GATEWAY PROGRAMME
For the civil infrastructure
industry
Connexis is the Industry Training Organisation (ITO) which develops qualifications and
oversees training for the civil infrastructure industry. Connexis represents many different
industries and offers qualifications in the following sectors:

civil construction and maintenance

demolition

roading and pavement surfacing

rural contracting

roadmarking

civil engineering

utilities and subdivisions

surveying

infrastructure asset management.
Connexis is responsible for setting national unit standards and qualifications, providing
information and advice to trainees/employers; and arranging for on/off-job training and
assessment. Supervising the quality of training and assessment is another important task
undertaken by Connexis. All Connexis qualifications are placed on the New Zealand
Qualifications Framework (NZQF) through the New Zealand Qualifications Authority
(NZQA).
Gateway Programme
As a student participating in Connexis’s Gateway Programme, you will be able to choose
which works sector you would like to gain more knowledge and skills in. Connexis will talk to
companies working in your chosen area to organise a work placement. Connexis will ensure
that the company chosen is able to provide you with the opportunities and training required
to successfully achieve unit standards. The company will also organise a member of staff to
become your mentor (verifier).
Along with the Connexis Training Advisor, your Gateway co-ordinator and company mentor
(verifier) will help you select the most appropriate unit standards in your area of interest.
Connexis will then provide you with the assessment guides for these units in a personalised
Workbook. Over the next 6-12 months, you will work towards completing these unit
standards at school and/or through work placement.
Your mentor (verifier) will be experienced in the knowledge and skills contained in the unit
standards and will work closely with you to ensure that all units have been completed to the
required standard. Connexis will then organise an assessor to confirm that you have
achieved the unit standards. Once this information has been reported to Connexis, the unit
standards will be sent to the NZQA to be put on your national Record of Learning. Your
school will also be notified of your achievement.
GATEWAY PROGRAMME for the civil infrastructure industry
Copyright © Infrastructure ITO Inc. 2014
Edition 2
Page 1
Flowchart for the Gateway Programme
Your school offers the Gateway Programme
You select your industry sector
Connexis liaise with your Gateway
co-ordinator about work placement
You gain work placement with
a suitable company
Connexis and the company arrange
a mentor (verifier) to mentor you
You select unit standards with help from
your Gateway co-ordinator and verifier
You complete the unit standards at school
and/or through work placement
Connexis organise an assessor to confirm
you have achieved the unit standards
Connexis report the units to NZQA and
notify the school of your success!
GATEWAY PROGRAMME for the civil infrastructure industry
Copyright © Infrastructure ITO Inc. 2014
Edition 2
Page 2
Assessment process
To show that you have all the knowledge and skills required for each unit standard, you
must be assessed. This means completing the assessment guides found in your Workbook,
consistently completing the practical tasks appropriate to that particular unit standard, and
providing evidence. You will achieve the required knowledge and skills through work
placement and through your school.
Throughout your time spent in the work environment, you can collect examples of the work
you have completed. These documents will be used as supporting evidence of the work you
have undertaken as part of a specific unit standard. Unit standards are separated into a
number of different elements. Your verifier will help you collect supporting evidence to meet
the requirements of each element, and assist you in completing the relevant assessment
guide.
The verifier knows what is required to complete the unit standard and is in a position where
they can observe your work. When they feel you have met all the outcomes of the unit
standard, they will sign the Verifier Checklist in your Workbook. This means that they agree
that you have completed the required task(s) or that you have the knowledge needed to
complete them.
Connexis then organise an assessor to check the evidence you have collected and your
workbook answers. The assessor may choose to observe you completing a task or they may
conduct an interview with you. Once the assessor has confirmed that you meet all the
requirements of the unit standard, they will inform Connexis who will then report this
achievement to the NZQA.
GATEWAY PROGRAMME for the civil infrastructure industry
Copyright © Infrastructure ITO Inc. 2014
Edition 2
Page 3
Glossary
Assessor
The person who determines a person’s competency against a unit
standard.
Assessment
The formal evaluation of a person’s performance and knowledge
that is measured against unit standards.
Assessment guides
They are included in the workbook and provide details of the
knowledge and skill needed to complete each specific unit
standard.
Credit
Every unit standard has a credit value. This value relates to the
approximate amount of time a person spends achieving the unit
standard. One credit equals about 10 hours’ work.
Level
NZQF administered by NZQA is made up of unit standards and
qualifications that range in levels from one to ten. These levels
represent the degree of difficulty associated with each unit
standard or qualification; one being less difficult and ten being
more demanding.
Unit standard
A unit standard describes the essential knowledge and skills that a
person must achieve before a credit is awarded.
Verifier
This is a person who is able to endorse that the student has
reached an acceptable standard to the tasks set out in the
assessment guides. This approval will contribute towards the
student being recognised as having completed a unit standard.
The verifier must have a great deal of industry experience in the
area they are verifying and they must have regular contact with the
student.
Workbook
Connexis provides the student with a personalised workbook
containing the unit standard assessment guides they will be
completing during work placement and/or school.
GATEWAY PROGRAMME for the civil infrastructure industry
Copyright © Infrastructure ITO Inc. 2014
Edition 2
Page 4
Connexis Gateway Programme for the civil infrastructure industry
Your high school, along with Connexis and local employers, has recognised the need to
offer young people the opportunity to gain industry-based unit standards through the
Gateway Programme. Students will learn about safety, using and looking after equipment,
using materials, construction and roadwork sites, keeping records, reading plans and
communicating in the workplace.
This course recognises the skills and knowledge required to enter the civil infrastructure
industry. Students are able to work towards gaining the National Certificate in Infrastructure
Works – Level 2, an introductory qualification in the Modern Apprenticeship Programme.
This qualification will be awarded to students who meet the requirements of the core
compulsory and elective sections of the course.
Prerequisite

