Rise March 2015

MINISTRY OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ISSUE 29 – MARCH 2015

“He aha te mea nui o te ao?

Mäku e kï atu. He tangata, he tangata, he tangata!”

“What is the most important thing in the world?

I tell you. It is people, it is people, it is people!”

Making a difference Home is where the heart is – improving a community’s health Gaming – super heroes deal to attitudes YES project – firefighter gives back

Welcome

Northland Auckland Bay of Plenty Waikato

This issue of Rise is about making a difference Nelson/

Taranaki/ King Country/ Whanganui

East Coast Central

Marlborough/ West Coast

Wellington Canterbury

Southern

Brendan Boyle Chief Executive

ISSN 1178-4709 (Print) ISSN 1178-4717 (Online)

Printed in New Zealand by Blue Star Print Group (NZ) Ltd using FSC® mix paper from responsible resources, using mineral oil free, soy-based vegetable inks.

The information provided in this Ministry of Social Development publication is intended to profile initiatives, research and opinions related to the social sector, and all reasonable measures have been taken to ensure that the information set out in this publication is accurate.

However, readers are advised that: » The Ministry does not implicitly or impliedly endorse the views presented in this publication unless otherwise stated. » The information provided does not replace or alter the laws of New Zealand or any other official guidelines or requirements. » The contents of this publication should not be construed as legal advice. Before relying on any information in this publication, users should independently verify its relevance for their purposes.

ii RISE: Issue 29 – March 2015

Welcome to the first issue of Rise for 2015.

Making a difference – it’s what we all want to do.

To help those struggling to have better lives. To make sure children have enough to eat. To engage young people with school so they get the qualifications they need to find work. To do all we can to help parents feel hopeful about the future so they, in turn, can raise their children with a sense of possibility and excitement about what’s ahead.

Read the stories in this issue and you’ll find out about people making a profound difference to the lives of others.

A partnership between Work and Income and one of the largest vegetable growers in the South Island has led to employment and English classes for refugees.

In Porirua, an extraordinary woman has gathered principals, police, NGOs, iwi leaders, doctors, dental services, city councillors and government agencies to give children a ‘well’ start to life and improve the health of the community. Fewer people are now seen by

hospital emergency departments, hospital admissions have dropped, and children’s health is improving.

It’s inspiring to see what can be done when people come together determined to change things for the better.

Read about the hairdresser who runs workshops with salons and hairdressing students about family violence and how to help. About a former Work and Income client who started a cleaning business with a bottle of Handy Andy and now employs 11 staff – mostly single mothers who value the supportive, child-friendly work environment she provides.

These are just a few of the inspiring stories you’ll find in this issue. I recommend you read them all.

Kia kaha

Brendan Boyle Chief Executive, Ministry of Social Development

Contents Cover story

2 Home is where the heart is

Ranei Wineera-Parai is proving a formidable force in Porirua.

Feature stories

6 Mangere students take a stand

Student champions step up as ‘go to’ people for family violence.

8 A force to be reckoned with

2

Young volunteer firefighter gains a life-changing opportunity with the Outward Bound Trust.

10 Gaming deals to attitudes

Dunedin ‘super heroes’ put imagination, creativity and love of gaming to good use.

14 Cut it out

Hairdressers back ‘It’s Not OK’ campaign.

16 Bridging the gap

Trent Waldron goes full circle.

18 Spotlight on Nelson, Marlborough and West Coast

Industry partnership gives refugees work; employment project yields results and campaign a family affair.

22 Spotlight on Canterbury

10 14 Contact Rise Subscribe to Rise Subscribe to the printed magazine or Rise online via www.msd.govt.nz/subscriptions There is no charge to subscribe.

www.msd.govt.nz/rise

Read Rise on your iPad

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Find it on the Apple iTunes App store by searching for Rise magazine.

For up to the minute information about all the work of the Ministry of Social Development follow us on Twitter @msdgovtnz

26 Spotlight on Central

M2PP project proving successful; meet ‘rescuer’ Anne Reed and Daniel gets a new lease on life.

Regular columns

30 Regional round-up 33 Tips, links and news – check out Rise online and iPad.

Drop us a line at rise@msd.govt.nz

Rise online

Beneficiaries embrace 3K to Christchurch; perseverance pays off for sole parent and Levi gives back.

RISE: Issue 29 – March 2015 1

Home is where the heart is Ranei Wineera-Parai is proving a formidable force in Porirua.

Born and bred in Porirua, Ranei’s passion to make a difference in the community is obvious. And in her role as Project Manager of the Porirua Social Sector Trial, she’s making inroads.

The initiative began almost two years ago as one of 16 Social Sector trials that aim to improve the lives of people in our communities.

Porirua’s focus differs from the rest of the trials. It’s the only trial with a total health focus, one which aims to reduce the number of Porirua residents (from birth to age 74) using Wellington Hospital’s emergency department and being admitted to hospital for avoidable conditions.

With funding from the Ministries of Social Development, Education, Justice, Health and NZ Police, the over-arching goal is to make Porirua a stronger, more resilient community.

It’s not up to government officials to dictate how the community is to achieve those results, and Ranei and her Project Co-ordinator Cheryl Devadhar know better than anyone that they can’t do it alone.

Only through effective collaboration will real change come.

Change is coming via an action plan created with input from the community, led by Ranei and overseen by the local advisory group.

The group includes the Porirua mayor, iwi leaders – including Ranei’s husband Taku Parai, representing Ngati Toa and Or Toa Primary Health Organisation (PHO) – principals, police, community social services, training providers, regional public health nurses, general practitioners, Bee Healthy Regional Dental Service, Porirua City Council and other government agencies.

It’s a challenging plan with bold initiatives, including: • Giving children a ‘well’ start to life • Improving access to appropriate primary care in Porirua East and Titahi Bay • Aligning government agencies and sharing data to improve services • Providing supportive environments to improve wellbeing.

There are 94 actions in total to complete

by June this year, and in order to achieve that, Ranei moves between several worlds.

On the one hand, she reports directly to government ministers and works on high level strategy with government officials and local leaders, while on the other hand, she’s at the coalface.

“That’s where my skill is, identifying issues and working with the community to come up with resolutions for those and then implementing them. I could be chairing a meeting or I could be helping to pack 9,500 bags of toothbrushes and toothpaste.”

The toothbrush packs distributed to schools throughout the region is the perfect example of how one simple action stemming from better collaboration is making a difference at grassroots level.

“Children with asthma inhalers were being told to keep them next to their toothbrushes, but up to a third of kids don’t even have toothbrushes,” says Ranei.

“It makes me smile to see children being given these packs. For some, those things may seem small, but for those families and kids, it’s important to have something that is given just to them, to help them.”

Then there’s the revelation from a stocktake of handwashing facilities in primary schools that not all had hot water, soap, paper towels or tissues.

The Porirua trial has since provided more than 4,000 bottles of liquid soap, 400 boxes of tissues and tubes of antiseptic cream to 30-odd primary schools, supported by regional public health nurses.

The nurses have also supported the idea for 1,000 skincare packs to be given to children and their parents through medical practices, pharmacies and Work and Income.

For Caron Watson, Deputy Principal of decile 1c-rated Holy Family School, having access to a supply of skin packs, hand sanitiser, tissues and toothbrush packs is a big plus. “We’ve given parents packs of all of these items and everyone’s excited about them.

