Minister Maharey launches new service for Waitakere

This Thursday (March 10) the Minister for Social Development and Employment Steve Maharey will be in Waitakere to launch one of five youth transition services planned for rollout across the country.

Youth Horizons will be the lead agency to deliver the service in Waitakere, targeting 15-17 year old school leavers, and specifically those who are ‘at risk’ of becoming unemployed or disengaged with training/further education. The service will be open to young people living in or attending school in Waitakere. Jeff Richardson, CEO, says Youth Horizons will support young people by providing those identified as being at risk of unemployment or disengagement from further education/training with access to career planning and job-seeking assistance.

Encouraging and assisting young people to take advantage of education and training opportunities, establishing a youth resource centre and developing a network of supportive relationships to enhance the existing services in Waitakere are just a few initiatives aiming to provide customised support and guidance to school leavers, facilitating their pathway into work, education or training.

Work and Income co-ordinated the consultation process to develop the service’s three strategic plan and to identify a lead provider. Work and Income’s Auckland Regional Commissioner, Isabel Evans, says the service will help young people to make the transition from school to sustainable employment.

“We want all of Waitakere’s school leavers to be able to take advantage of the opportunities in the local labour market. This service will link them into the training and jobs that will enable them to do this.”

The Waitakere service is one of the first five youth transition services to be established nationally. A total of 14 will be set up by 2007.

Bob Harvey, Mayor of Waitakere, says “The beauty of it is that it is based within our community and directed by our community. It aims to give our young people, access to all the support services, advice and ideas they need to harness their strengths and make the transition from school to their futures by linking them to the worlds of work, training and education.”

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