Students who are 16 or older who have or are working towards a Class 1 licence.

Students will undergo an interview with representatives from the school, employer and
Connexis to determine their suitability for this placement.
Applications will be considered from students below the age entry requirements after a
selection interview process provided they are deemed suitable for this programme and are
working towards a Class 1 licence.
Equipment and Costs

The school will provide students with safety footwear.

The employer will provide all other safety gear (ie. safety vests, ear protection)
(see Appendix B).

All issued equipment and safety clothing will remain at all times the property of the
employer.
GATEWAY PROGRAMME for the civil infrastructure industry
Copyright © Infrastructure ITO Inc. 2014
Edition 2
Page 5
Contract
Once students have been accepted for this programme, they will be expected to sign the
contract (see Appendix C).
Appendix A
The trainee will be issued with safety footwear through Gateway funding from the school.
Early exit or incompletion of this program will result in the trainee being responsible for full
payment of this item.
Appendix B
The trainee will be issued with all safety gear (excluding safety footwear) such as safety
vests, hard hats and ear protection by the employer.
These items remain the property of the employer at all times and must be returned at the
completion of the programme or exit of the trainee. If the safety gear is not returned, the
trainee will be responsible for full payment of these items.
Signed by the Student
Name:
Signature:
GATEWAY PROGRAMME for the civil infrastructure industry
Copyright © Infrastructure ITO Inc. 2014
Date:
Edition 2
Page 6
GATEWAY CONTRACT
(Appendix C)
Parties to the Training Agreement
Student
Name:
Address:
National student no.:
(if known)
Contact number(s):
Emergency contact:
School
School:
Contact name:
Address:
Contact number(s):
Emergency contact:
Work placement
Company:
Contact name:
Business address:
Contact number(s):
Emergency contact:
GATEWAY PROGRAMME for the civil infrastructure industry
Copyright © Infrastructure ITO Inc. 2014
Edition 2
Page 7
Parent/Caregiver
Name:
Address:
Contact number(s):
Emergency contact:
Terms of agreement
The training is in the civil infrastructure industry. The training shall commence on the
and shall be completed on or about the
or such time as agreed by all parties as reasonable to allow the trainee to gain the knowledge and
skills outlined in the attached Training Plan, which forms part of this Training Agreement.
Training details
Please indicate the unit standards you wish to undertake.
Unit no.
Unit title
Level
Credit
Payment details (costs exclude GST)
NZQA Hook-on Fee — $25
This will be charged if you require an NZQA ID number.
Credit reporting fee — $2 per credit
This covers the cost of reporting the unit standards (once you have completed them and have been
assessed) to NZQA.
Assessment fee
The cost of assessment is in addition to the credit reporting fee, and is arranged between yourself
and your Assessor.
GATEWAY PROGRAMME for the civil infrastructure industry
Copyright © Infrastructure ITO Inc. 2014
Edition 2
Page 8
Responsibilities
Connexis

Provide student workbooks and assessment materials

Log any industry unit standards achieved by the student

Provide support and guidance as appropriate
Student

The student agrees to work to the best of their ability and be responsible for reaching the
competencies required as outlined in their Training Plan.

