Uncovering the invisible curriculum for career success
At First Foundation, we believe real-world experience is just as important as academic success. Our ‘Exposure to the World of Work’ pillar helps scholars grow their confidence, skills, and networks—giving them a head start in building their careers.
Our Career Catalyst stream bridges the gap for scholars who don’t have access to paid work experience. It offers a diverse and curated range of meaningful career experiences. The opportunities include joining a virtual internship, attending national events, and meeting industry mentors.
Every scholar gains industry knowledge and builds professional connections. The experiences are designed to support students from all industries and backgrounds, and some are tailored specifically to key sectors like law, engineering, health, digital, and finance.
Here’s a look at what’s on offer.
Virtual internships
Virtual internships bring scholars together for remote teamwork with real-world impact.
In these hands-on, online-based projects, scholars work in teams on live business challenges with support from industry mentors. Projects are designed to build collaboration, communication skills, problem-solving, and strategic thinking. Interns gain industry awareness, practical skills, contacts and a chance to explore career pathways.
One recent virtual internship was with Good Food Sisters, a business driven by passion for health and wellbeing.
The students ran a strategic review of the organisation’s marketing under mentorship. They drew together their findings and recommendations to deliver a presentation detailing a 6-month strategy.
Another mini work experience opportunity was hosted by Professor Mark Billinghurst at the Auckland Bioengineering Institute. He explains, “I mostly got involved to provide an opportunity for the students to be exposed to some new technology they may not have tried before.”
“In particular, they learnt how to build their own filters for the Snapchat application on a mobile phone. For example, one student was studying optometry, so they decided to focus their project on showcasing the anatomy of the human eye.”
Intern, scholar Richard Tong said, “It definitely does provide that insight into how it is in the real world where projects have their deadlines that need to be met.”
Industry Events
Scholars are invited to have a front-row seat at major industry events. These include conferences such as on Health Informatics New Zealand, LandWise Carbon-Positive Farming and World Rural Health. The Hi-Tech Awards and INFINZ Awards inspire scholars with what’s possible.
The INFINZ Awards event recognises excellence in the finance sector and draws attention to the talent that will shape our future.
Scholars attended the recent awards where alumna, Kaylah Stirling-Kelly, spoke. She described her path from being a school student in the small town of Otaki to university and on to auditing at KPMG, where she is now an assistant manager.
Riley Mehlhopt, a 2024 Partnership Alliance scholar, was inspired at the National Rural Health Conference in Ōtautahi Christchurch.
“Attending gave me valuable insights,” says Riley who is a first-year med student at the University of Otago.
“I saw what it’s like to be working in health. I also saw what it may look like in the future when I’ll be entering the workplace.”
Riley Melhopt
INDUSTRY INSIGHTS SERIES
Scholars gain insights into industry through a two-part online series that explores different sectors.
The first session introduces key roles and speakers. The second dives into future trends, career paths, and real talk about what it takes. Scholars gain sector insights, develop a lifelong learning mindset and career direction.
As part of this, students interested in the agriculture sector have attended the LandWISE Getting to Carbon Positive conference, where they learned about the future of sustainable farming.
Brooke Honnor, NZCT Scholar said the event included interesting content from knowledgeable industry experts.
Brooke (left) said, ”It was a fantastic experience. I took away plenty of new ideas, especially around regenerative planting and carbon accounting.”
professional development workshops
Skills-focused workshops build vital career and life competency.
From budgeting to cross-cultural teamwork, scholars gain confidence and real-world know-how. The workshops includes sessions on Cultural Empowerment, Financial Literacy, and Communication.
Kirk Sargent, CEO of First Foundation, says the Professional Development Workshops are designed to set scholars up for their future.
“We’ve found that financial literacy among our scholars is vital to their success. Over the last decade and a half, we’ve worked closely with over 1,000 outstanding scholars. Year after year, they come to us without any education in financial literacy.“
Kirk Sargent, First Foundation CEO
Each year, First Foundation partners with the Aspiring Leaders Forum, which establishes scholars in the emerging leader space. It offers a unique experience for rangatahi to explore integrity, humility, commitment, courage and aroha.
For our scholars, the forum is life-changing. The four-day event includes visiting Parliament, meeting MPs and past Prime Ministers, building networks, and reflecting on their aspirations.
Tayshon Yates, Chung Cheng Trust Scholar, is in her first year at Victoria University studying law. She says attending the event has shown her a different world.
“The Forum brought together rangatahi and rangatira from across Aotearoa and beyond,” says Tayshon.
“It was all with the idea of kotahitanga and a shared commitment to leadership as service.”
Tayshon Yates, Chung Cheng Trust Scholar attending the Aspiring Leaders Forum in 2025.
Mini Work Experiences
Scholars gain hands-on experience through mini work experiences.
Short, hands-on visits to workplaces give scholars a real feel for what different jobs look like. They get to explore environments, ask questions, and start picturing their future.
April Heffernan took her first steps into the corporate environment with a mini 1-week work experience at Link Alliance. She was able to shadow senior managers in the Central Rail Link project and then attend formal meetings with them and their leaders.
“I think the most beneficial thing was when I got to sit in on their meetings. I saw how everyone plays their different role and has different responsibilities. Altogether, this really helped them finish their project. And things like meeting minutes are very important because you’re capturing these critical moments and actions.”
Neuro Connection Foundation recently hosted a four-day internship where scholars worked in teams to tackle real-world challenges. Neuro Connection support adults with neurological conditions. The experience was hands-on and demanded creativity and empathy. Scholars expanded their thinking, built professional skills and saw the real impact of their contributions.
First Foundation students Rumela Bhatti, Manuia Fox-Romia, Tulei Salu and Hope Levi working together during the Neuro Connection Foundation internship.
Networking Opportunities
It’s not only what you know, but who. Networks change careers.
With networking opportunities, scholars learn how to introduce themselves, share their goals, and build professional relationships. First Foundation connects people within local communities, into industry and across cultures and backgrounds. Our own events include Whanau Frying Pan, Korero Connect and Regional Events. Jazmin Murray says networking has had a profound impact.
“First Foundation has a network of thousands of people. You can’t put a value on the potential connections to people the network offers.“
Jazmine Murray, 2021 Pāmu Farms of New Zealand Scholar
April Heffernen agrees.
“When meeting these new people, you actually create long-lasting relationships.”
April Heffernan, 2019 Kelliher Charitable Trust Alumni
Existing Work
Our scholars are self-disciplined and responsible: more than 90% already have a part-time job.
These young leaders are practised at contributing what they can to their families. As a scholar, and with mentor support, they reflect on their experiences, draw out the skills they’ve gained, and use them to plan their next steps.
Exposure to the world of work is a springboard to future success
When scholars are given structured, supported, and inspiring ways to engage with the professional world, the results speak for themselves. Through these carefully curated touchpoints, First Foundation is equipping our scholars to thrive, lead, and give back.
We’d love to work together to grow and strengthen these opportunities. Let’s help every scholar feel connected, capable, and career-ready.
If you are already a First Foundation Partner, here are some ways in which you or your organisation can contribute:
• Host a mini work experience or insight session
• Invite scholars to an industry event
• Offer your professional insight through a panel or workshop
• Fund a new touchpoint to reach more scholars
• Refer First Foundation to others who might like to fund a scholarship.
