Manukau Youth Employment Project March 2004

THE OBJECTIVE Manukau City Council, Work and Income, and Tertiary Education Commission (formerly Skill New Zealand) working in partnership to achieve the Goals of Tomorrow’s Manukau: A supportive and responsive learning and training environment for registered youth A Manukau workforce with skills to match employer needs Organisations in Manukau working together to achieve results Manukau Youth Employment Project

WHY DO IT? To help Manukau youth gain qualifications and support transition from unemployment to full-time work To develop a community coalition that actively contributes to the vision of Tomorrow’s Manukau To add value to Council’s work with youth and provide tangible benefit to wider community Manukau Youth Employment Project

THE PLAN Manukau City Council Work and Income NZ Tertiary Education Commission Participants Duration of Project Project Leader, partial funder and work-based trainer Sponsor and partial funder Sponsor and contractor of pre-entry training 30 participants selected from Work and Income Registered Youth MCC, TEC and Work and Income to jointly select appropriate candidates for MYEP 12 Months Manukau Youth Employment Project

MCC’s CONTRIBUTION Work Based training, mentoring, employment grooming Documentation of training processes with key milestones and review dates Quarterly progress reports and final report with reference Assistance with referrals and setting up networks for cadets MCC, TEC and Work and Income to follow up after training success and PR opportunities Manukau Youth Employment Project

MENTORING - WHAT’S PROVIDED? Pools and Recreation Library Community Services Park Ranger/Officer Facility management/ maintenance Call Centre Customer Services Parking Warden Regulatory Admin Services Field/Health officer Secretarial and clerical work, HR, Payroll Administration support, Accounts Graffiti Removal City Beautification Parks and Gardens Accredited training provider to prepare participants for entry into cadetship Workbased training opportunities at Manukau City Council in a range of services including: Manukau Youth Employment Project

THE CADETS All under 25 Unqualified or few qualifications Few or no formal work skills Out of work for six months and up to three years All face significant barriers and lack of opportunities when trying to re-enter workforce - employer attitudes, lack of self-confidence and self-esteem, and lack of work experience Manukau Youth Employment Project

2003 CADET PROFILE Name: Vai Amituanai Age: 20 years Qualifications: Seventh Form, Introductory Law Paper Unemployed: Seven months Work Experience: Packing supermarket orders at Progressive Enterprises in Mangere Job Description: Assistant to Executive Officer for the Pacific Island Advisory Committee (PIAC), Rouruina Brown. “I was ecstatic at being chosen - I didn’t think I stood a chance. There were lots of us competing to be cadets. It’s so amazing that the Council cares enough to give us a start in life. I love the work I’m doing. I get up early to be on time for work - I don’t want to waste this opportunity. I hope it’s a stepping stone to something bigger and better.” Manukau Youth Employment Project

2003 CADET PROFILE Name: Wiremu Hohaia Age: 20 years Qualifications: Left school at 14 Unemployed: Received unemployment benefit for two years Work Experience: 4 months shaping surfboards 3 months picking apples Current Job Description: Works with Child Youth Planner Tanya Kaihe and Chantelle Whaiapu, Co- ordinator for Toi o Manukau. “I didn’t expect to be selected as a cadet. I wasn’t sure what I had to offer.” Now that’s he’s had a taste of local government, Wiremu’s long-term goal is to work for Council permanently.“I didn’t know that jobs like this existed!” Manukau Youth Employment Project

BENEFITS TO MANUKAU YOUTH Skill development through workplace learning Transition to full-time employment supported with training and mentoring Development of sense of self worth and work ethic Exposure to employment opportunities and career development in Local Government Manukau Youth Employment Project

BENEFITS TO MANUKAU Improved training and employment participation rates Potential economic growth through an increasingly skilled local labour pool Reduced negative impact of unemployed and idle youth Enhanced social responsibility amongst youth - creating a sense of belonging and identity Manukau Youth Employment Project

BENEFITS TO WORK and INCOME Assist its youth priority groups into employment Reduces local unemployment register and beneficiary payments Strategic link forged between local and central government sectors Trials a model that may be used in other regions or for other priority groups Manukau Youth Employment Project

BENEFITS TO TERTIARY EDUCATION COMMISSION Contributes to TEC’s goal of developing opportunities for people to access foundation education and training leading to nationally recognised skills and qualifications and more employment opportunities Strategic link forged between local and central government sectors Mutual resources used to achieve joint social development aims Trials a model that may be used in other regions or for other priority groups Manukau Youth Employment Project

HOW TO ENSURE SUCCESS Commitment by all parties Structured process in place to train and mentor youth Measurements in place to track progress Unique project in terms of potential employability success rate Manukau Youth Employment Project

An Update on the 2003 cadets 21 cadets from the 2003 intake found employment either within Manukau City Council or outside employers. 2 cadets went onto further tertiary training 4 cadets did not complete the programme 3 cadets outcomes could not be confirmed at the completion of the programme. Manukau Youth Employment Project

2004 and beyond 30 cadets recruited in March 2004 for a second project year Increased staffing provided with a full-time Project Manager and Cadet Mentor funded through Work and Income. Structured process in place to train and mentor youth Formal review planned at the completion of 2004 project Project to be developed for 2005 to have a Manukau-wide focus and incorporate a number of Manukau employers. Manukau Youth Employment Project