“I could be chairing a meeting or I could be helping to pack 9,500 bags of toothbrushes and toothpaste.”

“We might have 10 kids in the medical room that need a scrape or sore cleaned up.

We can now give them skincare packs to take home. With the tissues, kids can use them instead of sniffing or using their sleeves!”

Often Caron says health issues are the result of poor housing, no heating and low incomes. “A kid at five shouldn’t be excited about getting a toothbrush, so what does that tell you? You only have to talk to the dental nurses to know that teeth might look nice, but they’re not. It’s hard work, but schools are a good place to promote the trial.”

Robyn Kelly is the Regional Public Health team leader responsible for the public health nurses who regularly work in local schools like Holy Family to educate children and support the trial’s actions.

“Health promotion projects like this are a key part of our work. It’s heartening to know that a child with a minor skin infection can be treated early rather than progress to needing antibiotics and hospitalisation,” she says. “Keneperu Hospital has lists of children needing tooth extractions, including pre-school children, so getting toothbrush packs to kids is just fantastic.”

Thanks to the trial, Bee Healthy dental service is making huge progress in capturing children under age five by joining forces with local medical practices. Those children enrolled in primary health care are now being automatically enrolled in the free dental service, too.

“One practice showed 220 of their 400 under five-year-olds weren’t enrolled, RISE: Issue 29 – March 2015 3

so letters were sent to the parents advising them of our service and that their children would be enrolled unless they opted out,” says Bee Healthy’s Jackie Mayne.

Another working group that includes Bee Healthy has established an enrolment from birth scheme, ensuring newborns are enrolled in dental services, a medical practice and child health services before they even leave hospital.

“Our hardest challenge has been finding a way of catching these families. We’ve had to wait for them to engage with us but we know many don’t. The information sharing between services through the trial has been breaking down barriers,” says Jackie.

“Now it’s a matter of coming up with strategies for us to be able to see the extra 3,000 children that are now enrolled with us through this programme!”

Help is also at hand for families who can’t afford to collect their medicines, through funding given to two pharmacies in Porirua East and one in Titahi Bay. “Now these families can go to the pharmacy and pick up their drugs. It’s really going to make an impact on people’s lives, knowing infections will be cleared up early and keep children out of hospital, and avoid the misery of a really progressed illness,” says Robyn from Public Health.

There’s another big push to educate families that scripts are free for the rest of the year once they’ve spent $200 at the same pharmacy. “Loads of scripts were not picked up at pharmacies. They were just sitting there,” says Robyn.

Under the trial, Work and Income clients can have their disability allowance redirected

“The information sharing between services through the trial has been breaking down barriers.”

4 RISE: Issue 29 – March 2015

to medical practices and pharmacies to pay for their consultation and medication.

Many aren’t aware of their entitlement, but with 31 clients having already benefited from this approach, things are changing.

Work and Income Service Centre Manager Karen Bain has been involved in the advisory group from the start and is now executing her part of the plan.

“We’ve moved away from the so-called health product coming first. Now it’s the situation that comes first and what products can fit around that situation.

Karen rattles off a few initiatives, including the Poirura-specific group email address set up for medical professionals to ask questions about Work and Income products and services, and a direct phone line to her for health professionals.

“Our biggest fan of our professional email is Mary Potter Hospice. There can be multiple things going on with families in a hospice situation, so once the staff explain the situation to us, we can go back to them with products we can fit in around them.”

Wesley Community Action, a partnering charitable social service provider, is playing its part. Trial funding has enabled it to support families through the distribution of 420-odd fruit and vege packs direct from market gardeners.

“Many of the people that we support are living on the breadline, with fresh fruit and vegetables seen as a bit of a luxury,” says Community Services Operations Manager Andrea McKenzie. “No family wants to see their children eat unhealthy food. To be able to provide these fruit and vege packs along with conversations and recipes around how to prepare and cook certain vegetables is very exciting.”

Wesley is even supporting some ’proactive‘ families who have received the packs and are keen to set up their own vegetable gardens as a result. “We’re a provider in the Porirua community. Our work is in line with the objectives of the trial and we want to see families with improved health and wellbeing outcomes,” says Andrea.

“It’s a very good partnership.”

Whitby doctor Larry Jordan, also chair of Compass Health Primary Health Organisation

(PHO) that has the contract to lead the trial and employs Ranei and Cheryl, agrees.

Larry has been a GP in Porirua for 33 years, and though there are still plenty of issues to address, he’s optimistic. “We know it’s a really important piece of work. It’s really the first serious attempt to get that comprehensive multi-agency, multidisciplinary work going in a coherent way. We’re well pleased with the progress of the action plan that Ranei and her team have put together.

“We’re seeing it at the coalface. On a weekly basis we’d see kids here with skin infections. Children who develop a nasty abscess might end up going to hospital to have a general anaesthetic to have it removed and drained. That’s a big disruption for the family and a drain on the public health purse,” says Larry.

“But in the last year we’ve had feedback from specialists at Wellington Hospital saying the numbers of children presenting with abscesses needing operating have diminished dramatically. We think that’s because of the work being done in the community.

Both Larry and Sandra Williams, Capital and Coast DHB advisory group representative, attribute much of the trial’s success to Ranei. “We’re all working together to help Ranei achieve, but her leadership has been crucial. She’s got a special way of working with people that brings them on board.

It’s really pragmatic stuff, being able to act as a bridge,” says Sandra.

“This trial has brought together groups of people we haven’t been able to work with before. Everyone’s left their individual agendas behind to help improve the lives in the Porirua community,” says Sandra.

“It’s great to work alongside someone who can actually get other people to come to the party. It’s a gift, and I really appreciate the linkages she and Taku have within the local community,” Sandra adds.

It’s not surprising then that Ranei and the rest of the Porirua trial were awarded an early Christmas present in the form of two Capital and Coast DHB quality awards.

The trial took out the quality improvement and innovation award from 25 nominations, and Ranei beat a strong field to the leadership award.

As he reflects on progress, Ranei’s husband Taku says that the skepticism at the start has long gone. “Once work got under way, relationships started to become more solid, everyone began to sing the same song and we started getting good results. It became evident that this was going to work.

Both Taku and Ranei, who have six children between them and grandchildren, are on the same page, striving to make a difference for their community.

“My heart is here. Both Taku and I will be here till we die, and whatever we do that can make a difference in improving the future for our children and our grandchildren, then that’s what we’re about,” says Ranei.

“For me, it’s a privilege to now be able to lead a project like this, across a community in which I have these wonderful connections.”

WEB LINK www.msd.govt.nz/social-sector-trials Photo top: Public health nurse Annie Highet chats with Holy Family School student Joan Tamala-Mani.

Photo top right: Holy Family School student Lusiana Tamala-Mani.

Photo below right: Wesley Community Action Porirua’s Tim Borrer.

Photo below: Holy Family School Deputy Principal Caron Watson.

RISE: Issue 29 – March 2015 5

STUDENT CHAMPION

STUDENT CHAMPION

STUDENT CHAMPION

STUDENT CHAMPION

Mangere students take a stand

When Mangere College student Desaray Williams went to her local supermarket last July, she was given a standing ovation. The night before she’d appeared on TV’s ONE News challenging all New Zealand schools to stand up against family violence.

Desaray is one of 20 student champions who are part of Mangere College’s ‘It’s not OK’ campaign.

Mangere is the first secondary school in New Zealand with student champions trained as ’go to‘ people for family violence.

