Connecting with youth in Rotorua

A ‘connector' – pou whakapiri – to ensure youth voices are heard and services are linked has been appointed by the Rotorua Lakes Council.

Gill Brocas, who has a work history in secondary and tertiary education sectors, will co-ordinate a community generated working group with the city's young folk.

The scheme will operate under Pūtaki Nui, a term which refers to youth potential.

The new group has been established by the Rotorua Working Together Forum, a collective of local leaders from local and central government, social sector initiatives and community who meet to identify and discuss issues and opportunities to work together, including for youth.

The move appears to be driven by research which shows 41 per cent of children are not regularly attending school every day, Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick says in a statement.

'Of our 10,000 18 to 24-year-olds, 1000 are not earning or learning. There are increasing demands for youth mental health and addiction services and many of our youth have no clear aspirations for their lives and careers.”

The council is a member of the Rotorua Working Together Forum.

Gill Brocas, who will operate from the Rotorua Youth Centre, has held a variety of tutorial and management roles, the last being faculty lead for community development at Toi Ohomai's Rotorua campus.

The group has already seen positive outcomes, Steve says.

But 'it really needs someone to build on that and keep driving it”, she says.

Gill's appointment will ensure that happens and that support for Pūtake Nui is coordinated, connected and appropriate.

'She will work with organisations, agencies, businesses, schools and also directly with youth to ensure their voices are heard and that we're doing things that will make a real difference and achieve positive outcomes for individuals.”

Gill will provide support and coordination for each of four connected areas/kokonga that fall under Pūtake Nui and to which facilitators have been assigned:

  • Rangatahi … get the support they need, when they need it (Laurie Durand, Te Waiariki Purea Trust, and Jayne Furlong, Ministry of Education).
  • … Grow up with aspirations for their lives (Leigh Richards, Rotorua Lakes Council, and Paora Te Hurihanganui, Te Papa Takaro o Te Arawa).
  • … Can flourish in all aspects of their lives (Dominic Lepa, Ministry of Social Development).
  • … Involved in all things rangatahi (Barbara Mackenzie, Department of Internal Affairs, and Jen Murray, Rotorua Community Youth Centre Trust).

The Pou Whakapiri role is being funded by the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) and Rotorua Energy Charitable Trust.

Gill will be based at the Rotorua Community Youth Centre.

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