This degree prepares students to work within the rapidly transforming mental health, addictions and disability sectors and beyond as confident, competent, responsive and collaborative practitioners. It will contribute to the professionalisation and development of the mental health, addictions and disability sector workforce by focusing on innovative and future orientated health practices that improve the quality and outcome of people who use the services and for their family/whanau in all areas of service provision and specifically in housing and social inclusion.

Graduates of this qualification will be able to:

Skills for Working with People
1. Apply a person-centred approach which enables people to form relationships and participate in their community in order to have meaningful lives.
2. Work relationally with people, their whānau, families, and communities to negotiate appropriate community based support.
3. Work collaboratively and communicate effectively in teams and across services in a health and wellbeing context.
Knowledge and Systems
4. Critically evaluate and apply theories and appropriate models of health and wellbeing (including indigenous models) to understanding the lives and circumstances of people
5. Critically evaluate information in order to inform innovative, evidence-based practice and person centred support
6. Understand the changing role of information and communications technologies in the health and wellbeing sector for both individuals and organisations
Safety and Responsibility
7. Recognise and apply Te Tiriti o Waitangi in a health and wellbeing context
8. Engage in culturally responsive, safe, and ethical practice while effectively managing risk
9. Critically reflect on practice to support, improve and manage own performance and professional development, and use supervision effectively
Leadership
10. Demonstrate leadership within organisations, which includes a commitment to best practice and on-going professional development.
11. Demonstrate leadership within the community, which includes advocating for social justice and change; supporting inclusion, choice and control; and challenging stigma and discrimination.
12. Understand organisational budgeting, financial planning, service design and evaluation for the health and wellbeing sector, in the context of competing political, social and organisational demands.

Graduates of the programme will be well prepared to enter Postgraduate Diploma, Masters and PhD qualifications in related areas of study such as drug and alcohol studies, disability studies, criminology, public health and policy and development studies. For example, students may wish to pursue a Postgraduate Diploma or Masters in Public Health, a Master in Public Policy, a Master in Development Studies or a Master in Applied Social Work. These kinds of interdisciplinary postgraduate qualifications offered by New Zealand Universities recognise the Bachelor of Social Health and Wellbeing as satisfying educational entry criteria.

Applicants much be at least 17 years old at the start of the programme and have either: New Zealand University entrance; or a relevant Level 4 New Zealand qualification considered appropriate by the programme leader.
Students who have attained the age of 20 years and do not hold the minimum entry requirements may be eligible for enrolment where their previous educational, work or life experience indicates they have a reasonable chance of success.
Additional entry criteria include a Police check, referee reports and an interview.
If English is the not the applicant's first language, candidates will need an IELTS (Academic) score of 6 with no band score lower than 5.5, or equivalent.