Recipe Book - Taupo District Council

Taupö District Safe Community
54
Outcome of the forums
The Taupö and Turangi communities need a Youth Transition Service
available to our young people. After looking at several possible models
or variations for one that would suit our community, the group decided a
Co-ordination Model was the best option; providing support from a youth
worker, access to funding and support in tracking from the nearest YTS
(Youth Transition Service). Also discussed was the recently released
Youth Opportunities package which the group commented on and was
encouraged to participate in. These comments have been fed back to
Jan Francis and also to Louise Upston our local Member of Parliament.
Council is currently working towards a project that may include 4 young
people under the Community Max scheme.
Three members from the group met with Laurie Durand and Diana Beattie
from the Rotorua Youth in Transition Group to discuss the possibility of
Taupö and Turangi having their young people tracked by the Te Waiariki
Purea Trust who deliver the Rotorua YTS contract. This idea was well
received and both expressed an interest in being involved:
This model would track all young people from a certain age to ensure they
are either in education, work or training and those needing customised
support referred on to the Turangi or Taupö youth worker
• The youth worker will then make contact with the young person
• If necessary the young person is also referred on to other
appropriate organisations for help.
• The number of school leavers in 2008 in Years 11, 12 and 13 in
Taupö was 407 and in Turangi there were 40.
• Taupö and Turangi currently have 52 young people from 16-24 who
are registered either on the unemployment benefit, unemployment
benefit training or independent youth benefit who may be able to
be part of this system. There are also young people who are not
registered that could also be included.
Other tasks of the Youth worker working within the YTS may include:
• Career advice
• CV development
• Early identification of ‘at-risk’ young people - refer to other agencies
if needed e.g. for alcohol and drug assessment/counselling,
literacy and numeracy assessment/training.
• Raise aspirations of families/whanau re their young person,
• Develop strong inter-agency networks
• Provide up to date information to young people and providers re
employment, training and work opportunities
• Identify gaps in service provision in the community and assist to
identify best practise models that may be implemented
• Work in a culturally aware manner in all dealings.
There would be a Youth Transitions Advisory Group established from
agencies and organisations that have an interest and working relationship
with young people. The Advisory Group would oversee and give advice
to the youth worker. They would provide governance and direction on any
issues raised and gaps identified. This group could link into the Rotorua
Youth in Transition Strategy Implementation Group for additional support
and expertise. There will be a need to develop the appropriate Strategic
documents to help inform the work of all involved in the project.
There could be an opportunity to be part of the new Community Links
being developed in Turangi by the end of 2009 and in Taupö early 2010.
Community Links is a new approach by WINZ service centres where
people can get help for a range of needs from a variety of social services
and agencies located in the one place. The YTS co-ordinator could have
the opportunity to work out of the Community Link centre. This would
help support the young person to reach their goals and have access to
the range of other services provided through the centre that may include;
counselling, financial assistance and health assessments.
Conclusion
Taupö and Turangi require a Youth Transitions Service to fill an identified
gap in our community. The community feels strongly about empowering
our young people to achieve positive outcomes and the need to provide
support for those who require it.