Whaikaha Supported Learning ākonga Amber Stevenson’s bubbly nature and love of K-Pop music got her noticed in a recent TV One News story on the Disability Connect Annual Transition Expo in Auckland.
Minister for Disability Issues Louise Upston announced changes to the Government’s disability support system at the Expo.
The changes respond to feedback from more than 1800 disabled people, their families and carers calling for more freedom to make their own decisions about how to spend the funding allocated to them.
“The plan will focus on what the disabled person wants and needs to address the barriers linked to their disability,” Minister Upston told One News.
That is great news for disabled school leavers such as Amber, who are now looking at their future employment options.
Amber attended the Expo with other Unitec ākonga from our New Zealand Certificate in Skills for Living for Supported Learners programme.
The expo was an opportunity for them to gather information on independent living and further tertiary options, as they will be graduating in April 2026.
MIT and Unitec were among the stallholders, representing industries, services and organisations from across Aotearoa New Zealand.
“This event is a valuable opportunity for rangatahi and whānau to learn more about the range of services available to support life after Unitec,” says Supported Learning lecturer, Angelina Wright.
“As we know that this is often the time when tauira and whānau begin exploring their next steps. It’s not only a chance for our young people to explore what their future might look like, but also for whānau to ask questions and discover new services for people living with a disability.”
Amber loves the freedom and independence she gets through the work experience opportunities facilitated by Unitec as part of her course work.
Ms Stevenson spent Semester One working part-time at the Pumphouse Theatre in Takapuna helping in the Front of House team with venue duties such as welcoming patrons to the shows and ensuring the theatre space was clean and tidy.
“It’s good. I love it. And, um, I was doing lots of things, helping and meeting new people,” Amber says.
“I really enjoyed it there because there was a lot of the children’s shows.”
This semester, Amber landed a placement at Unitec helping Bridgepoint kaimahi with sorting our documents in B170.
“It’s a big job but I love doing it with my friends Altan Chen and Malena Camnos. We look forward to coming to work.”
Amber says the best thing about coming to Unitec is making lots of friends and the food. Her favourite lunch option is the tuna sushi in Te Puna.
She has no problem commuting to Unitec by herself from the North Shore, enjoying the independence this gives her.
A self-confessed K-Pop fan, Amber says she loves to sing and follow the dance moves of Mamamoo, a highly popular South Korean girl group.
Hopes her outgoing personality and ability to work with people will land her a job in a role that gives her a chance to contribute and develop life skills, and have fun doing it.
See the full One News story featuring Amber Stevenson https://www.1news.co.nz/2025/09/03/major-changes-to-disability-support-system-announced/
Find out more about the Disability Connect Annual Transition Expo https://disabilityconnect.org.nz/annual-transition-expo/
Find out more about the New Zealand Certificate in Skills for Living for Supported Learners https://www.unitec.ac.nz/career-and-study-options/supported-learning/new-zealand-certificate-in-skills-for-living-for-supported-learners
Go Amber – you and all the Whaikaha akonga and kaimahi are awesome! 🙂