Celebrating youth creativity, diversity and connection

Thank you inviting me to open this year’s Involve 06 Conference. It is a pleasure to be here.

We are all here because we care for and are passionate about young people's development. No matter whether we are from a non-government organisation, central government or are concerned adults or young people, we all want the same thing, which is for our young people to grow up safe, happy, healthy and positive about the future. Ki a taatou te Maaori ko te tuumanaka: kia tupu, kia hua, kia puawai o taatou taiohi!

I look forward to meeting with many of you over the next two days, hearing about what you are doing, sharing ideas and how we may be able to best work together to achieve positive results/outcomes for young people. This conference is intended to be an opportunity to network, share ideas, and learn from each other. Many of you are familiar faces to one another and some are new. But we all have an opportunity to engage in constructive discussion on key issues facing the sector and determining how we go forward from here.

A warm welcome to all of you here today, and especially to our overseas guests, including Tom Wylie, CEO of the UK National Youth Agency; Deborah Christie, renowned international teacher, trainer and youth motivator, also from the UK; and Michelle Dagnino, Canadian author, speaker and youth advocate. I look forward to hearing your thoughts and ideas, and those other speakers we have lined up during this conference.

Congratulations to NZAAHD and the National Youth Workers Network for developing such a comprehensive and topical programme. The theme for this years conference – youth creativity, diversity and connection – really set a context for our challenge in framing youth development for Aotearoa/ New Zealand.

There is no doubt that there are some very significant challenges to be faced to make sure that all our young people reach their full potential. The media continue to bombard us with negative aspects of young people and those aspects are a salient reminder that there are critical issues that need to be addressed. But we must also remember that a large proportion of young people are doing well and can do so much better with the right support.

As a population, young people in New Zealand aged 12-24 number around 780,000 – almost a quarter of our total population – or slightly more than double the population of Christchurch. That's raw potential which with the right conditions can grow to its full extent.

The face of our youth population is also changing, more diverse, more cultures, more languages, which presents new opportunities and challenges to this and future governments as these young people grow up and become the leaders, voters, parents and workforce of tomorrow.

Part of this conference touches on aspects of culture and identity. By 2025 Statistics NZ projects a 'browning' of Aotearoa/ New Zealand which by then will be the largest Polynesian centre of the Pacific – with Auckland being its focal point. I know that more culture, not less, is where we are headed as a nation and the sooner policy makers understand that frame the better.

In today’s rapidly-changing global society, we have a dynamic youth population that is more mobile, culturally diverse, technologically-aware and has greater access to information than ever before.

In the last fifteen years, the youth population has also increased by about 10%, thanks to the high number of children born in the late 1980s and early 1990s, but will start decreasing again in about ten years time. If we can achieve better social and economic outcomes for young people now, this “baby blip” will put New Zealand in a stronger position than many other developed nations, where population ageing is more advanced.

Our challenge as a nation going forward is to future-proof tomorrows leaders today. Not an easy challenge as we commit to 'live the dream'. Eat more healthy, be more active, have an enquiring mind, more culture not less, be sustainable and be self-sufficient and connected.

This means that if we are to enjoy a successful country tomorrow, we must work together to build successful young people today, and I am proud to be part of a government which is committed to this goal through it's work across government, though the youth sector, and with young people themselves.

I believe that this is an exciting time to be involved in working with young people – and a great time to be a young person, as New Zealand continues to emerge as a confident, vibrant, diverse and increasingly prosperous country.

Young people are key to driving this transformation. They are increasingly stamping their mark on the national and international stage in areas such as music, film, arts, culture, business and sports, which shows that the future ahead of us looks extremely bright. In fact, we need look no further than right here at this conference to see evidence of this fantastic youth potential –the Liberte dance crew, Soul 7 and Freestyle Phugitives. Today its entirely possible to liver your passion and make a living from it.

The Government takes its commitment to the young people of New Zealand seriously, we believe that the talents of all young people must developed if we are to successfully drive our country's economic transformation, build a strong and proud national identity, and effectively support our families, young and old.

The PACE initiative with MSD recognises that more young people want to pursue a career in the creative industry and policies have responded to that trend.

Education, of course is one of the cornerstones of this government's vision for economic and social development. At the secondary level, my colleague, Education Minister Steve Maharey has recently released the 2005 schools’ report, which shows that the quality of learning in New Zealand schools continues to improve, and that most New Zealand students are positively engaged in learning.

In the tertiary area, the introduction of interest free student loans is ensuring that young people find it easier financially to acquire tertiary qualifications and go on to build successful careers.

