Employable

14/10/2026

❤️ WHY INCLUSIVE EMPLOYMENT MATTERS

Having a job can mean more than earning a wage.

It's being part of a team.
It's meeting new people.
It's learning new skills.
It's having a sense of purpose and belonging.

Everyone deserves the opportunity to experience what being part of a workplace can bring. ❤️

Send a message to learn more

12/10/2026

Conversation Corner: 🫄👼

Recently, we spoke with a client who had some exciting news to share with her employer.

She was pregnant.

While our client was happy and excited about becoming a mum, she was also incredibly worried about telling her employer.

She was concerned that her employer might see her differently, that they might question her commitment to the job, or even worse, that she could lose her employment because she was pregnant.

She had worked hard to establish herself in her role and didn't want her pregnancy to change how she was treated at work.

This led to an important conversation.

Becoming pregnant doesn't mean someone suddenly becomes less committed to their job, less capable, or less valuable as an employee.

In New Zealand, pregnancy is protected under employment law. Pregnancy and childbirth are prohibited grounds of discrimination, meaning an employer cannot unlawfully discriminate against an employee because they are pregnant.

Pregnancy can also mean that an employee may be entitled to parental leave and other workplace protections, depending on their individual circumstances and eligibility.

An employer cannot dismiss someone simply because they are pregnant or because they are taking parental leave.

We talked with our client about the fact that telling her employer she was pregnant didn't mean she was putting her job at risk.

It was also an opportunity to have an open conversation about what the coming months might look like, including any pregnancy-related needs, planning for parental leave, and how they could work together to support a smooth transition.

We encouraged our client to have the conversation when she felt ready and to be open with her employer about what she needed. She didn't need to apologise for being pregnant or feel that she had done something wrong.

Our advice? If you're pregnant and worried about telling your employer, remember that pregnancy is protected under New Zealand employment law. You have rights, and there are legal protections around discrimination and parental leave. Your individual circumstances will determine exactly what you're entitled to, so if you're unsure, seek advice about your situation.

Pregnancy shouldn't mean having to choose between your career and your growing family.

Sometimes, the conversation you're most worried about having can be the beginning of planning how you and your employer can make things work.

07/10/2026

❤️ WHY INCLUSIVE EMPLOYMENT MATTERS

Inclusive employment isn't just about giving someone a job.

It's about creating opportunities for people to contribute, learn, connect and grow — while employers benefit from new skills, perspectives and dedicated team members.

A truly inclusive workplace creates opportunities for everyone. 🌱

Send a message to learn more

06/10/2026

FYI

Microsoft Teams meeting
Join:
https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/419479071622025?p=MzjI1AmuvbnC8aE3OR
Meeting ID: 419 479 071 622 025
Passcode: qG7m4cA3

05/10/2026

Conversation Corner: 🫴⏱️

Recently, we spoke with a client who was really enjoying their job and wanted to work more hours.

They had settled into their role, enjoyed being part of the team, and felt ready to take on more. They knew they had the capacity to do additional work, but there was one problem.

They didn't know how to ask.

Our client was worried that asking for more hours might come across as being demanding, or that their employer might think they weren't happy with the hours they were already working. They also weren't sure whether their employer would actually have additional hours available.

This led to an important conversation.

Wanting to work more is a perfectly reasonable conversation to have with your employer. It doesn't mean you're unhappy with your current role, and it doesn't mean your employer has to be able to offer you more hours.

We also talked about thinking beyond the hours or tasks that were already part of their usual role.

Sometimes, there are other tasks within a workplace that are regularly picked up by other employees. These might be additional responsibilities, helping with different parts of the business, or taking on work that needs to be done when other team members aren't available.

These opportunities might not automatically be offered to someone, simply because their employer doesn't know they are interested.

We encouraged our client to let their employer know that they were enjoying their role, were interested in working more, and would be happy to take on additional tasks or responsibilities if opportunities became available.

They could also ask their employer whether there were other areas of the business where they could help. This opens up the conversation rather than limiting it to, “Can I have more hours?”

