Reaching Out
By CARL BERRYMAN
Napier Mail, 5 May 2010
Working alongside the up and coming Hawke’s Bay Youth Workers and knowing what is required to reach out to our young people in today’s social climate is something the Youth Work Tutors at Workforce Development know all about.
Reaching out to young people on a personal basis, says Youth Work Tutor, Vivienne Wharehoka, and acknowledging their strengths and abilities regardless, are the nuts and bolts of youth work. She says a youth worker’s key purpose is to work alongside young people to facilitate their personal, social and educational development and enable them to gain a voice, influence and place in society in their period of transition from dependence to independence.
There are numerous avenues for connecting with young people within communities. Some examples of these are – family/whanau groups, church youth groups, uniform groups such as Scouts and Girl Guides or Cadet Forces, Kapa Haka and other performance groups, sports clubs. Other communities that seek the services of youth workers include – local/regional councils, mentoring groups, government departments, such as health and disabilities, education, justice, Child, Youth and Family and the Ministry of Youth Development.
Vivienne says the ways in which young people are raised and supported is too important to be left to chance. According to the Youth Development Strategy Aotearoa (2007) a healthy and vibrant youth population is a valuable asset for any nation – both now and in the future.
Through ‘youth work training’ people who are currently working with young people, or those who may be interested in this field, can gain a broader insight into the intricacies of youth development and the arena in which this important role takes place. Vivienne says Workforce Development’s youth worker qualifications offer plenty of opportunities to do just that. They also provide a means for those who are currently working in a volunteer setting to gain the theory required to validate their practical experience, which then opens the door to paid employment in this field.