And, over recent years there has been a significant increase in participation in post compulsory education and training. This has included the establishment and development of the Modern Apprenticeship scheme, and much higher numbers enrolled in industry training, which is helping New Zealand industry to address skill shortages and contribute to a strong and highly-skilled workforce.

Our government's goal is to have all 15-19 year-olds in some form of work, training or other income generating activity, and initiatives like the Youth Transitions Service assist them as they make the move from school into these areas. This is part of a $56.9 million package designed to ensure young people have the tools and skills they need to become productive members of their communities.

The government's key link with the young people of New Zealand and with the youth sector, is through the Ministry of Youth Development, which not only provides advice to government on youth policy development, but also provides a range of opportunities and initiatives which enable young people to make their voices heard, get involved in decision-making, and learn skills which help them gain self confidence and work/life skills.

The Ministry's key mission is promoting a strengths-based approach to youth development, which is based on the fundamental belief that all young people should be encouraged and recognised for their strengths and the positive contribution they can make – rather than be treated as "problems to be fixed".

It is while keeping this kind of positive and forward-thinking approach in our minds, that three key areas which I believe are critical to building the kind of successful future for our young people are understood.

·first, improving access to appropriate youth health services and promoting good youth health – is an issue for all of us
·second, strengthening the youth work sector
·and third, the need to work collaboratively across the youth sector

Improving and promoting good youth health – an issue for everyone.
Youth health is not a matter for government or the community alone. Individuals, families, and schools must also be involved in promoting the message of good youth health among our young people, and we must ensure that we provide services which reflect their specific needs and provide good information so that they can make informed choices about their health and wellbeing. More often as a I travel around the country communities are seeking youth friendly health services.

Among particular health concerns for young people are obesity, drug and alcohol abuse, sexually transmitted infections, teenage pregnancy, suicide and multiple risk behaviour. If not treated, such problems can have deep and long-lasting negative effects on a young person's future.

We also need to recognise that young people often face different health issues that the rest of the population, and that there are particular challenges and barriers to young people getting the help they need. Indeed, feedback from young people themselves tells us that they can be reluctant to use mainstream services, often because of a lack of trust and confidence, and a fear of being judged.

In all areas of society, including health, the positive, meaningful involvement of young people in decisions that affect them is crucial to successful youth development. This principle is one of the key cornerstones of the Ministry of Youth Development's work, and it runs many exciting initiatives that promote youth participation and involvement. One of these is the Activate Youth Advisory Group, which keeps Government informed about the views and opinions of young people.

A youth forum hosted by Activate Youth in 2005 identified the top health issues for young people as: health education; development of the health workforce; sexual health; and healthy eating. Delegates said that schools have a very significant role in educating young people about health issues. They recommended that schools have approachable health professionals, including sexual health specialists, available. Encouragingly, they also wanted to see a greater range of cheap and healthy food available within and outside school!

That’s good to hear because if you haven’t heard of it already the Government has recently launched at new initiative, Mission-on, a $67 million package which is aimed at improving nutrition and rates of physical activity amongst our young people. The Ministries of Health, Education and Youth Development and SPARC are all working on this exciting new campaign.

And that’s not all – the Fruit in Schools programme has just been doubled in size – and is another example of a project that aims to provide a jump-start to healthy eating and lifestyle choices for children in regions of high social and health need.

Positive sexuality and healthy sexual and reproductive health are also Government priorities. In support of the Government's Sexual and Reproductive Health Strategy (2001), the Ministry of Health funded the "No Rubba no Hubba Hubba" campaign (summer of 2004/2005) to promote and increase safer sexual health practices among 15 to 19-year-olds.

Overall, the campaign was very successful at raising awareness of safer sex issues. This is evidenced via high awareness of among the target audience and increased coverage in the media. There has also been a change in attitudes and contemplation of behaviour change, with half of the youth surveyed indicating that the campaign increased the likelihood that they will use condoms in the future; and a decrease in the proportion of youth who say they would have sex without a condom.

In other areas, work is also now underway on Youth 2007, a comprehensive survey of around 10,000 12 to 18 year olds from schools around New Zealand.
Modelled on a similar study in 2000, the survey asks questions about students' health and general wellbeing, with the findings enabling government and the youth health sector to build a long-term picture of youth health and development and track current and emerging health issues.

