DO schemes boost in NZ and Australia

New Zealand optometry practice owners can now access the Ministry of Social Development’s (MSD’s) Mana in Mahi (Strength in Work) programme, boosting both wage subsidy and course fee contributions for aspiring dispensing opticians.

The Mana in Mahi programme offers employers 12 months of funding towards training and sustainable employment of new permanent staff. It includes a wage subsidy of up to NZ$16,000 (Flexi-wage $276 per week for 24 weeks) and $8,000 towards course fees (Flexi-wage $5,000), while trainees are offered up to $3,000 in incentive payments during the first year. If a practice already has a candidate in mind, it can refer them to MSD for enrolment onto its books, before it refers them back to the practice to employ.

Leesa Stuart at Rolleston Eye Optometrist is the first practice to have used the Mana in Mahi programme. “Reading in NZ Optics about the lack of response from the industry to MSD was a catalyst for me to give it a try. It just worked brilliantly.”

The process itself was very straightforward, said Stuart, adding she had already identified a candidate on MSD’s books who was looking for work. With the programme’s support, the candidate was hired and is now enrolled on the Australasian College of Optical Dispensing’s (ACOD) Cert IV course. “Mana in Mahi is a big commitment for both parties, but it removes some of the stress and pressure, ensuring that we’re both heading in the same direction. I think they’ve named the programme quite well, as it’s very supportive.”

Stuart said she also likes the flexibility of having the two schemes available to practices. “I could have used the Flexi-wage scheme, but in the end the Mana in Mahi programme gave me what I really wanted: getting assistance to get someone qualified in a year’s time. To me, that’s really significant.”

Vineet Chauhan, former president of the Association of Dispensing Opticians New Zealand (ADONZ) and the driving force behind the scheme, said MSD is making an exception for the industry to access this funding. Although the programme is designed for New Zealand Qualifications Authority courses, MSD has agreed to make funding available, mainly because the ACOD Cert IV course is the only pathway for DOs to get qualified, he said. To take part, a practice needs to have a permanent, full- or part-time position to fill, be willing to offer at least the adult minimum wage and commit to supporting the new employee to achieve completion of a relevant and approved industry training pathway. Mana in Mahi candidates need to be either a New Zealand citizen or resident, available for full- or part-time work and keen to train towards an ACOD Cert IV qualification.

Aussie changes to DO contributions

Effective from 1 January this year, the Australian federal government has added ACOD’s Certificate IV to its Apprenticeships Priority List Appendix A, offering a financial incentive for both the employer and employee for course enrolments. The new incentives include a 10% wage subsidy for two years for employers (capped at AU$1,500 per quarter, up to AU$6,000 per year for a maximum of two years) and a training support payment for employees (capped at $5,000 for full-time roles and $2,500 for part-time roles, paid in four equal instalments of $625 over two years). Unlike the previous new-entrant hiring incentives, these payments are dependant only on enrolment, not course completion, said ACOD director James Gibbins.

The Australian federal government also amended its new-entrant hiring incentives available to employers, offering a total of AU$3,500 at 12 months for a full-time role and AU$1,750 at 12 months for part-time. The more generous former federal hiring incentive, Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements (launched as a part of a federal post-Covid recovery budget), was closed in June 2022.

Gibbins said it’s good news in both markets and expects the changes to significantly boost optical dispensing training numbers in both Australia and in New Zealand.