Apprenticeship Advisor Kailash Devan has won the ACE Aotearoa Educator of the Year Tangata Tiriti 2024 award, at the recent ACE Aotearoa Awards at Te Papa Wellington.
These awards recognise and celebrate excellence in teaching, programme innovation, sector service and leadership, with recipients demonstrating best practice and a thorough understanding of Adult and Community Education (ACE) Teaching Standards.
For the past seven years, and in his role as a Careerforce Apprenticeship Advisor, Kailash has been supporting workplaces across Auckland, empowering them to upskill their staff to get qualified. He supports apprentices working towards Level 4 health and wellbeing qualifications in mental health, peer support, diversional therapy and youth work.
Careerforce Apprenticeship Advisor Kailash Devan with Ako Aotearoa Director Helen Lomax
“Looking after the mental health and peer support workers and LGBTQI+ community health providers has always been my passion,” says Kailash.
“I love working with our mental health workforce to develop and equip them with new skills and ensure that they have all the relevant skills to support the vulnerable people that they look after.
“I also enjoy working alongside peer support workers as well, people with lived mental health experience.
“It’s very rewarding once they complete their qualification. It’s rewarding for me, for them and also for their workplaces. Sometimes they receive a pay increase, so we are not only supporting them, but also their family.”
Three organisations independently nominated Kailash for his ACE Educator of the Year award.
At the ceremony Kailash said it was amazing to be around other educators and leaders in the education sector. To see the innovation and connecting with people.
“I was really humbled to win it. With so many nominations, it was such a surprise. It was really exciting,” says Kailash.
Careerforce Executive Director, Rod Bentham says, “This is an absolutely fantastic recognition for Kailash. We are so proud of him. It’s a great accolade for such a nice guy.”
The following comments from organisations that Kailash works alongside were read out at the ceremony and underpin his success in the 2024 awards.
“His career success is marked by the fact that he has managed and mentored the highest number of Pacific graduates in South Auckland that have completed their New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing.
“Kailash demonstrates whanaungatanga through his connection with workplaces, while simultaneously valuing his relationship with providers.
“He has done an outstanding job in teaching and advising on health-related qualifications.
“We are proud of the significant work he has done in the diversity space, including the provision of support for Pacific and Kaupapa Māori Health Providers, including mental health and housing providers.
“He has an outstanding, culturally responsive practice and actively identifies and addresses barriers that prevent learners from achieving. His passion for supporting the Pacific and multi-cultural communities is evident in the results he achieves.”
Kailash adds that he loves working in the diversity space, having had the pleasure of supporting the Pacific diversity providers that he works alongside. He also particularly enjoys working in the equity space especially with the LGBTQI providers.
Recently completing a Bachelor’s in Social Services with Distinction, Kailash’s research looked into early intervention and social sustainability in environmental issues as well as around the social and healthcare sectors.
A strong advocate for lifelong learning, Kailash has now begun a Mental Health and Supervision programme, and also plans on doing some research work around LGBTQI+ migrant workforce needs in Health and Wellbeing sectors.