The idea was born at a leadership camp in January last year. Family violence survivor Jude Simpson spoke to the group and they were inspired to develop a school-wide campaign.

“I was abused as a child by a stepmother, and this took me to many abusive relationships, gangs, prison, children by four different fathers,” says Jude. “No one reached out or spoke up. It would have made a huge difference if they had.”

Back at school after the camp, the first step for the leadership group was to gain approval and support from the board of trustees.

Then the group held a brainstorming session with staff and challenged them to come on board and bring the message that family violence is not OK into their subject areas.

School counsellor Kathryn Barclay says many teachers took up the challenge.

Branding was developed for the school campaign using student artwork.

The technology department designed and made a 3D pendant. Art students created Claymation that was used in a music video for a rap written and performed by music students on the topic of preventing family violence.

“Students performed their spoken word at assembly. We had speakers in to talk about family violence, what it is and how it impacts on people,” says Kathryn. “And we sent newsletters home to parents, many of whom came along to the ’It's not OK‘ Day last July to see their teenagers perform.”

Students came up with their own message: Drop the burden before the next generation.

The campaign’s orange colour was chosen and billboards were developed, one for the school campus and one for Mangere township. Training was provided for student champions so they would feel

confident and comfortable responding to students who came to them for help.

All students were involved in the ‘It's not OK’ Day, rotating round three stations for different activities. At one, speakers told their own stories. “At the day a student got up and shared her story. She felt safe enough to do that,” says head girl Carnia-Rose Aupouri.

There were activities and music at another station. At the third, local service providers had stalls and students completed a quiz about family violence and where to go for help.

Principal John Heyes says the school has a strong culture of respect and responsibility which provided the perfect foundation for the ‘It’s not OK’ message. “I believe that our student champions and the whole school’s support for the ‘It's not OK’ Day was because students were already in a position of heightened awareness of behaviours that are conducive to healthy living,” he says.

Kathryn says the year-long campaign has had a tangible impact on the school culture.

“I think all guidance counsellors hear and see the impact of family violence, so that was a motivation for me. Even when I worked in high decile schools I saw what happens in young people’s relationships.

“We have noticed a change in language.

The kids will say ‘It’s not OK’. We have seen this across the school, kids will talk about bullying being not OK, and we’ve seen a change in the language teachers use as well.”

Kathryn says one strength of the campaign was all partners working together – students, staff, the board of trustees, police, the national ‘It’s not OK’ campaign team and Presbyterian Support Northern.

Senior Sergeant Chris Barry agrees, but emphasises the role of the young people.

He grew up here and has a lot of passion for this community. “There are fantastic people in this community but there is a lot of hardship too. It’s hard for families to be positive role models and give their children positive messages. It’s been really exciting for me to see the young people taking ownership of this issue.

“As police officers we realise we can’t solve this issue by ourselves. We have had to deal with a lot of family violence as the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff.

“I am very happy to be one of the champions. I want to show the world that our school is against family violence.”

This is prevention, prevention first in real life.

That’s the exciting part for me.”

Carnia-Rose agrees. “I have seen the effects of family violence in my extended family. I have always wanted to do something but didn’t know what I could do. This is a way for me to influence other people so they can get help. It is time for a change where we ARE the change.”

And it’s obviously working, with these comments from the champions showing they are proud to be standing up and speaking out: “I volunteered because I have experienced family violence. My parents have big issues.

It’s been hard for them and for me. I know that people need someone like me, and I feel really big for myself that I can make a difference in people’s lives. It makes me feel really, really proud.”

To keep the momentum going, Mangere College replaced White Ribbon Day with Orange Ribbon Day last November.

Oranges and orange ribbons were distributed, and activities were held across the day to remind the school community that family violence is never OK. The campaign will continue in 2015 and those involved urge other schools to follow suit.

“I would like to see every school in this country become an ‘It’s not OK’ school.

If Mangere College can do it then anyone can,” says Jude.

WEB LINKS www.areyouok.org.nz/ www.youthline.co.nz/ www.youtube.com/watch? v=a-qyNKUwkEM&noredirect=1 RISE: Issue 29 – March 2015 7

A force to be reckoned with

A Rise story about young people getting involved with emergency services led to a young volunteer firefighter gaining a life-changing opportunity with the Outward Bound Trust.

Twenty-six-year-old Adam McHugh isn’t one to sit back and wonder what’s happening when he hears a fire siren, he gets into the thick of the action.

Adam has been a volunteer member of Lake Okareka Rural Fire Force’s 14-strong crew for two years now. It may be a small volunteer fire unit but the team is built from a strong sense of community, generous hearts and big ideas.

Take the training sessions with other Rotorua emergency services, fundraising for the Leukaemia Foundation and CanTeen, and hosting a community Guy Fawkes event – the list goes on.

But it was fire chief Phil Muldoon who first thought of getting young people involved with local emergency services as way to connect them with their communities, and potential career options.

Now, Youth in Emergency Services (YES) is a national programme run collaboratively

by Ministry of Youth Development and the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management in 20 communities across the country.

After reading about the YES project in the June 2014 issue of Rise, the Outward Bound Trust offered a place for a Lake Okareka crew member to attend one of its courses.

Located in the Marlborough Sounds, Outward Bound helps people reach their full potential through challenge in the outdoors.

It also works closely with Work and Income to offer a range of training courses for Work and Income’s young jobseekers.

In the case of the Lake Okareka place on offer, Adam McHugh, a design engineer with Rotorua’s BSK Consulting Engineers, was an obvious choice.

With the approval of his boss, and fuelled by excitement and curiosity, Adam tried to research the programme and talk to former Outward Bound participants.

“The people who’ve been on the course don’t give too much away – it turns out the best thing about the course is the unknown.”

Heading off last August, Adam travelled to Wellington and caught the Cook Straight ferry across to the Marlborough Sounds, aware nine others also heading to Outward Bound were on board.

Soon after arriving at picturesque Anakiwa, the identity of his new course mates was soon revealed as they gathered together for a run, followed by a brisk winter swim.

Over the next week the group would become bonded together by activities and through being open and accepting of, and with, each other. “We became friends fast. People don’t generally support strangers in everyday life, we’re consumed in our own lives, but at Outward Bound you need to support each other,” says Adam.

“Teamwork is encouraged… empowering those who are comfortable to step up and help those who may not be so sure, it teaches you to take the time to get to know people.”

One of Adam’s highlights was spending two nights solo in Queen Charlotte Sound.

While he doesn’t want to give too much away about the actual activity, he says it came at a time when the whole idea of challenging himself had become a personal philosophy, something he’d never really done before.

While everyone’s solo experience is different, Adam says being dropped off in an unknown location in the dark of the night, preparing his own campsite, and waking up to an amazing view was humbling.

“I spent the night naively trying to animalproof my tent, digging channel drains around the tent and getting the floor right”, he laughs.

“I was out of my comfort zone and my mind was going a million miles an hour.

Once the day dawned and I realised how lucky I was to be part of this beautiful landscape,

I began to accept and appreciate that this was something I may never get to do again. I had an inner peace and didn’t want the day to end.”

Seven days later, the former strangers re-boarded the ferry destined for the North Island, bonded by a raft of experiences none of them will ever forget.

Back in Rotorua, Adam hasn’t slowed down.

“It’s all about giving back”, he says.

