18 August 2020 Update

Tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou, 

At Primary ITO we are determined to take a gold standard approach to the health and wellbeing of our learners, the employers we work with, and the training providers we partner with to deliver training.

For now, our offices are closed but our team is online and working – and remain committed to supporting you and your teams while they do so.

While we completely understand that health, wellbeing and other needs will be highest in people’s priorities, we have some training changes for you to be aware of.

Alert Level 3 in Auckland

Under Alert Level 3 in Auckland, the Primary ITO office there is closed. If you have a Training Adviser, please continue to contact them, or you can call 0800 20 80 20 or email us here.  

The Alert Level 3 conditions mean no face to face training should be taking place in Auckland involving learners and outside training providers (employers training their own staff will have their own workplace requirements). This includes scheduled class days. Where Primary ITO arranges the training provider, we will be aiming to deliver these classes online where possible.

While our Primary ITO people will not be able to visit Auckland workplaces or meet face to face with employers and learners, please do get in touch if you need to discuss any aspects of your training or assessment. For the time being, please retain any evidence portfolios or assessments you have.

Auckland Trades Academy programmes

Primary ITO’s Trades Academy tutors will not be able to visit schools in Auckland under Level 3. If you are with a school involved in these programmes, we will be in touch with you with more detail.

Alert Level 2 for the rest of New Zealand

Alert Level 2 means the health authorities believe Covid-19 is contained. While there is still a risk of community transmission, with the appropriate precautions Primary ITO can continue to arrange face to face training, and visit employers and learners. We will only do this where everyone is satisfied it can go ahead safely. Otherwise we are committed to looking at alternative tools such as Zoom or Skype rather than cancelling training.

Before we visit any workplace, we will be in contact to ensure that it is appropriate to visit, and so we can follow any additional Covid-19 requirements in that workplace. We will also be ensuring we record appropriate contact tracing information, such as by using your Covid-19 QR code.

Our Trades Academy tutors will continue their programmes in schools where the school decides that is appropriate.

Above all, we will be hyper-vigilant with the health and safety of the people we work with.

How we can support you

At Primary ITO, we are confident that we can provide you with the support you need for continued learning despite the rising in Covid-19 alert levels. We have taken the opportunity throughout this year to enhance digital learning methods, to help with technology for learners who need it, and to make sure our own people have the tools to help you succeed.

Please do continue learning and enrolling to learn. Significant investment is going into primary sector training, through free fees for industry training and apprenticeships, and other financial support for businesses. For that reason, it remains a great time to learn.

Kia ora anō tātou – best wishes and stay well,

The team at Primary ITO