I'm here to help a business at Short Notice
I work with ACC clients who are returning to work after an injury.
ACC fully funds a "Work Trial" programme for these candidates.
What is a work trial?
A work trial is a short period of work experience completed as part of a client’s vocational rehabilitation programme.
A wide range of employers, large and small, offer work trials.
The goal of a work trial is to:
• give the client an opportunity to try out different job options and apply their work skills and abilities
• help the client re-establish work routines
• give the client an opportunity to develop new skills.
How will a work trial help employers?
There are several benefits you can get from participating in a work trial.
• It helps you assess how suitable a potential employee is for the job before you offer employment
• It helps to build a positive perception of your industry
• It signals to your staff and customers that you employ people on merit
• We can assist with your employee’s on-the-job training so they can start work sooner
• We can assist you with selecting suitable types of jobs a client can safely do in your workplace
• Recent research indicates that staff with disabilities take less sick leave and are often more productive than able-bodied employees.
Will I have to pay anything?
No. We’ll continue to pay the client weekly compensation so you won’t need to pay them any wages during the work trial.
Who decides what kind of jobs are suitable for a work trial?
We use professional occupational and medical assessors to help identify the types of jobs a client can do as a work trial. Jobs are chosen to suit the client’s current abilities and which they can safely do in your workplace to ensure the health and safety of themselves and others.
Will I get the opportunity to interview prospective candidates first?
Yes. To ensure the success of the work trial, it’s important that you’re involved in the selection process and are happy with the result.
Will I have to write a report?
The rehabilitation provider may ask you to provide written confirmation of:
• the client’s attendance record
• how well they did
• what their attitude was like.
What will my responsibilities be?
You will need to provide supervision and training to the client participating in the work trial.
Your obligations under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 remain the same whether the client is an employee or is in a place of work for the purpose of receiving on the job training or gaining work experience.
What are ACC’s responsibilities?
We’ll contract the services of a vocational rehabilitation supplier to liaise between you and the client undertaking the work trial.
A vocational rehabilitation professional will also visit your workplace to ensure the client is able to do their work duties safely.
What are the responsibilities of the rehabilitation provider?
The rehabilitation provider is responsible for matching suitable people to the work trial, monitoring the work trial and providing support where needed.
Will this affect my ACC levy charge?
No. Levies are set according to the cost of injuries in your industry group and the total payroll for your industry. If an ACC client suffers an injury or re-aggravation during the trial and is not on the payroll, your levy payment is not affected.
Who do I talk to if there are any problems?
The rehabilitation provider will liaise between you and the client undertaking the work trial to ensure everything runs smoothly. If there are any problems, you can raise these with the rehabilitation provider and they will discuss them with us to determine what action to take next.
Please email stephen.taylor@activeplus.co.nz if your business is able to host a fully funded Work Trial, at no cost to your business.
Share your favourite main crop potato recipe and win a copy of our mag!
Love potatoes? We will give away free copies of the May 2026 issue to readers whose potato recipes are used in our magazine. To be in the running, make sure you email your family's favourite way to enjoy potatoes: mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, by March 1, 2026.
Poll: 🤖 What skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
The Reserve Bank has shared some pretty blunt advice: there’s no such thing as a “safe” job anymore 🛟😑
Robots are stepping into repetitive roles in factories, plants and warehouses. AI is taking care of the admin tasks that once filled many mid-level office jobs.
We want to know: As the world evolves, what skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
Want to read more? The Press has you covered!
-
52.2% Human-centred experience and communication
-
15.1% Critical thinking
-
29.9% Resilience and adaptability
-
2.8% Other - I will share below!
The Gospel’s Relevance Today**
The Gospel, meaning ‘good news’, is the cornerstone of the message contained in the Bible’s first four books—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. While these records were written approximately 2,000 years ago, a natural question arises: why is this Gospel still relevant and vital for us today? This analysis seeks to explore what the Bible itself defines as the Gospel and to understand its enduring significance.
**Defining the Gospel: Core Biblical References**
The Gospel is not a vague concept; Scripture provides clear descriptions of its content and focus.
* **The Gospel of the Kingdom:** In Matthew 4:23, as Jesus begins his ministry, he is described as “preaching the gospel of the kingdom.” This immediately establishes that the good news is centrally about a kingdom—the Kingdom of God. His accompanying miracles served to validate the authority of this message.
* **The Gospel of Jesus Christ:** Mark 1:1 opens with, “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” Here, “Christ” is a title meaning ‘anointed one’. Thus, the good news is intrinsically about Jesus: his identity as the Anointed One and his unique status as the Son of God.
* **The Gospel of God’s Grace:** In Acts 20:24, the Apostle Paul speaks of his mission to “testify the gospel of the grace of God.” Grace signifies an undeserved gift. This reveals that the Gospel involves a gift from God, offered not because it is merited, but out of His benevolence.
* **The Gospel of Salvation and Peace:** Romans 1:16 declares the Gospel is “the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes,” breaking down barriers between Jew and Gentile (Greek). Furthermore, Romans 10:15 calls it the “gospel of peace,” pointing to a future state of peace brought about by this message.
* **The Gospel Summarised:** 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 provides a foundational summary. Paul reminds believers of the gospel he preached, “by which also you are saved.” He then states its core historical facts: “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.” The Gospel is therefore rooted in the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus.
In synthesis, the Gospel is the good news of **salvation and future peace in the Kingdom of God**, made possible by **the grace of God** and **the obedient sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ**, and offered to all who believe.
**Old Testament Foundations: The Gospel Preached to Abraham**
A crucial question is whether the Gospel is confined to the New Testament. Scripture shows its foundations were laid much earlier. Galatians 3:8 states explicitly that “the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, ‘In you all the nations shall be blessed.’”
This reference points back to Genesis 12:1-3, where God made profound promises to Abraham: to make him a great nation, to bless those who blessed him, and that “in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” These promises—later reaffirmed to Isaac and Jacob—form the bedrock of the Gospel hope. The good news of salvation through Christ is the fulfillment of how **all nations** would be blessed through Abraham’s “seed.”
**The Gospel’s Personal Relevance: Good News for You Today**
How does this ancient message become “good news for you” today? The application is clearly outlined in Galatians 3.
* **Access through Faith in Christ:** Galatians 3:26 declares, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” The promise made to Abraham is now extended to anyone with faith in Jesus.
* **The Role of Baptism:** Verse 27 explains, “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” Baptism is the God-appointed act of faith that identifies a believer with Christ’s death and resurrection.
* **Unity and Inheritance:** Verses 28-29 reveal the glorious outcome: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Through the Gospel, all barriers are removed; believers become spiritual descendants of Abraham and heirs to the promises of the Kingdom.
This Gospel was once a mystery hidden in God’s purpose (Ephesians 3:3-9). Now, it has been revealed: the unsearchable riches of Christ, offering salvation to all who heed the call, believe the message, and are baptised into him.
**Conclusion: An Enduring and Open Invitation**
The Gospel is far more than a historical account; it is the living, powerful good news of God’s plan for salvation. It is rooted in promises to Abraham, accomplished through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and open to all people without distinction. It offers a tangible hope—the hope of resurrection, peace, and an inheritance in the coming Kingdom of God. This is why the Gospel remains profoundly relevant. It is an invitation to listen, believe, and stand firm in this hope, linking our lives today to the eternal purpose of God.
Loading…