Adam has since expressed an interest in returning to Outward Bound to help young people with disabilities complete the course.

He’s also been accepted to work on a humanitarian project in Nepal this year, where his engineering skills will be utilised through construction of community buildings.

Locally, Adam’s attention has turned to CanTeen where he and his Lake Okareka team plan on providing unique activities for young people living with cancer, their families and supporters.

He’s also looking forward to continuing his emergency services training both in-house and with other emergency services, and is keen to continue with the YES programme.

“A kahikatea tree on its own can only grow 15 metres, a kahikatea tree in a thicket of trees can grow up to 47 metres.

“I believe if you surround yourself with family and friends who support your growth, you’ll achieve great things.”

WEB LINKS Youth in Emergency Services (YES) www.myd.govt.nz/young-people/ youth-in-emergency-services.html Outward Bound www.outwardbound.co.nz

Outward Bound and Work and Income The philosophy of Outward Bound is to challenge people to go outside their comfort zone and gain opportunities to learn and reflect on their personal and social values.

Outward Bound and Work and Income join forces to offer a range of training courses for Work and Income’s young jobseekers. These courses are based in Anikiwa, in the Marlborough Sounds, and aim to improve people’s self-confidence, motivation and discipline, so that they have a better prospect of finding and staying in work.

RISE: Issue 29 – March 2015 9

It’s night in the city. A boy sits outside with his computer screen and headphones.

Gaming deals to attitudes

10 RISE: Issue 29 – March 2015

From the screen in his hands comes a tone and then a voice: “Good evening, New Zealand, this is Tiria Kapai and on tonight’s show we’re going to be investigating the strange break-ins at numerous art galleries around New Zealand.”

As the news host interviews Mr Tamihana, an artist who has lost not only his paintings but also his eyes, a huge explosion rocks the art gallery behind the boy. Glass shatters.

The boy stalks the art thieves. His eyes flash white. Then a moko flickers like neon on his face, which morphs into a lion’s head. He has become Akatere, the Spirit Tamer. He roars. The bad guys beg for mercy and flee.

Mana increase. The boy goes up a level in his computer game. Mana + 1.

“I enjoy gaming,” says Akatere Atariki, back in the real world, where he is a 14-year-old South Dunedin boy.

“It’s kind of like life. It’s just a really big game in the end. When you run out of life, it’s game over.”

Wanting to give their disabled children the best shot at the game of life drove families to create a DVD called Making a Difference: Stories of Our People, funded by Think Differently’s ’Making a Difference‘ fund.

The parents were aware that people’s ignorance, left unchallenged, could lead to discrimination. So they harnessed three boys’ imagination, creativity and love of gaming to shoot a video that includes interviews with families and a fresh look at what each boy can do.

Akatere’s mother, Donna MatahaereAtariki, is also the chair of Ötäkou Runanga, based on the peninsula in Dunedin.

“I’m always out there looking for any barriers. I am a little bit over-protective.

I think that it’s about being really attuned to any sort of discrimination Akatere might face. As a mother, you want to protect them...”

That’s why, when the DVD project started, Donna wanted to obscure the three young players’ faces.

“I wanted them to be blurry and morph into their characters. It’s a balance between wanting to tell a story and not exploit our kids.”

But Akatere and the other boys had other ideas, she says. “The part that the kids really wanted was visibility.”

Akatere says it was important for him and the other boys to use their own faces. “It was more realistic. It was pretty nice that I was in the film. I thought it was going to basically be an interview with me and my mum, but it’s ended up very unique.”

A big factor was in trusting the film-makers, recent graduates Madz Henry-Ryan (Ngai Tahu and Rarotonga) and Vinnie (Ngä Ruahine) from Dunedin’s Ixist Design.

“I trusted Madz and Vinnie.

They were of an age that the kids would relate to as well as professional, taking so much pride in their work,” says Donna.

“They just went out and made a film. They didn’t think ‘Can these kids really give us a brief?’ They were able to sit with the kids and listen and pull their ideas into something really great.

“It was actually good having someone who was not of the disability

sector itself. They recognised their own limitations and tended to view the kids as being the experts, as telling them what to do. They were really comfortable letting the kids direct and edit what they wanted.”

Letting go of some control, such as whether the boys showed their own faces, is a reminder that parental protection can limit kids’ development, says Donna. “I thought it was such good feedback. It made me realise Akatere will perceive life and barriers differently from me.

“I can’t always stop the way I am being over-protective but I have to do it from a distance because as Akatere is getting older, he won’t let me anymore.

“I see my role more as ensuring that those structures that impact on his life are more relevant for his circumstances, and yes, at times that will also mean change in how I relate with him.

Since doing the DVD, I have more confidence that he will navigate his own way in the world.”

“It’s kind of like life.

It’s just a really big game in the end.“

RISE: Issue 29 – March 2015 11

In another segment in the graphic film, Kiringaua, the Powerful Liberator, breathes in through his ‘mean-as’ gas mask, swelling the awesome ta moko on his armour.

Apart from his mech suit, with rocketboosted wheels, he also uses a uniquely Mäori weapon, a mere chainsaw. “We use the mere a lot,” explains Kiringaua Cassidy, 11. And in movies, you see chainsaws.

I thought, what if we combine them?”

Kiringaua, whose first language is Te Reo, says one super power he’d love to borrow from his character is telekinesis.

“I could control people and what they do, they could do my homework, my chores, the dishes, tidying up my room, getting my bed sorted, the washing.”

“It’s not about the disability. It’s about thinking differently about what a child can achieve.“

12 RISE: Issue 29 – March 2015

Apart from the buzz of seeing his ideas come to life, Kiringaua hopes the DVD changes people’s attitudes. “I hope it helps people understand we’re not stupid and helpless and we can actually think and do stuff for ourselves.

“Some people come up to me all sad. They feel sorry for me. It’s really annoying. That’s the only time I feel sorry for myself, when I can’t do the stuff that I can because people are annoying me,” he laughs.

Kiringaua’s parents say most kids figure out their son is like any other kid, but adults can be more of a challenge.

“I can’t overstate how important attitude is. It’s not about the disability. It’s about thinking differently about what a child can achieve. You just build on that,” says Paulette Tamati Elliffe.

Dad, Komene Cassidy, agrees: “We’re staunch about him being independent, doing all the things he needs to do for him and have as normal an upbringing as possible. Nothing stops us.”

Kiringaua has packed a lot into life so far, including skiing, karate, kapa haka, attending a potlatch (traditional gift-giving) in Canada, successfully petitioning his school to make a forest track accessible, and making a submission to the World Health Organisation on what would make life better (his wish: people’s attitudes).

He has already appeared on posters created by national Mäori disability provider network Te Piringa. This year, he’s off to be an ambassador for Te Piringa at Te Matatini, the biennial national kapa haka festival.

In a third segment, Ionatana KeweneMasina, 13, morphs into the Spirit Prince of Peace. In the real world, he loves US educational TV show Blue’s Clues, swimming and waka ama.

His mum, Fran Kewene, says Ionatana’s empathy draws people to him. As the Spirit Prince of Peace, he mediates conflicts just by being there.

Since its launch last July, the DVD’s messages of creativity and hope have rippled out from the families, through Ötäkou Marae and the wider Dunedin community.

“Parents and families have been in touch about their children. It took me four years to work out the system. I hope others can make connections with us and skip some of that hard work.”

If the three super heroes have their way, their fantasy world – where individuality, talent and goodness thrash ignorance – will become reality.

