Strive’s employees are deeply committed to their community work, and the nature of their roles requires clear communication, detailed documentation, and confident decision-making—skills that needed strengthening. Team leaders noticed:

• Gaps in following health and safety procedures.
• Difficulty de-escalating hostile situations with clients.
• Incomplete or unclear written documentation.
• Miscommunication between staff and management.
• Low confidence when giving instructions or feedback

The Aspire2 Workplace Communication programme was designed to directly address Strive’s needs. The key goals included:

• Improving oral communication and active listening.
• Enhancing written communication and understanding of documentation.
• Strengthening knowledge of health and safety practices.
• Encouraging teamwork, leadership, and a solution-focused mindset.
• Building numeracy and financial literacy.
• Developing confidence in giving instructions and constructive feedback.

As one staff member said, “I have learned to talk to my team leader in a way that she receives the message.”

From the outset, learners embraced the programme, resulting in measurable gains in both skill and confidence.

Improved Communication and Team Dynamics: Learners developed active listening and assertiveness strategies, learning how to de-escalate conflict and approach challenging situations with a calm and professional tone. “I’ve learned everyone has different types of communication styles,” one participant shared. “I now approach people in a calm and friendly tone and give others a chance to speak up.”

Clearer, More Accurate Documentation: Staff learned how to write effective emails and complete reports correctly. “I have more confidence in myself with writing comfortably, knowing I can correct myself if I need to,” said one learner. Another added, “I’ve learned how to write down minutes for our unit meetings—just the key points, not a whole novel!”

Health and Safety Awareness: From incident forms to PPE protocols, health and safety understanding grew across the team. One participant commented, “I got injured at work and knew exactly how to fill in an incident report because of this course.”

Financial Literacy and Numeracy: Learners developed budgeting skills and a better understanding of payslips and KiwiSaver. “This programme gave me confidence with numbers—it’s helped me at work and at home,” one participant explained.

Problem Solving and Leadership: Using root cause analysis tools like the “5 Whys” and A3 thinking, learners tackled real workplace challenges. Teams proposed continuous improvement projects like developing a digital platform for forms and improving internal photo documentation processes.