Sarah Searle

Managing Partner

I am renowned for my ability to be innovative and collaborative to provide the “best fit” in a programme. I get frustrated by the large amount of training provision in NZ, often all working at cross purposes. My goal is to make better use of available provision to be mutually beneficial to all parties.

I have been working in adult education for over 20 years, most of this time in Adult Communication, Literacy and Numeracy. I am a registered NZQA Materials Developer for Literacy and Numeracy resources, which keeps me current with any new developments in this area.

Success is about allowing people to feel empowered at every level of an organisation, and recognising that, no matter what the role, staff are the experts in their field and their feedback is valued. Staff need the tools to give feedback in a positive, solutions focused manner. This helps to create a business culture that includes support and trust therefore increasing innovation and collaboration. 

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Michelle Arnesen

Workplace Tutor

Michelle is an experienced financial adviser, business consultant and proud mother.

She brings excellent communication skills to the team and a passion to make a difference in the lives of people who attend the literacy, numeracy and communication programme.

Family and well-being are key focus points for Michelle and these attributes, coupled with her deep understanding of financial modelling and budget advisory services, make her a valuable asset to the team at Sarah's Solutions.

"Walk with the dreamers, the believers, the courageous, the cheerful, the planners, the doers, the successful people with their heads in the clouds and their feet on the ground. Let their spirit ignite a fire within you to leave this world better than when you found it"

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Keith Lightfoot

Communications Trainer

Keith is an International Conference Presenter and Trainer.

His key strengths are his relationship skills and his ability to deliver a clear and powerful message to any person attending the training: "Keith has changed my life. I have taken everything I have learnt and shared it with my son. It has also changed his beliefs. I can't wait for the next session, Keith makes them so much fun and easy as well as relaxing".

Literacy, Numeracy and Communication are critical elements in personal and business success. You and your team will experience personal growth and improvements in many areas of your life through this fully funded programme. 

Keith is a Fellow of IT Professionals New Zealand, a Member of the Global Speakers Federation and an Associate Member of the New Zealand Association of Positive Psychology.  In addition to Workplace Communication Training, he is an IT consultant, website developer, singer-songwriter and a published author.

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Fay Hazard

Workplace Communications Tutor

Fay qualified from Dunedin University with a Bachelor of Science and is one of New Zealand's computer pioneers.

Her experience includes Business Needs Analysis, Professional Programming, Teaching and Project Management. She is a member of and Past President of Powertalk NZ, an organisation that develops self-confidence, communication and speaking skills.

​Fay is a powerful communicator with excellent people skills. Her ability to plan, manage and teach are great attributes for delivery of Unlock the Learning teaching methodology.

Sarah's Solutions is focused on improving Adult Literacy and Numeracy across all industries and Fay is an important part of the team.

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Joesephine Nathan

Tutor/Programme Writer

Bachelors of Education: Masters in Indigenous Studies, Te Whare Wanaga o Awanuiarangi, also PHD Victoria University, Topic: Kaitiakitanga o Pouto Peninsula – The Restoration of Mauri of our whenua and whanau in the Kaipara rohe. 

Experience and Skill Set includes:
1. Strategic Leadership
2. Strategic Management
3. Staff Management
4. Financial Management
5. Contract Management
6. Operational Effectiveness
7. Health and Safety
8. HR Management

​Joe has worked as a tutor for Sarah’s Solutions since 2019 teaching Te Reo classes.  Joe works at instilling Te Tiriti into all our programmes, also training our tutors, and as a tutor, she is also a resource in programme design.  

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Yvonne Tana

Workplace Tutor

National Certificate in Adult Literacy and Numeracy Educator (Level 5), Senior Diploma in Maori Art. 

Yvonne embeds her art teaching into work she does with Sarah’s Solutions to aid in communication with people from all cultures but particularly Maori and Pacifika. 

Yvonne had developed quite a reputation in the Maori art field before. She helped put together the impressive and colourful marae at Te Papa and her work was displayed in national and international art galleries and museums.

​She has received plenty of media attention for her unique, life-size Maori sculptures.

Yvonne also has a Diploma in Broadcasting and has worked for a number of years on different radio stations broadcasting in Te Reo.

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Sabina Schmidt

Workplace Communications Tutor

Sabina is a true cosmopolitan who has lived in many countries around the world, but the majority in New Zealand. She is a Mother of four and a Grandmother of six who home schooled her own children for a period of time in international settings.  Being multilingual she has developed strategies to teach and learn languages (and other things) FAST. Almost a decade ago she started teaching foreign students English from basic to advanced levels in a number of different Auckland language schools with great student feedback.

Whilst her background is in Nutrition and Social Science she has also been an Administrator and a Medical and Simultaneous Translator, Author and Publisher for several years.
 
Sabina is passionate about natural health, nutrition and anything that makes this world a better place, which includes enabling others to find their own passion and live it. Her international living has given her first hand cultural awareness and sensitivity. That paired with a strong sense of humour help to make her classes inclusive and fun events.

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Rowena Bright

Workplace Development

​Rowena has an extensive background in coaching and developing Senior Leadership, Business Strategy, Enterprise Capability, Instructional Design and Facilitation.

​Her ability to engage teams to drive strategic results is evident in her professional accomplishments.

Rowena's project experience has seen her successfully manage and deliver multiple strategic deliverables whilst operating in an ever changing, dynamic environment.

Rowena will work with your organisation to improve the literacy and numeracy skills of your employees, so they can participate fully in industry training.

She is a trained teacher with experience in coaching adults, who will utilise your workplace resources to work with your staff, adding value to your work environment.

​Helping New Zealand Industry

Making a difference in the lives of New Zealand Employers and Employees

"I love every part of this course I have benefited hugely personally from what I am learning which is impacting both home and work life. I am trying to improve myself. A better understanding of other people."

Impressive Results

​Our tutors have real-world experience in New Zealand organisations and are skilled in delivering a wide range of courses.

Many of the challenges employers face in New Zealand can be linked back to low literacy and numeracy levels, and every situation is unique. In recognition of your uniqueness, all of our literacy, numeracy and communication programmes customised to fit the specific needs of an organisation.

From an individual perspective, successful learning has an impact on self-esteem, motivation, relationships and opportunities. High literacy is also associated with better health outcomes, for example, increased longevity and healthier habits and life styles. In addition, literacy skills influence positively the probability of being in a white-collar high-skilled position and negatively the probability of being unemployed or in a blue-collar position. 

Globalisation, technological change and organisational development are shaping both the supply of, and the demand for higher levels of literacy skills in the information age. Literacy not only enhances career prospects, but also reduces the chance of being unemployed. 
Societies consider high levels of literacy to be desirable to sustain widespread participation in economic, social, cultural, and political life.

Literacy is important for communication and making informed decisions. It is a necessary ingredient for citizenship, community participation and a sense of belonging. Literacy is also a tool for efficient learning, particularly self-directed learning of the sort that is enabled by information and communication technologies. 

Adult literacy and numeracy skills are crucial for building a competitive, skilled and productive workforce in a knowledge-based economy. Improving adult literacy and numeracy underpins several of the Government’s Better Public Services results. New Zealand needs a population with high-level literacy and numeracy skills to build a high-productivity, high-wage economy and an inclusive society where everyone can participate.