Community-led model to improve outcomes for youth

Dunedin (Thursday, 8 September 2016) – Mayor of Dunedin Dave Cull and Ōtākou Rūnaka are leading the transition of a successful youth employment and development trial programme from a government-led to a community-led model.

For the past three years the South Dunedin Social Sector Trial, known as BASE, has been working with a wide range of partners across the city to improve outcomes for young people.

Earlier this year, the Government announced that BASE and a number of other social sector trials across the country would transition from being community-influenced (led by government) models to being community-led models from 2017.

Mr Cull, who chairs the Social Sector Trial Advisory Group, says BASE has been successful in developing initiatives focused on increasing youth participation in education, training and employment; building resilience among young people; and preventing youth offending, and alcohol and drug use.

The transition to a community-led model is an opportunity to build on these achievements, but also an opportunity for greater collaboration amongst social sector leaders to understand other problems that need solving and build an imperative for change, he says.

"The South Dunedin Social Sector Trial has been one of the most successful in the country, particularly in respect to getting youth into employment," Mr Cull says.

"However, there are still some young people falling through the cracks. True and lasting transformation can only take place when owned and driven by people on the ground, so the transition to a community-led model will mean communities and whānau will be in charge of their own futures."

As part of the transition, BASE has undertaken an initial scoping project, interviewing 45 stakeholder groups and holding focus groups with young people. From this, a report and set of recommendations have been published online at the Dunedin City Council website (www.dunedin.govt.nz/collaborating-for-youth-success), outlining a model for a community-led, collaborative approach to develop a long-term vision for youth in the city.

The Mayor and local Iwi will jointly lead the next steps, including a community discussion and pulling together the group to lead community-based development.

Ōtākou Rūnaka chairperson, Donna Matahaere-Atariki, says a hui will be held later this year to open a discussion about priorities, what happens next and what resources might be required to create a collaborative effort across the city.

"The report highlights what is working well at present including the amazing calibre of staff working in youth-focused agencies in Dunedin who are committed to making a difference to the lives of young people.

"However, the report also highlights the many barriers that prevent a consistent and effective response being made to young people and their whānau.

"Challenges identified include funding models that limit progress, too much emphasis on process improvement rather than strategy development and a system that is afraid of failure.

"The hui will be the next step toward developing a community-led model which we believe will break down those barriers and lead to a collaborative, community-based approach with the aim of improving outcomes for Dunedin's young people and their whānau," says Mrs Matahaere-Atariki.

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