OCA launched to deliver Pacific vocational training

Oceania Career Academy (OCA) has been formed to build on existing efforts to generate a skilled workforce for sustainable employment of young Pacific people. The Academy stems from Auckland-based Pacific education pioneer C-Me Mentoring Foundation Trust in a strategic partnership with health and social services provider The Fono to deliver vocational training to Pacific youth.

OCA is working towards accreditation to become New Zealand’s first Pacific Trades Private Training Establishment (PTE), and will offer a range of vocational training pathways including engineering, building and construction, retail, hospitality and accommodation.

Its mentoring framework supports students through a pathway to employment, engaging families at the outset and navigating students through to skilled, secure employment within industry.

C-Me has delivered the successful Trades at Schools Programme’s pastoral care and mentoring elements to Pacific and Maori high school students since 2009. A pioneer of education, the programme has taken industry into the classrooms and provided Pacific students with a genuine career pathway after secondary school.

OCA will be led by General Manager Anthony Tu’itahi. Anthony has been with The Fono since November 2010 as Senior Business Development Manager, and was seconded to OCA in 2014 before taking up a permanent position as GM in 2015.

The new partnership with The Fono strengthens the programme’s ability to build the capability and capacity of Pacific families. The Fono will provide corporate services to OCA as well as wrap-around health and social support services to enrolled students and their families.

C-Me founder John Kotoisuva says establishing OCA in partnership with The Fono strengthens their ability to grow and achieve broader outcomes for Pacific families.

“OCA will build on the strengths of C-Me and allow us to offer more career pathways for more young Pacific people,” says John.

“That will ultimately get more young Pacific people into higher-paying skilled employment with industry.”

ENDS

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