WelTec is offering a level 6, two-year full-time diploma in Youth Work as the need for youth workers in New Zealand
continues to rise.
“One of the biggest, and somewhat unknown knock-on effects we could face as a result of isolation due to COVID-19 is
mental health impacts,” says Carmel Haggerty head of Whitireia & WelTec’s School of Health & Social Services. “Added to this will also likely be significant financial hardships for many.
“One in eight children in New Zealand already currently live in poverty and research shows these children are more
vulnerable to mental health issues. The highest rates of suicide are in youth between 15-24 years, living in deprived
areas, twice as high as those living in less deprived areas.
“The specialist youth work qualification we offer is aimed at those who want to help shape the future of New Zealand’s
youth and help them thrive, and we will need these skills more than ever before,”says Ms Haggerty.
Youth workers do not require an industry registration meaning it is not necessary for students to do a three year degree
to qualify. WelTec has therefore provided a more accessible route to support people to enter the field and the two-year
full time diploma has replaced a three-year Degree course, which is currently being taught out. The diploma will ensure
our graduates will meet the established industry competency standards for youth work.
The diploma is aimed at new entrants to the sector, those already employed but seeking qualifications, or those within
health and wellbeing or social services who want to specialise in youth.
“Graduates will learn the skills and knowledge needed to support young people in their communities to identify and
achieve their aspirations,” says Roger Ngahoroo, the Programme Manager Social Practice, Whitireia. “New Zealand
desperately needs these graduates to quickly get to work quickly with a high degree of autonomy and contribute to
improving outcomes for our youth.”
Neville Bartley, who graduated from the Youth Work programme in 2018 as a mature student, has been working in the sector
for over 30 years following a career as an accountant and teacher, and now provides leadership to other youth workers
and volunteers as the National Youth Ministry Leader for Scripture Union New Zealand, explains the growing needs for
experienced youth workers:
“The issues our young people are facing are increasingly complex, levels of anxiety, lack of social connection, levels
of financial stress - gone are the days when youth workers were simply volunteers with no formal training - what we need
now are youth workers equipped with strategies for the people they are working with as well as for themselves. That is
what a qualification provides. It also teaches the youth worker when to reach out to other experts for advice.
“Having worked in the sector for so long, I have seen it become increasingly fraught and we need well-rounded, and well
trained youth workers, we also need to widen and deepen the pool of expertise to cope with the growing numbers of youth
who require this specialist approach,” says Neville.
“It is quite different to social work, with youth work you really ‘walk alongside’ this vulnerable young person, you are
their advocate and guide them to connect with further support services. So as a youth worker, you really need to
understand a young and frightened person, but also how to navigate the plethora of social services available to that
person.
“The youth work qualification also helps give credibility to the sector and those working in it,” says Neville.
Lisei Le’aupepe who will graduate from WelTec’s programme this year, has been quickly snapped up into employment by Nga
Taiohi National Secure Youth Forensic Inpatient Mental Health Service in Porirua.
Nga Taiohi is a new, purpose-built, specialist, 10-bed unit at Kenepuru Hospital for the treatment of Rangatahi (young
people) aged 13 to 17 who are severely affected by mental health, who have offended or are alleged to have offended, and
who are involved in New Zealand’s youth justice system.
Lisei went to school in Newlands and competed nationally in netball, rugby and softball. Through her sport, Lisei
understood the benefit of mentors and soon started mentoring youth around her. She also spent a year at Camp America
working with young people.
Understanding the benefit of one-to-one support, and having enjoyed her time helping other young people, Lisei was
guided by her parents to enrol for the Youth Work programme.
“I love what I do,” she says. “I love seeing someone get well, being part of their journey to that point, to help them
focus on future goals, it is hugely satisfying. But it is also tough, and I am glad that I have had the guidance from
tutors to know what to do in tricky situations.”
Roger Ngahoroo, the Programme Manager for social and youth work qualifications at WelTec explains the teaching approach
to these specialist areas.
“The nature of these programmes means that we provide wrap around support to the students, we work with them to
understand their stress points and to provide as much flexibility as possible in terms of delivering the course. This is
because many of the students are mature may have a family or are in employment. The fields of social are tough, and we
need to retain and grow qualification rates - so we need to respond to each student as an individual to give them the
best chance of finishing.”