|
News > The valuable contribution of youth workers
The valuable contribution of youth workers
6 June 2007
The government is looking at practical ways to support and strengthen the positive contribution made by youth workers including those who work with at-risk or very vulnerable young people says Youth Minister Nanaia Mahuta.
This follows a recent Ministry of Youth Development survey of the professional development and training needs of youth workers.
"I welcome the results of the survey which will be used to inform
further work by both government and the private sector as to how they
can continue to support youth workers," says Nanaia Mahuta.
"The findings show a high level of demand from youth workers for
opportunities to increase their skills, effectiveness and
qualifications, delivered in a way that meets their needs."
"We are committed to ensuring that youth workers receive access to high
quality training opportunities, including making training a mandatory
requirement with organisations employing youth workers, and signing up
to the finalised national code of ethics," says Nanaia Mahuta.
The Ministry will drill further into the data from the survey to
identify any regional differences in training needs, and will engage
with regional providers to identify how these needs can best be met
To assist the further development of the youth worker workforce, the
Youth Development Ministry has contracted the National Youth Workers
Network Aotearoa to develop a national code of ethics for youth work
and to develop and support regional networks.
The Minister also acknowledged the work of the National Youth Workers
Network in contributing to the survey and for the work on their
national research report project, "Real work".
"We are seeing the positive impact of youth workers especially with
hard-to-reach young people, for example the contracting of youth
workers in response to recent youth gang issues in South Auckland has
been very effective. We need to strengthen and support their important
work.
"The ongoing recognition of the important role of youth workers,
increased emphasis on the need to invest in professional development
and training of this workforce better enables youth workers to respond
to the needs of young people and support them to make positive changes
for the long term. This survey should be utilised by government and
non-government agencies when they make investment decisions in the
youth sector. Just like good teachers we need to invest in youth
workers to ensure that we have quality professionals working with our
young people" says Nanaia Mahuta.
To see the final report click on the link below.
Top of page
|