Nicole McIntosh says her own journey of recovery fuelled her passion to help others make life-changing shifts and launched her onto a path of professional development.
For the past year, Nicole has been employed as a Wellbeing Coach for the Wellington branch of Pivot, a drug and alcohol support service. Her role centres around supporting individuals in the mild to moderate space of substance use.
“My focus is on harm reduction, helping people reduce their alcohol or drug consumption in safe environments. Having lived through similar struggles, I deeply understand what it’s like to feel stuck and hopeless, and equally, how it feels to come out the other side stronger. What I find of immense value is seeing clients make changes in their lives, whether it’s a small shift or a major life transformation,” says Nicole.
She values her personal experience but understands that ongoing learning and professional development are essential to further enhance her coaching practice. In 2022 she completed her Level 3 NZ Certificate in Health and Wellbeing in Support Work (Disability) with work-based learning provider Careerforce, followed by a Level 4 Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Disability) in 2023.
“I thoroughly enjoyed the makeup of the Careerforce certificates and style of learning and I wanted to enhance my skills further, so I spoke with my manager about the Peer Support Apprenticeship and enrolled.”
Balancing full-time work and study can be challenging, but Nicole says that she has now learnt to structure her learning and manage her time effectively. She says there are still moments of self-doubt that creep in, but she is learning to trust the process.
“I also have more awareness around the role I play in the office and my role in peer support,” she says, “The power in my story is in helping clients see their own potential for change. It empowers them to take control of their own journey."
The Peer Support Apprenticeship is a 21-month entirely work-based learning programme completed via an online learning and assessment platform. Careerforce takes enrolments throughout the year and each learner is assigned a dedicated Apprenticeship Advisor for the duration of the programme. Nicole says she really appreciated the support and encouragement of her Careerforce Advisor Charlie Stanworth-Miller who checked-in and offered extra support when needed.
Having almost completed her Peer Support Apprenticeship and with aspirations for continued learning, Nicole is already planning to undertake a course in te reo Māori in March and has future plans to pursue further qualifications in mental health and addictions.
Careerforce is currently offering free enrolment in the Peer Support Apprenticeship via the Peer Support Grant, funded by Te Whatu Ora until June 2026, subject to eligibility. Employers may also qualify for Apprenticeship Boost funding. You can find out more about it at www.careerforce.org.nz.