An update by Lead Social Innovator, Joe Wilson
This month has seen us film two stories, Tom Hunt Youth Worker and Te Toi Ora Ki Whaingaroa/Kawhia/Waingaro. Tom Hunt's story is one that touches on what makes a good community-based youth worker, why they are needed so badly and what the current political and economic landscape has on the current and future state of funding and youth worker retention.
This story is incredibly topical right now as the new government has just released the job descriptions for the youth workers that will be attached to the youth leaving the boot camps to work with them in community in their reintegration. These roles have been set at 20hr/week and continue the same problem for good youth workers who cannot afford to live off part time youth work and a job that is so immersive, challenging and requires many high-level skills that are not reflective in the hourly wage let alone the hours available.
This story helps share the perspective of a youth sector leading professional who can advocate and speak on behalf of the sector to ensure the realities and needs of the sector are heard so they can challenge and better inform the working conditions that will enable youth sector workers to effectively support the youth they care for and develop.
This story also takes a more conversational style with myself (Joe) framing questions for Tom to answer so that the listener can gain a better understanding of how the issues have arisen and what impacts they have.
The edit for season two episode two; ‘Te Toi Ora ki Whaingaroa’ is now underway and this will really showcase flax roots community change and innovation for holistic health, organisational partnerships and whanau centred approaches to rural healthcare for rural marae-based communities. It will reflect on the role of tau iwi in being Tangata Tiriti, western and Māori healthcare collaboration and how communities have the answers and solutions for their own challenges if they are fully supported rather than dictated to.
This story will be released in early September and there is a real buzz around the collective for the amazing mahi they are doing, led by Mike Edmonds, to be shared and celebrated to our LOLF community and beyond.
The next three stories in the pipeline are:
A recap on the private landlords perspective of being a part of the broader solution to affordable and social housing (linked to the 20/20 housing and He Puaawai Teen Parent Unit)
Manaaki Rangatahi ki Waikato (Grass roots and stakeholder collaboration to end youth homelessness in the Waikato)
What it means to Tangata Tiririti, Māori Wards and Māori led Civic Engagement with Kawena Jones
