Workchoice Trust

The Workchoice Trust was established in 1994. In 1995, it launched Workchoice Day, a programme designed to give Year 12 students career exposure and help them make informed decisions about where they are headed with their career.

Workchoice Day is held annually and on a national basis, offering a link between New Zealand's future workforce and employers enabling students to gather knowledge first hand and share experiences of people employed in their field of interest.

Workchoice Day is an opportunity to show our youth that New Zealand has a lot to offer and that this is where we want them to be educated and to stay and help create longer betterment of the country as a whole. We believe that it takes a village to educate a child and with a little help from your company a student can go a long way.

There are also many benefits to companies, such as increasing your employment branding. Capture students' attention before they even go out on Workchoice Day by placing company video profile on our facebook profile, www.facebook.com/workchoice. Students can also use facebook to stay in touch with the companies they visit. If you would like more information on any of our social networking sites please contact us on 0800 931 080.

Workchoice Day 2012 will be held on Tuesday 15 May.

The Trust is proud of its achievement of providing 132,000 school students with the opportunity of seeing the world at work over the past 17 years. Our work would not be possible without the generous support of the New Zealand business community.

The Workchoice Trust is registered as a charitably entity with the Charities Commission. Information about us on the register can be viewed by click here.

The Workchoice Trust's focus in on youth development, offering the opportunity for shared career knowledge by providing a bridge between schools and industries throughout New Zealand. Workchoice Day offers a link between New Zealand's future workforce and employers, enabling students to gather knowledge first hand and share the experience of people in their field of interest.

Born and bred in West Auckland and proud of it! Amanda comes to the Workchoice Trust from the Foundation of Youth Development Waitakere where she was the founding staff member.

Due to the successful growth of that organisation, Amanda was honored to win Young Business Person of the Year in 2010.

Amanda is looking forward to working with the Workchoice team this year and assisting young New Zealanders by motivating them and giving them the skills to be ready for employment.

Amanda Wheeler
CEO

June Robinson has been working with the Workchoice Trust since 2008.

Prior to Workchoice June worked across a diverse range of industries both internationally and within New Zealand. After working in a management and recruitment capacity for over 15 years June was keen to gain experience within the not-for-profit sector.

June was looking to utilize her business development skills in an industry where she could make a difference and where there was a high level of service delivery focus.

As Business Development Manager, June is responsible for identifying new opportunities in developing the Workchoice Trust together with facilitating relationships between schools and companies.

June Robinson
Business Development Manager

Gemma joined the Workchoice team in April 2011 and handles the marketing and communications for The Workchoice Trust.

Previously Gemma has gained valuable experience working for a public relations agency and looking after marketing and communications for one of New Zealand's largest financial services providers.

This experience helped her develop a passion for the not-for-profit sector. As the Marketing and Communications Coordinator, Gemma is responsible for implementing promotional campaigns for The Workchoice Trust and she is enthusiastic about raising awareness for the organisation.

Gemma Bright
Marketing and Communications Coordinator

Tracey Walsh:
Tracey joined The Workchoice Trust team in September 2011 and is responsible for all administration tasks for The Trust.

Prior to joining Workchoice, Tracey has been employed by a number of large organisations both in New Zealand and internationally. It was this experience that Tracey wanted to put to good use in the non- profit sector where she could working a position that would give her the opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of young New Zealanders.

As the Administrator, Tracey is responsible for registering supporting companies for Workchoice Day, and providing administrative support to the Workchoice Trust team and sponsors.

Jane Kennelly (Chairperson):
Jane is Chairperson of the Trust and is the founding Director of Frog Recruitment. She has been involved with the Trust since its inception due to her past employment with the Lampen Group Ltd and remains a keen supporter.

After years of being an art teacher, Jane made the move to recruitment and within a year was a top global consultant for a multinational recruitment company. Jane's company Frog Recruitment both sponsors the Trust and hosts students on Workchoice Day.

Jane still loves the day as much today as she did on the first Workchoice Day in 1995! She and her team relish the chance to meet with bright, young, curious minds and give the students options to think about.

Roger Lampen:
Roger is the Founder of the Workchoice Trust. He was formerly Managing Director of The Lampen Group Ltd and Lampen Associates Ltd and is currently Chairperson of Geneva Health International and Klein Medical.

Roger has had intense on-going involvement in the not-for-profit sector. He was the founding Chairperson of the Auckland Performing Arts School Trust and the founding Chairperson for the Northern Region of the Life Education Trust, an organisation providing drug and alcohol education to primary school children.

Roger is also the trustees of the Fledgling Trust, which supports and initiates youth development programmes through performing arts groups.

Kathy McCombe:
Kathy has been involved since 1995 and has played an integral part in its development. Her passion for youth development has brought about the continual growth of Workchoice Day, not only in the main centres but also in its expansion to the regions.

Kathy sees the importance of industry connections with schools, and is active in ensuring this knowledge goes back into classroom learning. Kathy is frequently sought after for media comment on youth employment and employment related matters.

Mgaggie Hames:
Maggie is the Director of Careers at Auckland Girls' Grammar School and is also the National President for CATE (Careers and Transition Education Association). She has been involved in Workchoice Days as a school coordinator and offers the Trust insight on the school perspective.

Claire McGowan:
Dr Claire McGowan is technically trained with international experience. Claire has a PhD in Molecular Microbiology and an MBA, both from Otago University.

More recently Claire has specialised in entrepreneurial ventures, providing commercialisation and capital-raising advice through her boutique consultancy, Commercialisation Advisors Limited (COMMA).

Claire is on the board for Crown Research Institute, GNS Science, and iwi investment company, Te Arawa Management Limited (TAML). She is also Director for the global IP trading exchange she founded in 2004, IP Market Holdings Limited. Working with Sydney-based The Executive Connection (TEC), she is also actively working with NZ CEOs to enhance their effectiveness in growing their businesses. Claire is excited with the opportunity to use her skills, experience and extensive networks for The Workchoice Trust, actively linking industry with schools and Year 12 Students.

The Workchoice Trust brings together a diverse group of people to achieve a single objective - to bridge the gap between youth and industry. The transition from school to work is a difficult process for many students. It is even more difficult for those who have not chosen a career and have limited opportunities to explore the available options.

In setting up the Trust in 1994 I had a desire to focus on youth development in the area of my expertise - the world of employment. I believed that this experience and existing business networks could be used to positively contribute to the career decision making process of young people. Workchoice Day was developed and first held in 1995 to act as a catalyst enabling students and industry to build ongoing relationships and to deliver something that was sorely lacking - not work experience but shared career knowledge. It draws together senior students, schools, organisations, companies and parents in a unique way. At the start I had no idea where this special project would end up but 17 years later I am continually humbled and encouraged when I consider how many people have contributed to the Workchoice Trust simply because they believe in the concept, who the programme is helping and how it helps them.

The Workchoice Trust is a not-for-profit organisation and its success is totally dependent on the financial support of the business community. The Trust receives no government funding.

Workchoice Day won't provide all the answers, but it does act as a catalyst for further thinking and action on the part of the students. It works because there is a real need for it.

Finally, I would like to acknowledge the contribution of a key person without whom the Workchoice Trust may have remained merely a good idea. Felicity Barnes was a cornerstone trustee in the early years and remained a committed trustee up until 2010.

Roger Lampen
Founder of the Workchoice Trust