Empowering Voices: The Education Program Helping NZ Migrants Thrive at Work
A unique communication program is helping new migrants overcome the challenges of settling
into New Zealand by boosting their workplace speech confidence and cultural integration.
The Migrant Workplace Communication Training, overseen by Speech NZ, is a workplace communication course designed to help with speaking confidence, improving employment prospects, and supporting cultural integration to help newcomers feel at home in their local communities.
The initiative began 13 years ago, when former trustee, Dr Margriet Theron, an immigrant herself, adapted Speech NZ’s Professional Speaking syllabus to assist migrants in the Rotorua community. It has since expanded from just specifically Rotorua to Tauranga, Auckland, Alexandra and Hamilton.
Helena Coulton, Executive Officer of Speech NZ, spoke highly of the program and all of its benefits.
“Our world, our country, is a beautiful mat of woven threads from different cultures, perspectives, opinions, understandings and heart, each as important as the next, we must allow every voice to be heard and strengthened so we can see the full pattern of our world or country”.
Coulton said that to her, the programme is “A chance to empower communities to feel heard, to stand up for what they need, to understand and know the value they bring to their lives in Aotearoa”.
She believes it has a strong impact on its students as they are able to go above and beyond to help each individual with specific needs, offering direct feedback and unique workplace opportunities.
Course tutor, Niall Baker, says that the program is rewarding as they get to see the impact that the course has on migrants who are having trouble with adjusting to New Zealand.
Baker remembers a struggling student who had been rejected from over 200 jobs due to his communication skills. He told Baker after completing the course that he was able to find a full time roll and credited the course saying without it he wouldn’t have been able to find one.
“It’s very fulfilling to effectively support migrants who are settling into life in New Zealand.”
A recent graduate student praised Niall in an email: “I can’t find the right words to use in expression of my appreciation for your warm approach where everyone feels safe, heard and valued…” “…I wish to extend my sincere appreciation to our examiner for building such confidence in us the migrants, that even when English is not our first language, we can be heard, understood and therefore contribute meaningfully to our country New Zealand”
The Migrant Workplace Communication training program is helping thousands of students with navigating life in a new country.