The Adolescent Health Research Group from the University of Auckland will conduct the survey, with funding from multiple agencies including the Health Research Council, and the Ministries of Youth Development, Health and other agencies. Youth 2007 will be an online survey for around 10,000 12 to 18 year olds from schools around New Zealand.

The results of the survey are due to be released in late 2008, and will add to the strong platform we’re building for agencies to work together to address youth health issues.

There are also many other initiatives and programmes operating at local level which are supporting young people and making it easier for them to access health care. Services such as Hutt Valley's "VIBE" youth health centre, Wellington's "EVOLVE" one-stop-shop, and the 198 youth Health Centre, right here at 198 Hereford St in Christchurch, are fantastic examples of this strengths-based, youth-focussed approach to promoting health among young people.

Of course, underpinning many of these youth projects and services across New Zealand, is the youth work sector.

Strengthening the youth work sector
‘Challenge’ is certainly a good word for describing the nature of youth work. Its also rewarding and worthwhile. In February Real Work was launched, and it tells us, for the first time, all about New Zealand’s youth workers: who they are, where they live and work, what ethnicity and age they are, their wages, employment conditions, and qualifications, and the different ways in which they work with young people.

Real Work has provided an excellent knowledge base for us to move forward with the Ministry of Youth Development’s Youth Worker Workforce Development Project.

To strengthen that knowledge base, we’ve also produced a literature review on issues facing the youth worker workforce in New Zealand, Australia, and the United Kingdom; done a stocktake of government and non-government initiatives that may be relevant to developing the youth worker workforce; and established a project advisory group, with members from a wide cross-section of the youth work sector.

Work is now underway consulting with the sector to address the issues facing it; developing a code of ethics; developing and publicising professional development pathways; and engaging with local government, and I want to acknowledge the work of the National Youth Workers Network in helping to achieve these goals.

The Government is committed to working with the youth work sector to develop a strong and vibrant sector, with recognised qualifications and career pathways. The Ministry is working with Te Kaiawhina Ahumahi to improve professional development pathways for the youth work sector.

We also want to make sure that youth workers know what career pathways are available, and how they can progress through these pathways. Christchurch Polytechnic Institute has created a useful model to display career development pathways, and the Ministry is investigating adapting this model for youth workers. Another possibility we’re investigating is possible study awards for youth workers, supported by a promotional campaign for the youth work sector.

Building a strong and vibrant youth work sector is integral to supporting young people.

We need to work collaboratively across the youth sector
Positive youth development is about building the skills and attitudes young people need to successfully take part in their community and society as a whole, both now and in the future. It’s about young people feeling they have something to contribute, being connected, making good choices for their future, and feel positive about who they are and where they belong.

It’s also about young people having active involvement in their family and whanau, schools, workplaces, communities, peer groups, and having a say in decisions that affect them.

The youth development sector provides a range of services to young people – and is an essential link in influencing the lives of young New Zealanders. However, if we are to be effective, we not only to work collaboratively, but also to recognise and embrace each others different strengths and diverse skills in this area.

There are many examples within the sector of this diverse range of expertise, with organisations such as Youthline, the YW and YMCA, and the Foundation for Youth Development doing some great work to help ensure young people are supported and encouraged to be the best they can be.

My vision for the sector is for one that it is recognised for the critically important work that it does, and one that provides young people with access to highly skilled and effective youth development services.

The Ministry of Youth Development is working on a youth sector collaboration plan that is being discussed at this conference. It’s about taking us forward and working together across agencies and organisations in order to improve outcomes for our young people. Amongst many things this will mean:
·a more effective voice for the sector across the whole of government
·increased sharing of information, evidence and good practice within the sector
·developing career paths and training for the sector
·developing benchmark standards for the youth services, a “quality mark.” looking at providing, and requiring, professional development for those who work in services that the Ministry of Youth Development purchases.

The Government is committed to an enhanced collaborative approach because to achieve a stronger youth development sector, we need to ensure greater collaboration between organisations and within the sector and with the government. I would really encourage you to provide feedback to help move this process ahead.

Conclusion
As I mentioned in my opening comments, we are all working for the same aim here, which is happy, healthy, safe and nurtured young people in New Zealand Aotearoa.

The ways we can do this will include:
1.recognising the importance of youth health issues
2.growing and developing our youth work sector
3.committing to a collaborative approach to youth development.

Ultimately, of course, it’s all about achieving better outcomes for young people. I’m looking forward to attending some great workshops – congratulations again to NZAAHD, the National Youth Workers Network and the Ministry of Youth Development team and to all the presenters here for the next three days.
Have a great conference!