18 Dec, 2025
Celebrating Success at Oceania Career Academy 2025 Graduation
On 18 December, 104 graduates celebrated a significant milestone as they completed their educational journey at the Oceania Career Academy (OCA) graduation ceremony held at Fale o Samoa in Māngere.
The ceremony marked a record year for OCA, with graduates completing qualifications across foundation skills, construction trades, and health and wellbeing programmes.
Jennifer Tupou, Acting CEO of The Fono, commended the graduates for their determination and resilience. "Your hard work and dedication have brought you here today. You have overcome challenges, balanced family, friends and study, and stayed the course. This is your moment, and we're all very, very proud of you," she told the assembled graduates, families and supporters.
The graduation ceremony featured presentations across multiple qualification streams, including NZ Certificates in Foundation Skills, Construction Trade Skills (Carpentry and Fabrication), and Study and Employment Pathways. Special awards were presented to outstanding students Anare Gonewal, George Kama and John Hancox.
Sally Dalhousie, Chief Operating Officer at The Fono, highlighted OCA's holistic approach to education. "We care, and that's the core of what we do," she said, emphasising the organisation's commitment to supporting students beyond the classroom through its integrated model of care.
The ceremony also marked the formal acknowledgement of OCA's new General Manager, Jeffrey Wilson, who reflected on the achievements of 2025. "We're immensely proud of you. You are part of our Oceania Career Academy family, and you always will be," Wilson told graduates. He acknowledged the challenging job market but encouraged graduates to continue their learning journey: "Don't ever stop learning. You're always growing and moving."
Wilson outlined significant milestones achieved by OCA in 2025, including the first delivery of the NZ Certificate in Foundation Skills at Level 1, reaching full enrollment capacity, and receiving outstanding results in recent NZQA and TEC audits, earning a "highly confident" rating in both educational performance and self-assessment.
The ceremony was emceed by OCA's Recruitment & Engagement Officer KJ Hundal and featured a community address from Jordan Polina of the Ranui 135 Trust, a trusted partner of OCA. Reverend Jokatama Fotu Waqabaca from New Life Wesleyan Methodist Church opened proceedings with a lotu.
Graduates celebrated with their families and supporters at a shared meal following the certificate presentations, marking not just individual achievement but a collective community success.
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