New Skills Active qualification gives trainees a grounding in sport and recreation values

Skills Active’s new flagship qualification is designed to give learners a launchpad into a range of sport and recreation careers.

The New Zealand Certificate in Sport, Exercise and Leisure Operations (SELO), released last month, is a nationally-recognised Level 3 qualification that can be used in any sport and recreation workplace. It replaces Skills Active’s previous entry-level qualification, Sport and Recreation Core Skills Level 2.

Yvonne Hughey is the training manager at Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools and Spa, and the first registered assessor for the new Skills Active qualification. Her role is to grow and nourish the skill base at Hanmer Springs, by ensuring its 120 staff are fully inducted and trained, and supporting them in ongoing professional development. She is also responsible for the company’s health and safety policies and procedures.

Hughey says what she likes about SELO is that it deals with fundamental values and culture that apply across every sport, exercise and leisure business, so it can be used in a wide range of occupations. At Hanmer Springs this means it works for all new staff, whether they are based at the pools, the spa, the artisan spa, the information centre, kiosk, or the café and grill.

Hughey explains “staff can apply what they’ve learned to their part of the business.

“I also love the health and safety component because it does a great job of helping people to understand what their responsibilities are.”

Hughey adds that having great talent in a business is about hiring for attitude, then helping staff develop the skills they need.

She sees that this is where SELO helps, as wjen new staff master this entry-level qualification, it is rewarding to watch them grow in self-assurance and ease in the role.

SELO is being rolled out to some of Skills Active’s key clients such as Hanmer Springs and Wellington City Council, and Skills Active Chief Executive Grant Davidson says initial feedback has been very positive.

Davidson explains “this new and improved qualification can be used off the shelf, or customised to the employer.

“We look forward to it becoming the industry standard for introducing new staff into this exciting and dynamic workforce.”

Skills Active is New Zealand’s industry training organisation for sport, community recreation, outdoor recreation, exercise and the performing arts.

Image: Aerial view of Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools and Spa.

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