WEST – West Auckland Enterprise Skills and Training is an independent, not for profit organisation with a long history of adult education involvement in the west Auckland community.
WEST provide skills and training to access employment, develop an existing business or start up idea and to support initiatives to develop enterprising communities, where local residents, community groups, organisations and businesses contribute to & benefit from their local economy. We do this through WEST initiatives such as:

WEST Driver Education – Driver Licence Preparation Courses to support people to prepare for and sit the Driver Licence tests. Courses include Learner Licence Theory Preparation, Restricted Licence Preparation, Full Licence Preparation, F Endorsement Forklift Certificate and OSH Operator Certificate.

WEST Training – Courses and workshops to support people to upskill or gain employment including First Aid Certificate Level One, Two and Refresher courses, Eftpos Training, Everyday New Zealand English – Beginner/Elementary, Intermediate and Reading and Writing

WEST Work Ready – employment support programmes to support people into employment. Courses include support with CV writing, interview skills, online job search and applications

WEST Means Business – workshops and courses to support small and home based business to grow including Starting a Business, Business Development for existing businesses and start-ups, IRD Business Health Check, Social Media Marketing for Small Business, Social Media Marketing for NFP Sector.

Becoming Financially Fit – a series of managing your money workshops to learn about your money personality, learn tried and tested ways to save and even make money, set goals and start paying off existing debt, start your savings goals and learn how to borrow sensibly and reduce or even eliminate future debt. WEST Becoming Financially Fit also runs some exciting FREE workshops to help you save money or grow your income including:

Sewing for Beginners 

FREE Plus Size Clothing Swap

Slow Cooking on a Budget 

Jam and Preserves Making 

Beeswax Food Wraps and Cloth Food Bag Making

Cheese Making

Starting a Small Home Based Business 

Ways you can help us!

Donate Clothing to WEST Dressed
Donate Clothing to WEST DressedAs an Individual
100% of proceeds from the WEST Dressed Pre-Loved Plus Size Clothing Op Shop goes toward funding our FREE Becoming Financially Fit Courses. So your clothing donations directly support the community to learn new skills that will help them to save money and grow their income. And all clothing in the shop is affordably priced from $1 to $4 regardless of the size or brand so anyone can afford to shop there.
Become a WEST Supporter Business
Become a WEST Supporter BusinessAs a Business
WEST is always on the lookout for resources for our courses. We already have some wonderful businesses – both large and small who support us by donating their services and resources including The Warehouse Henderson, The Pallet Company and Commercial Road Skills. In return we will promote your business through our Social Media pages, and during our events. Please contact us to discuss how your business can become a WEST Supporter Business.
Become a WEST Supporter Organisation
Become a WEST Supporter OrganisationAs an Organisation
WEST is always on the lookout for resources for our courses. We already have some wonderful community organisations – both large and small who support us by donating food for our cooking classes, tutors for our becoming financially fit workshops and electrical goods for our sewing and cooking classes. In return we will promote your organisation through our Social Media pages, and during our events. Please contact us to discuss how your organisation can become a WEST Supporter Organisation, and how we can work together.
Become a WEST Tutor or Volunteer
Become a WEST Tutor or VolunteerAs an Individual
WEST is always on the lookout for new tutors and ideas for new classes. WEST run courses that support the community to save money or grow their income so the ideas for courses are endless. If you have a skill you would like to share with the community please let us know. Or perhaps you would like to volunteer at WEST in the op shop, the office, or the classroom. We would love to hear from you.
Become a WEST Donor
Become a WEST DonorAs an Individual or a Business
WEST run courses and workshops to support the economic wellbeing in West Auckland. Many of our courses are free or part-fee and therefore we rely on the generous philanthropic donors who support us do our work in the community. If you are in a position to become a WEST Donor, or can sponsor a person to take part in one of our paid courses such as the F Endorsement, OSH Operators Certificate, First Aid or Driver Licencing courses we would love to hear from you. Workplace certificates and driver licences greatly improve the economic outcomes of people in our community and your donation will have a lasting effect.

Contact Us Today

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    Meet Our Staff

    Lee Hickey
    Lee HickeyBusiness Development Manager
    Cynthia Blom
    Cynthia BlomAdministrator/Accounts
    Gaylene Thompson
    Gaylene ThompsonReception/Admin Assist

    Meet Our Tutors

    Elizabeth Aloua
    Elizabeth AlouaWEST Becoming Financially Fit Tutor
    Lee Hickey
    Lee HickeyWEST Training/Becoming Financially Fit Tutor
    Lynda Barrett
    Lynda BarrettWEST Driver Education Tutor
    Dr Susan Healy
    Dr Susan HealyWEST Training Tutor
    Buffie Mawhinney
    Buffie MawhinneyWEST Becoming Financially Fit Tutor
    John Mowbray
    John MowbrayWEST Driver Education/Commercial Roadskills Tutor
    John Carrodus
    John CarrodusWEST Becoming Financially Fit Tutor
    Carolyn Slade
    Carolyn SladeWEST Becoming Financially Fit Tutor
    Gaylene Thompson
    Gaylene ThompsonWEST Driver Education Tutor
    Judy Henderson
    Judy HendersonWEST Becoming Financially Fit Tutor
    Leanne Macdonald
    Leanne MacdonaldWEST Becoming Financially Fit Tutor

    Meet Our Volunteers

    Carolyn Slade
    Carolyn SladeWEST Dressed Volunteer

    Meet Our Governance Board

    John Carrodus
    John CarrodusChairperson
    John was previously a principal at Edmonton Primary School and is now actively involved in supporting a number of community and Not for Profit organisations. John is also the WEST handyperson and we keep him busy with maintaining the Facility so that it is always looking it’s best.
    Lynda Barrett
    Lynda BarrettGovernance Board Member
    Lynda has been self employed as a driving instructor for 32 years, a school bus & charter bus driver for 10 years, and a tutor for WEA/WEST for 14 years. Plus just the normal wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother!
    Vinetta Pearce
    Vinetta PearceGovernance Board Member
    Vinetta has considerable experience in small business management, network facilitation and convening, and place based community development. Currently Vinetta works as the manager of a local community organisation.
    Carolyn Slade
    Carolyn SladeGovernance Board Member