting next weekend.
- Meeting with parent of kid who is caught between being able to cope at school and being eligible for special needs support.
- School visit to a local intermediate whose principal showed me documentary evidence of the way the school (decile 3) is outperforming national norms on standardised literacy and writing tests. And making well above average progress. And not using Tolley’s standards. Got a bit pissed off when a young teacher suggested I was soft on Tolley at morning tea Q&A.
- Meeting with local NZEI reps.
- Meeting with local police, retailers, mall management, community leaders re recent antisocial behaviour by a few local youths.
- Session with guy on health reform.
- Discussion on proposed church drop in centre and shoppers’ creche.
- Coffee
- Graduation ceremony for care workers getting their first ever qualifications.
Go Trev!
!
Spud you really need to get a room. So Trevor had a few days doing what he’s paid to do. hooray. Why are you getting so excited?
Looks like the new standards could benefit you Trevor. Never start a sentence with “And”.
So last century Dave.
Not that there’s anything wrong with that
More info about the care workers please – that sounds very significant for this important workforce.
At a Ryman’s village. They have taken a position that all their carers must have level 2 certification within 3 months of starting.
“At a Ryman’s village. They have taken a position that all their carers must have level 2 certification within 3 months of starting.” The Village People
Hi Hilary
@ no 3: Yes Trev you must be very fond of Anne. She needs plenty of support so continue to be kind to her. Perhaps you could take her for a bike ride; you know give her a dub on your bar. And (note the And) please ask her some simple questions that she is able to answer.
Are you starting to feel the heat Trev? Do you need a safer seat? Smile and wave sessions today will not be good enough come 2011.
as a certified pedant I can reassure you that it is perfectly correct to start a sentence with “and” as long it is done consciously, for effect. So there.
“Smile and wave sessions today will not be good enough come 2011″
That’s exactly what most labour supporters have been saying about John Key.
Glad you’re getting it at last. Must be the company you’ve been keeping rubbing off on you
Off thread Trevor
Also off thread Trevor
Still off thread Trevor
Trevor – do you know whether Ryman supports the workers to do this study (in time or resources) and pays them more when they achieve it?
Hope you managed to help the parent of the child with special educational needs (or told Rodney to sort it).
Can’t wait to see the answer to Hilary’s Q. AFAIK, the care workers around here have to do the work to qualify in their own time and they get nothing or virtually nothing extra in their (miserable minimal)pay when they achieve it.
Trev is more than man enough to keep Hutt-South
I think Trev could ask his questions using finger puppets, it might help!
@ Hilary – my understanding is that materials and fees are paid by employer and there is an individual on staff who is responsible for coaching encouraging etc. And that qualifications above the minimum result in a pay increase. Having said that the pay rates are not flash.
Hopefully this isn’t off thread, seeing as it’s an electoral theme, so how’s that Hutt company that produces the fuel cells you mentioned awhile ago going Trevor.
Are they getting what they need and if not, what else should we be doing for them?
IRL – hasn’t featured in my last three or four visits there – will ask next time.
@Trevor – that’s good to hear that there is at least some increased reimbursement. I heard from someone at Careerforce that many care workers (aged and disability sectors) want to do these courses (and of course the consumers want trained staff), but they have to find money and time to do them and they result in no extra pay.
The other day I met a guy looking for work, and he told me about a job advert he saw that sort of shows the low level of where some kiwi bosses are at these days.
The job description, as a horticultural nursery worker, sought a qualified (cert or dip = 1-3 yrs at polytech), with excellent plant knowledge, a couple of years of working in the industry, and finally previous retail sales experience.
He said the advert read like it was looking for a man friday/jesus hybrid, using all the rubbish sales speak commonly used, like ‘valuable team member’ ‘major part in the organisation’ etc…
Shame they were only prepared to pay $12.75 ph.
Why would anyone want to work for an employer that has such high expectations of what is required to do the job, yet is only prepared to pay a pittance to get it.
Bl**dy crooks!
It reminds me of the Grapes of Wrath! 
! Thank goodness for our pitifully low minimum wage! 