We also reminded our client that asking doesn't mean expecting.

Their employer might not have additional hours available right now. They might already have other employees covering certain tasks. Or there might be opportunities that the employer hadn't considered before.

But having the conversation gives both the employee and employer an opportunity to explore what might be possible.

Our advice? If you're enjoying your job and would like to work more, don't be afraid to have the conversation. You don't need to have the perfect words prepared. Let your employer know that you're interested in taking on more work, explain when you're available, and ask whether there are other tasks or opportunities you could help with.

The answer might be yes, it might be not right now, or it might be something completely different from what you expected.

But you won't know unless you ask.

Sometimes, creating new opportunities at work isn't about waiting for someone to offer you more. It's about letting your employer know that you're ready to do more and having a conversation about what that could look like.

04/10/2026

See you tomorrow. Very grateful for our friends at Nelson Public Libraries Ngā Whare Mātauranga o Whakatū for allowing us to be in their whare

30/09/2026

📢 A little update to our office hours

Our last Friday open in the office will be Friday, 2 October.

From then on, our office will be closed on Fridays, but it’s business as usual behind the scenes! Our team will still be working remotely and available by phone and email throughout the day.

Our office will be open as usual Monday to Thursday, and we’ll continue to provide the same great service and support to our clients.

Thank you for your continued support! 😊

Send a message to learn more

30/09/2026

❤️ WHY INCLUSIVE EMPLOYMENT MATTERS

Everyone has skills, strengths and something valuable to contribute.

Inclusive employment gives people with disabilities the opportunity to use their abilities, develop new skills, build confidence and be part of a team.

When workplaces focus on what people can do, everyone benefits. 🤝

Send a message to learn more

28/09/2026

Conversation Corner: 🏋️🤔

Recently, we spoke with a client who was preparing for a job interview and was worried about one particular question:

“What are your strengths?”

Our client knew what she was good at. She could identify several areas where she felt confident in her abilities and knew she had developed valuable skills through her previous experience.

But there was something holding her back.

She was worried that her answer might not be good enough.

Her concern was: “I think I'm good at it, but how do I know if the employer thinks the same thing? What if their standards are so high that my skills in this area aren't enough?”

This led to an important conversation.

When an employer asks about your strengths, they're not necessarily expecting you to claim that you're the best at something. They're trying to understand how you see yourself, what you bring to a role, and whether your skills and experience align with what they're looking for.

You can't know exactly what an employer's expectations are, and you don't need to.

Instead, focus on what you do know.

Think about the skills you've developed, the things you've received positive feedback about, situations where you've performed well, and examples of times when you've used that strength successfully.

For example, rather than simply saying “I'm good at communicating,” you could explain what makes you a good communicator and give an example of how that skill has helped you in the workplace.

It's also important to remember that being asked about your strengths isn't a test where there is one “correct” answer. Your strengths don't have to be extraordinary. They just need to be genuine, relevant, and supported by your experience.

We encouraged our client to stop trying to guess what the employer might think and instead focus on confidently communicating what she knows she can offer.

Our advice? Before an interview, identify your key strengths and write them down. For each one, think of a real example that demonstrates it. Put your preparation in writing, ideally by email if you're seeking advice or support from someone, and don't be afraid to talk about the things you're genuinely good at.

You don't need to convince an employer that you're perfect.

You just need to give them the opportunity to see what you can bring to the role.

27/09/2026

We’re excited to launch our new Employment Readiness & Skills Development Programme 🎉
This is a free programme for people across Nelson Tasman, with practical weekly sessions and monthly workshops designed to build confidence, strengthen job-ready skills and help people take their next steps towards employment.

The programme runs from October 2026 to August 2027, with new sessions and workshops added each month.

A huge thank you to Pub Charity Limited and The Lion Foundation for supporting us to make this programme available to our community.

Spaces are limited, so please RSVP to [email protected] to secure your spot.
Feel free to share this with anyone who might benefit.😊