It is the responsibility of the student to arrive punctually, suitably dressed, prepared and ready
for learning.

The student will respect the property, practices and people at the worksite and follow all health
and safety and other requirements of the workplace.

The student agrees to listen and take instruction from their Workplace Supervisor while on their
work competency placement.

The student will contact their Workplace Supervisor and the school if they are going to be
absent from work on any day.

The student will be courteous, reliable, co-operative and responsible.

The student will not accept financial reward while on their Gateway work placement.

All school rules apply to the student while on work placement.

The student may take a cellphone, but it must be switched off on arrival at the workplace.

The student will read and sign this Training Agreement and complete a health questionnaire.
Parent/Caregiver
The Parent/Caregiver agrees to pay costs for provision of warm/suitable clothing including a
jacket.
School

The school will provide an individual Training Plan/timetable for the year.
The school will provide a Health and Safety Checklist for each individual student and ensure
that each student reads and understands the Health and Safety Checklist, which the student
then signs and dates ‘Student Acknowledgment’.

While the student is on work experience, they remain the responsibility of the school.

It is the responsibility of the school to provide an appropriate level of support to the provider
and student to enable the Training Plan to be achieved.
GATEWAY PROGRAMME for the civil infrastructure industry
Copyright © Infrastructure ITO Inc. 2014
Edition 2
Page 9
Work placement

Training is as per normal working hours on various worksites to carry out the duties required;
however, the workplace will take into account the student’s level of experience and will bear in
mind that this is not a paid position.

To provide a safe workplace as per the Health and Safety in Employment Amendment Act
2002. A Health and Safety Hazard Identification Form is provided in the student’s Training
Plan. Induction and subsequent training will be given.

In the event that the workplace is concerned about the student’s performance, the workplace
will contact the school to discuss the concerns.

A student is defined as an employee for safety purposes. This means the student has the same
rights as employees and that the workplace must keep them safe.

There may be paid work available during school holidays for suitable students. During this
period, the students will be employees of the company.

Students receiving training under this agreement will be treated as if they are employees as per
the Health and Safety in Employment Act 2002.
The workplace will provide:

all safety clothing and equipment (except for safety footwear) which will remain the property of
the workplace

training and work experience in the civil construction industry

training in health, safety and environment on the worksite

assessment against the unit standards that make up the programme.
General

All parties agree to adhere to the training and assessment arrangements outlined in the
Training Plan.

Any changes made to the Training Plan must be made in consultation with all parties.

The workplace and student should seek the assistance and advice of the school on any
matters affecting the training relationship between the parties.

Where students are considered to be foolhardy/dangerous/negligent by the workplace/school,
they will receive one written warning. Any further incident after this warning will result in the
student’s removal from the programme.

Proof of ID is required for students. A Passport, Birth Certificate or Driver Licence is
acceptable.
GATEWAY PROGRAMME for the civil infrastructure industry
Copyright © Infrastructure ITO Inc. 2014
Edition 2
Page 10
Signatures
Signed by the Workplace Supervisor
Signature:
Date:
Signed by the School
Contact name:
Designation:
Signature:
Date:
Signed by the Student
I declare that the particulars given above are correct and I authorise Connexis to exchange
information related to my training with NZQA in accordance with the Privacy Act.
Signature:
Current licence status:
Licence sited and
photocopied:
(please attach)
Date:
Category
Yes
Date acquired:
No
Licence endorsements:
* Join mailing list?
Date:
Date:
Yes
No
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Mail
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regular news and information from Connexis.
Signed by the Parent/Guardian
Signature:
GATEWAY PROGRAMME for the civil infrastructure industry
Copyright © Infrastructure ITO Inc. 2014
Date
Edition 2
Page 11