Creating the future of the Youth Work workforce

Lead organisation:

Ara Taiohi 

Ara Taiohi is being funded to develop the strategy and structures required to lead and determine the future of the youth worker workforce.  

The project’s goal is to see the sector powerfully resourced to meet the challenges of the changing social and government environment through: 

• Technological solutions to create an accessible and efficient system to manage anticipated exponential increase in youth worker numbers. 

• Equitable engagement, with a focus on indigenous community voice, to inform the strategic direction for the workforce. 

This work will contribute to youth workers having a collective voice in influencing the changes resulting from the Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry; and into the development of a Workforce Professionalisation Strategy. It will establish Communities of Practice; giving youth workers resources and spaces to find belonging and identity. 

This investment will set up the workforce for long-term sustainability and growth, and showcase how a workforce can be accountable, self-governing and revolutionary in its approach to professional practice. 

It is estimated that there are over 3,000 youth workers in Aotearoa New Zealand. In our recent research initiative, Mahi Tūturu, 76% of youth workers indicated that they have completed a formal qualification in a subject related to Youth Work and 92% are committed to attending training relating to Youth Work and youth development.