WEB LINKS Making a Difference: Stories of Our People www.youtube.com/embed/5SfCWh-Wcto Think differently – Disability social change campaign www.thinkdifferently.org.nz www.facebook.com/ThinkDifferentlyNZ ‘It’s not OK’ campaign www.areyouok.org.nz www.facebook.com/ItsNotOK www.Twitter.com/ItsnotOK_NZ Are You That Someone? www.facebook.com/AreYouThatSome1? www.Twitter.com/AreYouThatSome1

RISE: Issue 29 – March 2015 13

Cut it out

For most hairdressers, lending a listening ear to their clients’ problems is part of good customer service. Over the years this can build into a long-term and trusting relationship. So much so, that a disclosure of family violence may eventually crop up between a wash and a blow wave.

As an abuse survivor, Ohakune salon owner Kelly Porter recognised that she could play a role in helping her clients get support.

“I got into a relationship which I thought wasn’t bad because he didn’t hit me. He did all the other things, emotional, financial, psychological abuse, until I had a nervous breakdown and realised that none of it was OK.” With the support of the ‘It’s not OK’ campaign, Kelly is now running workshops around the country with salon staff and hairdressing students about family violence and how to help.

“As hairdressers, we often have a close relationship with our clients, and we can notice when things are not quite right.

We are in a position to ask people if they are OK and to point them in the right direction if they need someone to talk to.

“Chances are you’re not going to have a client who walks in and tells you they are experiencing domestic violence.

14 RISE: Issue 29 – March 2015

But you might be able to pick up on things, like their partner wants to control her hairstyles. He doesn’t like her hair colour.

He’s not happy with it.”

Isolation is an issue. Women who live rurally or on farms might only get into town once every couple of months. They will probably come to the hairdressers.

“Every time they come in, I try to unpack a bit more about what’s going on. If he’s trying to control her hair, what else is he trying to control?”

Kelly’s workshops raise awareness that family violence is not just about people in de facto relationships or marriages. “It could be a parent being hurt by their children, or an elderly person being abused by a caregiver.”

She stresses that the campaign isn’t about turning hairdressers into social workers.

The workshops help hairdressers with acting as a helper and not ignoring disclosures.

“It’s about getting to the point where we can ask ‘are you OK?’ and give them some phone numbers to get support. “If you get a gut feeling that something’s not right, then it probably isn’t.”

Salons that have had the workshops now display posters with the message that their staff want to help, and stock ‘It is OK to ask for help’ cards for clients to take.

Kelly is accompanied at the workshops by members of the ‘It’s not OK’ team and family violence network representatives to provide information on the issues and support available.

The hairdresser project is an example of how the ‘It’s not OK’ campaign supports workplaces and communities to address family violence.

WEB LINK www.areyouok.org.nz

“We care about more than your hair.”

“WE CARE ABOUT MORE THAN YOUR HAIR.”

“LET’S CUT OUT FAMILY VIOLENCE.”

RISE: Issue 29 – March 2015 15

Bridging the gap Trent Waldron has returned to his old primary school – as a staff member.

“It has changed since I was here, but the biggest change is that I’m not in classroom, I’m outside,” says the 32-year-old.

Outside is where Trent likes it best.

Already this morning the South New Brighton School’s assistant caretaker has done his rounds of the toilets and classrooms topping up paper towels; he’s put up some birdhouses the kids have built, and he’s tied up the rubbish bags, easily the least favourite of his duties.

Rubbish bags aside, Trent loves his job, which he’s had now for three years.

As well as giving him welcome income to spend on his hobbies, mostly rugby, cricket and speedway, working one day a week at the Christchurch primary school has given him confidence and new skills.

“I now can use tools I didn’t know how to use before, and I’m more helpful,” he says.

Sharon Vaseos, an employment support co-ordinator for the non-government organisation SkillWise, agrees. “You’re more mature and understanding and respectful, too.”

Trent began this job with help from Sharon and her colleague Roger Walker.

Now based in East Christchurch, pushed from its central city location postearthquake, SkillWise provides a hub where, each day, up to 85 people with intellectual disabilities gather to learn job and life skills, study, play sport, do drama and art, and generally hang out.

SkillWise’s work is also about including them in the wider community, whether that’s through activities, sport, the creative arts or work, voluntary and paid.

“We’re a community organisation,” says SkillWise’s Operations Manager Gavin Muir, who manages the employment

16 RISE: Issue 29 – March 2015

support team. “We build the foundations in partnership with our people to learn new skills, including job skills, in a safe and supportive environment before they go out into the mainstream employment market.”

To do that Roger and Sharon first meet with someone who’s suggested they’d like to work and discuss what they think they’d like to do. “This isn’t just sitting down and having a formal meeting.

I’ve found out more about people while out for a bike ride because it was just more relaxed for them,” says Roger.

The pair then ring around prospective employers, organising work tasters, voluntary work or job trials.

Through Ministry of Social Development funding, for a period of time the employer can then be eligible for salary subsidies, training and other support.

South New Brighton School Principal John Bockett is more than pleased to have Trent on his staff. “SkillWise came to me with three job ideas and I thought an assistant caretaker would best suit our needs.

“Even now that Trent’s salary is no longer subsidised, I’m very happy to keep him on. He’s quite an identity around here and is very popular with the kids.”

Other employers are happy, too.

Over the past two years SkillWise has supported 22 people into paid work.

Right now 16 of its people are employed in the open employment market, but they’re not out on their own.

“A big part of our job is supporting our clients as they work,” says Roger.

“I’ve just been washing dishes for a few weeks alongside a couple of guys we’ve got working in restaurants. We get right in there, even after they’ve got the job.”

Nicole Hibbs is well-settled in her role. She works two days a week as a

gardener at Avonside Girls’ High School.

She laughs, chats and makes jokes about her overly vocal cat who lives with her and her boyfriend in their flat, but she wasn’t always so outgoing.

“Nicole’s confidence is through the roof after being in paid work. It’s been an amazing transformation,” says Sharon.

“She used to live at home, was shy and would hide in the shadows, but now Nicole’s flatting, she’s far more independent and confident.”

“She’s become a mentor, too,” adds Gavin.

“If someone else at SkillWise is thinking about moving into paid work, they will go and talk to Nicole, asking her what it’s like. A lot of people now look up to her.”

Nicole spends her non-gardening weekdays back at SkillWise, working on her cooking and computing skills, playing T-ball and cricket and studying.

“Nicole’s aiming to do a horticultural qualification but at the moment we’re supporting her through a financial literacy qualification from Open Wananga,” says Sharon. That’s on top of the Learning to Learn qualification she completed earlier.

Trent, too, is studying with SkillWise’s support, working towards a NCEA Level 2 Certificate in Cleaning and Caretaking.

While neither Trent nor Nicole have plans to move on from their schools, having qualifications will boost their opportunities if that changes.

For now there’s plenty to do and Trent needs to get back to work.

“There’s been a water spill in one of the toilets. I’d better go clean it up.”

WEB LINK SkillWise www.skillwise.org.nz

Nicole Hibbs

Avonside

John Bockett and Trent Waldron

South New Brighton

Trent Waldron, Sharon Vaseos, Gavin Muir, Nicole Hibbs and Roger Walker

RISE: Issue 29 – March 2015 17

Spotlight on Nelson, Marlborough and West Coast

Nelson, Marlborough h and West Coast

“Their enthusiasm to learn the language of their new home is encouraging and empowering for them.”

