Limited Service Volunteer course

Get a fresh start and the tools to get a job with the Limited Service Volunteer (LSV) course.

LSV is a free, live-in 6-week training course.

Earn NZQA credits, get work-ready and build your confidence.

You need to be:

  • between 17 and 24 years old (if you're 17 we'll need your parents' consent)
  • not working, training or studying, and
  • in good health so you can take part in outdoor activities.

You can get free travel, accommodation, clothes, food, medical care and personal support.

3 guys on a ropes course, 2 hanging from a beam and one climbing on top of it

Want to know more? Get in touch. (Link 1)

Fill out our online form and we'll get back to you. We'll talk to you about whether the LSV course is right for you.

Change your life with LSV

The LSV course helps you do more than you ever thought you could. Push yourself further than you've ever done before. Break out of your comfort zone to discover strengths you never knew you had. When you graduate from LSV, you can be truly proud of yourself.

Before you start the course (Link 1)

Find out what you need to bring, how to get there and when you start.

What you do on LSV (Link 2)

Build key skills to find a job and change your life. Get fit and healthy. Learn life skills and how to apply for jobs.

After LSV (Link 3)

Invite family and friends to your graduation. Then we give you a reference and help you find work or get into training or study.
View transcript of 'Get a fresh start with Limited Service Volunteer' video

Group leader: Stand at ease!

Trainee group: One!

Trainee Hiroki: If I can just do my best for this small portion of my life, I could probably change my whole life.

Group leader: Move!

Trainee Hiroki: It’s probably the greatest second chance I’ve ever been given, coming to LSV.

Trainee Ben: I’m really grateful that I decided to take this course. Taking big challenges that I never thought I could achieve. It changed me, a lot.

Trainee Barcham: Before this course I’ve been waking up, like three, four PM. I’m hoping to get a routine from this. Just get up, get out and do things.

Trainee Tiata: I want to change my life. Just make everyone proud, especially my mum. I thought I would give up at some point, but I actually pushed myself, and tried to remind myself who I’m doing this for.

Trainee Tariu: I’m happy, proud of myself and how far I came, ‘cause I’m leading my team

Trainee Reid: I’ve learnt that my mind’s a lot stronger than I realise, and that’s the cool thing about here, they push forward the positive.

Trainee Cassidy: As a platoon and for myself, we’ve grown to be pretty good 2.0 versions of ourselves.

Trainee Owens: You make good friends with people, that you wouldn’t have thought you would have. Teamwork’s probably the most essential part of this course, and that’s something I can take into any area of my life.

Trainee Hiroki: It’s not about your weaknesses, it’s about your strengths.

Trainee group chanting: LSV, LSV, LSV!

www.workandincome.govt.nz/LSV

Girl typing ropes on a wooden beam at a LSV course

Find out how to apply (Link 1)

You need to fill in an application form and pass a medical check to make sure you can take part safely in outdoor activities. The application form includes a police vetting form.