Introducing Viv Goldsmith- Labour Candidate for East Coast Bays
Tuesday 22nd April- A day out with the Minister of Education
It was a delight to accompany Chris Carter, Minister of Education on his visit to Albany.
Our first stop was at the Advanced Training Centre, Albany Branch. This tertiary training centre provides courses to enable youth to gain the qualifications they need to enter into either the workforce or a career with the military. While we were there the General Manager, Nick Hyde briefed the minister and myself on the expansion and development of these centres and their success rate in moving students into a career pathway.
We were shown around the ‘classrooms’ and then treated to a display of the Fitness Programme. This included lifting heavy objects, hose drills and amazing 4 people push ups! We also had an opportunity to speak to some of the students attending this training centre. Their enthusiasm for learning and skilling themselves was very apparent. They talked about upcoming military entrance exams and sounded so hopeful for their future!
One student spoke about the huge personal change and growth that he felt transformed with promise! He again took us back into the centre and it was his pride in belonging to this organisation that will remain with me. It is this kind of continued education that I believe Helen Clark was also envisaging with the announcement at the Waitakere Business Club meeting to Realise youth potential.click here to read the speech.
Our next stop was to the North Shore Life Centre, Albany. This centre is provides community-based resources and services to disabled people, family/ whanau, support people and health professionals. We were firstly shown around the wonderful display area. This area is set up to model the best practice in design and layout. It contains the many different supports that are available: from automatic height adjusting tables to lids that can help a visually impaired know what’s in a tin! The innovations that were on display also included computers, hoists and chairs to help people get in and out of them with ease.
The other great part of this centre is it is home to many support organisations for the disability sector. I was able to meet with a variety of organisations. It was lovely to meet and chat with the people from Mobility Assistance Dogs Trust. These dogs are trained to assist people with limited movement to carry out everyday lives. From picking up dropped items to pushing buttons. The lovely golden retriever I meet was gorgeous, although I fell into the trap of wanting to pat him which unfortunately for these dogs is a ‘no no’!
Other organisations in this building include Arthritis NZ North Shore, Renaissance Consulting, Epilepsy North Shore and Rodney, Muscular Dystrophy, Hearing Therapy Services, Brain Injury Auckland, Brain Injury NZ, FADE and The Cerebral Palsy Society. More information on this centre can be found at: http://www.northshorelifecentre.org.nz.
It was great to spend some time out seeing the wonderful things that are happening in our communities to support others.