18 RISE: Issue 29 – March 2015

Spotlight on Nelson, Marlborough and West Coast

Nelson, Marlborough and West Coast Industry partnership gives refugees work – with English A group of refugees are now providing for their families thanks to the formation of an industry partnership between Work and Income and one of the largest vegetable growers in the South Island.

JS Ewers Ltd provides produce for markets all around the country, including tomatoes, capsicums, eggplant and a variety of green vegetables.

The company had already hired a significant number of former refugees, about 80 percent, in fact, from the local community. However, one barrier identified by new employees was being able to transition well into the workplace, where they often began work with very little English, which in turn made understanding their tasks more difficult.

As a result, the idea to combine refugee recruitment with English classes arose from talks about the issue between Work and Income and JS Ewers Ltd management.

The two organisations agreed that under the Industry Partnership, staff would receive an hour-long English tuition class once a week, on full pay.

In fact, JS Ewers Ltd provided more time in the first four weeks to make sure its workers received intensive support during the early stages of their employment.

The English lessons are largely workfocused, covering topics such as completing forms and paperwork, health and safety at work, employment rights and obligations and completing timesheets, all of which

form part of their ’work‘ curriculum.

Thirty-two refugees from Nepal applied for the first Industry Partnership scheme intake, which began last September.

They attended seminars at Work and Income to find out what the work entailed and what the English tuition would involve.

Of those 32, nine people were chosen and have since spent time working in a 220 hectare market garden on Waimea Plains.

For the former refugees, the six months of guaranteed work and the possibility of full-time work in the future is great news, says business support officer Josey Atoa.

Aged between 23 and 40, all are keen to get to work because they all have families to provide for, she says. “They are also very organised as a community and sort any barriers quickly – for example, they start each day at 7am and it’s important that everyone arrives on time.

“Within a day of starting work our groups of former refugees had already organised a car pool and made sure everyone was able to get to and from work. In many ways their motivation, their community spirit and their enthusiasm to learn the language of their new home is encouraging and empowering for them,” says Josey.

Following on from the success of the initial Industry Partnership arrangement, JS Ewers Ltd has continued to show its support to hire from the local community and have since taken on a further 10 employees over summer.

Key facts The decision to make Wellington the capital city was made in 1864 by three Australians. The choices were Auckland, Wellington or Nelson.

The earliest evidence of human settlement in New Zealand is on the Wairau Bar, near Blenheim. Check here for the story of the return of the Tupuna in 2009: wairaubar.wordpress.com

The West Coast and Buller is known for its outstanding natural beauty, but it also has some great surf beaches!

The Cape Classic Surfing Contest at Cape Foulwind (no jokes, thanks) near Westport is Stop 1 on the South Island Surfing Circuit.

WEB LINKS www.redcross.org.nz/ what-we-do/in-new-zealand/ refugee-services www.immigration.govt.nz/ migrant/general/ generalinformation/ refugee-protection

RISE: Issue 29 – March 2015 19

Spotlight on xxxx Nelson, Marlborough and West Coast

Devyn, Blaze, Natasha, Te Meera and Hiraka.

Teaming up for youth Last November, 10 young people packed their bags and left their hometowns in the Horowhenua and Manawatu to take up four months of viticulture training and work in Marlborough.

They are part of an employment programme with a difference, an initiative of Focus Labour Solutions’ Craig Mill that’s been almost two years in the making.

Craig has long been keen to see New Zealanders get the same wrap around support enjoyed by the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme workers. He believes employers could do more for New Zealand youth in getting them on the road to being a valuable part of our society. “Our youth are our legacy so let’s give them every chance possible,” he says.

His concept turned into reality when he and Nelson’s Labour Market manager Lynne Williams met last April to develop a plan, costing in pastoral support and

20 RISE: Issue 29 – March 2015

transport to and from Horowhenua as part of the initiative.

“We had to do more than provide a fixed-term job experience. Teaching life skills, work ethics, punctuality, understanding different cultures and a positive attitude are all as important,” says Craig.

“We don’t expect them all to love our industry but it is a great stepping stone to the working future, wherever that may be.”

Being from the Horowhenua district, Craig knew it was an area with large youth unemployment and it seemed a good place to choose the 10 participants for the scheme.

Horowhenua mayor Brendan Duffy and Marlborough mayor Alistair Sowman gave their support, adding significance to the initiative.

Video profiles of potential candidates were prepared by Horowhenua work brokers Donna Metcalfe and Kevin Salmons. The site co-ordinated an employer seminar for the youth referred to the project and arranged job interviews for each applicant.

Having sat in on the interviews, Craig could see a bit of himself in the young people. “I can clearly remember when I was a 15-year-old, a farmer Murray Moxham gave me a go and took me on. He made the difference, teaching me to be a good worker.

“I want to make the difference for these young people now. Besides, I’m a taxpayer and getting these guys working means less of my taxpayer money being paid on benefits,” he laughs.

Craig also wants to show other employers how putting a bit of time and effort into this cause can yield fantastic results. “I knew this group would produce some good workers, but I wasn’t expecting to see some real stars in there, awesome young people who have really ‘got it’ and are leading by example.

“One of the group even said to me the other day that he’s going to have my job one day. I told him to go for it!”

Forming bonds within the group through life skills and team building before work started was key to giving the programme a strong and united base from which to work from, noted Craig.

“I guess the proof of the pudding will be the results at the end of the four-month programme. There will be some I take on permanently. There will be some that I will hopefully profile to other Marlborough employers. For those who want to head home, we will do our best to get them into employment with the help of Work and Income and my contacts in the Horowhenua.”

Meanwhile, Donna and Kevin are looking forward to working with the young people again.

“It’s been an amazing project.

The passion and enthusiasm displayed

by Craig and the gratitude and willingness displayed by the youth are definitely a winning combination,” says Donna. “It’s an exciting opportunity for Horowhenua youth and they are keen to embrace it.”

Spotlight on Nelson, Marlborough Spotlight and West onCoast xxxx

Tara Adams

West Coast campaign a family affair Irish nationals Tara and Jackie Adams are thrilled the cause they’re so passionate about is growing in support each and every year.

The November White Ribbon event that aims to raise awareness about family violence saw more than 200 locals show their support when 28 motorcyclists rode into Greymouth.

Tara, a local White Ribbon organiser and Child, Youth and Family supervisor was happy with the turnout but ecstatic when she saw husband Jackie ride into town on Day One of the South Island tour.

The pair, who left Ireland eight years ago, have been involved with the South Island ride since it began in 2011; Jackie, as the local police family violence manager, and Tara, as a Child, Youth and Family representative on the local Te Rito Network.

“Initially the ride did not get much support on the coast, so we set out to raise awareness of the ride and the whole White Ribbon campaign,” says Tara.

Their dedication is obvious. Jackie, now a White Ribbon ambassador and member of the Patriots, who organise the event, has taken part in the West Coast side of the ride each year.

This is the first year he has completed the entire tour.

Tara, meanwhile, focuses on raising awareness locally and money to support the riders. “The riders have to take time off work and cover their own costs.

We’re happy to have raised around $4,000. Every little bit helps take the pressure off the riders.”

The couple’s motivation for helping to raise awareness about family violence in New Zealand stems from the similar issues they know are facing Ireland.

