Thinking about being a Learning Rep?

If you are thinking about putting your name forward to be a Learning Rep in your workplace, click on about us for more information, or for more advice contact us with any questions.

Usually the first step is a meeting of your work group.  The Learning Rep is an elected role, and it is important that your work as a Rep is seen by co-workers as important and that you have their support.  

Usually someone from the Learning Reps office will discuss the project with workers at a meeting on site - usually it is a union meeting because it is difficult to set up any alternative.  If all goes well and the workers on the site see the advantages that lie ahead, the Learning Reps project will meet with your employer, usually along with an organiser from the union.

At that stage all we ask is for the employer to release elected Learning Reps to attend two days training. 

This is a training programme which teaches the Rep the skills and knowledge necessary for the role.  It is important to not go too far in planning for the role before training is completed, because some of the training covers how to work with the employer to devise whatever is right for your group and the enterprise you work for.  This can result in a Learning Agreement which covers how the plan will work at your workplace.

All costs related to training except your wages are covered by the project.

Remember: it is important that you are supported by the workers who you will represent, which is why we encourage elections for the role.  You are the workers' learning representative.  And it is not a go-it-alone role either.  A big part of the job is setting up a learning support system that involves everyone in your group; helping each other to learn, providing advice, sharing knowledge, encouraging recognition of the skills and talents that the group has.

Training is NZQA approved and you can achieve three unit standards for the Learning Reps Certificate.  The unit standards that are used to assess the knowledge and skills that Reps gain through training are:

23023             Describe strategies required for the role of a Learning Representative

23024             Describe how workplace learning operates in New Zealand and the role of unions in the process

23025             Demonstrate knowledge of the purpose and role of a Learning Representative.

You can view these standards via the NZQA web site. 

So - if you have any questions contact us.