Whoopee! I made it!

Helen Algar is currently Active Transport and Physical Activity Project Coordinator for the Waitaki District Council. She earned the Bachelor of Social Service (Social Services) and Graduate Diploma in Strategic Management through Capable NZ.

All of my life I have wanted to achieve academically. 

Circumstances dictated my exit from school at the beginning of the sixth form (Year 12) so reluctantly I entered the workforce and spent years developing and growing as a person.  My work experience both paid and unpaid was eclectic and I lacked a sense of which career path was the best ‘fit’ for me. It didn’t help that when my dream job came up I lost out purely because I did not possess a tertiary qualification. 

A friend told me about the CAPL process and I was intrigued as I knew I had a set of skills and knowledge which was going unrecognized.  I wanted to progress my career development in a tangible way so I approached CAPL. 

After the profiling I was assigned a tutor (Glenys Ker) and the process began in earnest.  I was feeling a bit overwhelmed and insecure about such a big step.  I was terrified of failure.  I needn’t have worried as it soon became clear that the process was a comprehensive one and well supported with excellent tutor guidance and support.

The CAPL experience has changed my life, it wasn’t a walk in the park I had to knuckle down and do the work but the rewards have been fantastic.

Unpacking and repacking a lifetime of work was a challenging and insightful experience. I rediscovered things I knew; I learned research skills, technology skills and discipline and most importantly I have learned that I love learning. 

The payoff for effort and application was a sense of achievement I could never have imagined. I now enjoy a confidence previously lacking.  I have validation that I know what I know and in December I will have the qualifications to prove it.   In retrospect I even enjoyed the assessment process.

I have recommended CAPL to friends and colleagues as a comprehensive, qualitative and well monitored process towards becoming the best that you can be.

Thank you CAPL and thank you Glenys for your guidance and support it has been an amazing journey.  You never know I may just be back for more.