And Jackie has had first-hand experience. He grew up in a home where family violence played a huge

“Our eldest daughter and her friends set up an anti-bullying awareness presentation for their class.”

part, and as a child he witnessed some severe incidents. Now as an adult he wants to make a positive change for future generations.

That has led him to career in the police in the family violence field and into his role as a White Ribbon Ambassador.

In contrast, Tara grew up with a social worker for a mum, which meant she spent much of her childhood helping with, and participating in, local community events. It is of no surprise then that she was attracted to a career in social work herself.

Her motivation for raising awareness of family violence comes directly from her experience working with children taking part in family violence programmes.

“This work had the most significant impact upon me, hearing their stories and the effects directly from a myriad of children and young people, and witnessing the ongoing effect it had on their entire lives. This is what keeps me motivated to continue doing this work.”

Tara and Jackie encourage their own children to participate in community events that help raise awareness about family violence, making it a real family affair.

“Our eldest daughter and her friends set up an anti-bullying awareness presentation for their class,” says Tara.

“The girls take and distribute white ribbons at their school, and they always come along to our events and keep busy handing out resources to families, especially children.”

With the White Ribbon ride now one of the biggest events of its kind on the West Coast, Jackie and Tara have no plans to rest on their laurels. They plan to keep growing the event, ensuring that the West Coast remains aware of the issues and what individuals can do to help.

WEB LINK www.whiteribbon.org.nz

RISE: Issue 29 – March 2015 21

Spotlight on Canterbury

Canterbury

The initiative is open to up to 1,000 beneficiaries until June this year.

22 RISE: Issue 29 – March 2015

Canterbury

Spotlight on Canterbury

Beneficiaries embrace 3K to Christchurch Northland’s Ashton Tairua is the perfect candidate for the 3K to Christchurch investment.

The year-long initiative aims to help Work and Income jobseekers from other parts of New Zealand take up job offers to help with the Christchurch rebuild.

Sustained job growth in Canterbury means demand for labour is outstripping supply.

Labour market forecasts indicate there could be 16,000 new jobs in the next two years.

To meet this demand, Canterbury employers are being connected with skilled, willing jobseekers from other areas.

In Ashton’s case, he’s moved from Kaikohe in order to secure good employment in the rebuild and he’s grateful for the opportunity.

Armed with 14 years’ experience in the asbestos removal industry, Ashton has already been promoted to supervisor since he started work last July. He runs the crew, co-ordinates staff, manages and enforces Health and Safety procedures, and gives his employer suggestions for improvements on site and within staff management.

Ashton’s employer Hamish Cormack says his contribution to the business is crucial.

“He has so much knowledge and skill.

The business pays for him to return home for weekends to see his family, and that’s important to ensure he can continue working for us.”

For someone with his qualifications, Ashton says there are no job opportunities back home. “I’ve had years in this industry but I couldn’t put my skills to use. It’s a big sacrifice and I miss my family, but the best thing about coming to Christchurch is the work and the money.”

Ashton pays tribute to the Kaikohe Work and Income staff for the 3K to Christchurch

opportunity, and for helping him to update his qualifications to the New Zealand standard.

The initiative is open to up to 1,000 beneficiaries like Ashton until June this year.

One barrier for beneficiaries applying for work in Canterbury is having the financial reserves to get there and get set up if they have a job offer. However, this scheme allows eligible beneficiaries with the right skills to access some financial help to relocate – up to $3,000, in fact.

And the money doesn’t have to be paid back unless they leave their Christchurch job within the first three months without good reason, or reapply for a benefit within that same timeframe. 3K applicants may also qualify for the Transition to Work and/or Recoverable Assistance Payments to help with the likes of clothing, initial childcare and transport costs.

Naturally, Work and Income also works closely with Canterbury employers to help them find the right people for their vacancies.

It also promotes the jobs nationwide to connect employers to the region’s labour market.

Those who do find work are briefed by Work and Income about life in Canterbury so they know what to expect, including potential accommodation and transport issues.

To support them in settling in, they are also offered an in-work assistance service, a general information pack about Canterbury and access to 3K co-ordinators outside of the area to ensure they are well-informed before leaving.

On arrival, Work and Income provides further help around their eligibility for Transition to Work and any other assistance available to beneficiaries moving into employment.

Key facts 3K to Christchurch is a way to help Work and Income jobseekers move to Christchurch if they have found ongoing, full-time work there.

Christchurch is short of skilled workers in a wide range of jobs and Work and Income has many suitable jobseekers looking for work.

This is a great opportunity to help both jobseekers and the Christchurch community.

Work and Income jobseekers who live outside the Christchurch area and have a confirmed, full-time job offer there can apply for a grant to cover costs such as relocation, transport or gear for the job. Learn more on: www.workandincome.govt.nz/ individuals/a-z-benefits/ 3k-to-christchurch.html

WEB LINKS www.workandincome.govt.nz/ individuals/a-z-benefits/ 3k-to-christchurch/generalquestions.html Welfare Reform www.workandincome.govt.nz/ individuals/benefit-changes/ welfare-reform-changesin-2012.html

RISE: Issue 29 – March 2015 23

Spotlight on xxxx Canterbury

Perseverance pays off An appointment with her case manager has given sole parent Tracey Booth the kickstart she needed to find a job.

The mother of four had been looking ’on and off‘ for some time, but once her son turned six, Work and Income told her to actively seek work.

She began applying for jobs every day. She called about one job she thought she’d have the skills to do, only to find that everything wasn’t as it seemed.

With similar company names, the position Tracey thought she was applying for was with a property rental firm, but it turned out to be with a delivery driving job that required truck driving licences.

Tracey says she couldn’t even drive a manual car.

Still, the employer was keen to offer Tracey a job, and Tracey wanted to work. After discussing the situation with her Work and Income case manager, she attended a short training course that involved the licences required, as well as forklift and dangerous goods licences.

“Now I’ve got more licences than some guys I know. It’s great!” laughs Tracey.

Armed with her new licences, Tracey returned to her potential

24 RISE: Issue 29 – March 2015

employer who offered her both a job and some in-house training in Auckland.

“I have been really supported by my employer. They introduced me to everyone within head office in Auckland, and provided me with training and support at all times. They’ve made me feel very welcome.

“I had never been away from my kids for that long. It required some really good organisation and systems in place at home to make it happen, and a lot of help from my children and friends.”

Tracey is one of many sole parents who are expected and supported by Work and Income to actively seek suitable part-time or full-time work, depending on the age of their children.

The increased work focus for sole parents was part of the 2012 changes introduced to some benefits to encourage and support more people into work.

For parents needing help to prepare CVs, a referral to attend a programme to improve their skills or other job-related training, Work and Income can help and recommend programmes and training opportunities.

Work and Income can also refer sole parents who are ready to work after completing work experience, or who have transferable skills, to current vacancies available.

For parents keen to get back into work and who are open to rebuild jobs, Work and Income can help

them to access those. There are several Christchurch rebuild training programmes under way that sole parents can be referred to as well.

For Tracey, the type of work she does has never been a concern. She simply wanted a job.

“The hardest thing about being on a benefit is the financial stress. If you’ve got kids you have to support them.

I’m prepared to do what I have to do to look after them.”

Tracey says her lowest point was when her family was homeless.

An unexpected financial shock, and her rental home deemed uninhabitable from the Christchurch earthquake, meant that Tracey and her children had nowhere to go.

They wound up living in tents behind a family member’s house.

With help from social service agencies, she secured a house. Tracey says that without a home for security, she couldn’t have considered working.

Asked what she would tell others in the position she was in, Tracey says, “Get a job, earn your own money, and go even further than you thought you could!”

WEB LINK www.workandincome.govt.nz/ individuals/benefit-changes/ welfare-reform-changes-in-2012.html

Spotlight Spotlight on Canterbury on xxxx

Giving back Levi* has been riding the wave of success lately, helping to set up and manage a business that raises money for charity and winning a national award in the process.

As a resident at Child, Youth and Family’s Youth Justice Residence Te Puna Wai ö Tuhinapo at the time, Levi saw the creation of the aptly named business Giving Back as a chance for him to do just that, give back to the community.

It was all part of the Young Enterprise Programme, a secondary school annual start-up initiative that sees young people from schools nationwide compete for the winning spot.

Competition, however, was never a motivating factor for Levi; in fact he didn’t even know it was a competition.

“I had already decided that I wanted to start my own business when I was in Te Puna Wai...When [I was asked] I thought, what better way to do it than [be involved in the programme] and learn from the mistakes for when I go to start my own.”

On-site Kingslea school art teacher Andy Dickinson came up with the idea of entering a team in the 2014 Young Enterprise Programme, the first ever residential school to participate.

“It sounds simple, but I thought the practical learning only added to the value of the programme, and it seemed like a great idea,” says Andy.

Due to Levi’s maturity and leadership skills, Andy considered him as a leader and a mentor to the younger ones.

They worked hard to design and produce high quality Pollock-inspired artwork, jewellery and other handmade crafts to be sold at local community market days, the first of which was a huge success.

“The young people sold $1,000 worth of products and managed themselves as a professional business all day,” says Andy.

*Name changed to protect privacy.

“I knew I wanted to change, and I knew I had to do something.”

“They were so proud of their success and the decision to donate their profit to the community organisation Home and Family.”

On the back of that success came the establishment of a ‘Giving Back’ logo and brand driven by the motivation of social responsibility, not commercial gain.

“I was in there [Te Puna Wai ö Tuhinapo] for taking from the community, so I was just helping give back, it was awesome,” says Levi.

The success of that first market led to another held on-site at Te Puna Wai ö Tuhinapo, which was well-supported by field social workers, lawyers and community groups.

“In addition to selling artwork the young people sold coffee and cake, putting skills learnt from our barista and food technology courses to great use,” says Andy.

The second market day raised a further $1,400, which the group chose to donate to the Christchurch residential home for mothers and babies, Holly House.

Then came a ’nervewracking‘ presentation to the Young Enterprise

judging panel, which ranked Giving Back in the top three secondary school start-up businesses nationally.

Their outstanding achievements were recognised with an award for commitment and perseverance.

“The award acknowledges the extraordinary circumstances and constraints related to them starting up and running such a successful business from a residential school setting,” says Andy proudly.

As for Levi, he’s completely upbeat about the experience too, saying the “benefits outweigh the risks”.

His long-term goal now is to own a landscaping business, a goal that is helping him on his journey toward rehabilitation and the reason why he no longer wishes to offend.

“To me, change happens in a matter of seconds – I knew I wanted to change, and I knew I had to do something.”

WEB LINK www.kingslea.school.nz/te-puna-wai

RISE: Issue 29 – March 2015 25

Spotlight on Central

Central

“They’ve really come up to the mark or over.”

Abbey James-Gibbons 26 RISE: Issue 29 – March 2015

Central

Spotlight on Central

An industry with opportunity In late 2013 work began on the ‘MacKays to Peka Peka route’ (M2PP), a $630m project to develop about 18km of four-lane expressway through Paraparaumu and Waikanae.

Expected to take about four years, the project is part of the ‘Wellington Northern Corridor’ which runs from Wellington Airport to Levin.

The M2PP project and increased construction activity in other parts of New Zealand has led to a shortage of skilled labour for the civil construction industry in Horowhenua and Kapiti.

Work and Income’s Central Region investigated the potential to train jobseekers clients in the Manawatu, Horowhenua and Kapiti, ready for upcoming job opportunities.

ATD Services’ Greg Lumsden was contracted to deliver an intensive four-week training package to provide ‘hands-on’ industry experience and training.

The course provides industry-based skills, including setting up boxing for the pouring of concrete.

Trainees also operate surveying lasers and levels, compaction equipment, tracked excavators and wheeled loaders, the loading of trucks, truck driving and hoist operation.

Graduates leave the programme equipped with the Level One Traffic Control certificate, a full class two, or in some cases class four, driver’s licence, ‘wheels, tracks and rollers’ endorsements, and their own equipment.

By the end of the first four ATD Services courses, 29 of the first 32 trainees had successfully completed training and 21 went into employment within four weeks.

Neville Williams “loved everything” about the course and now a future in civil construction is his ambition.

Industry feedback has been positive too, a direct reflection of trainer Greg’s passion for his work. “I was born and bred into the

contracting industry, my dad was on the digger and that’s where I wanted to be.

I finally got a machine and the rest is history.”

Former trainee Abbey James-Gibbons, 23, was made redundant from her job riding and caring for horses. A Work and Income case manager told her about a truck driving course and, having always wanted a truck licence, she enrolled.

After another job fell through she contacted local company Goodmans and within two days was employed.

Solo dad Steve Cockburn and Percy Te Rangi, made redundant after 20 years in the meat bi-products processing industry, were employed by Goodmans on the M2PP development after their training too.

Percy now feels he is following a passion, saying “I haven’t had a day off yet!”

A happy mistake made just weeks after visiting a Work and Income office has meant Trinett Whitburn is now in a job she loves as well. She’d gone to attend a seminar about a local temping company but instead found herself at a ’construction seminar‘.

She saw it as a chance to get work driving heavy on-road vehicles, something that had been “in the back of my head to do”.

After the course ended Trinett started out as a site labourer, but quickly moved up to a machine operator role.

The Goodman family, who have been contracting since the 1960s, now employ 150 staff. Their values are described by director Marianne Archer (née Goodman) as strongly family and community oriented.

However, finding staff can present challenges and a relationship between the course and Goodmans has quickly been established.

HR manager Ruth Surrey has since had complimentary calls from supervisors about the graduates. “They’ve really come up to the mark or over.”

Key facts The MacKays to Peka Peka route (M2PP) is a $630m project to develop around 18km of four-lane expressway through Paraparaumu and Waikanae. It began in late 2013 and is expected to take four years.

When the expressway opens, journeys will be faster and safer, with more reliable journey times.

The Käpiti Expressway will also make the route in and out of Wellington more resilient to events such as crashes or natural disasters.

Learn more about how Work and Income can help employers develop their workforce and fill skill shortages with trained and job-ready employees: www. workandincome.govt.nz/business/

WEB LINKS www.nzta.govt.nz/projects/ mackays-to-peka-peka/

RISE: Issue 29 – March 2015 27

Spotlight on xxxx Central

Fixing things “I have always been a rescuer.

If something is wrong, I want to fix it.”

Social worker Anne Reed has faced many tough challenges in her own life, but she draws on those experiences to help children and families with Child, Youth and Family in Masterton.

“It’s such a joy when we have a child go to a home for life placement.

Knowing that child is going to belong to a family, and is no longer a CYF kid, is fantastic.”

Anne’s interest in social work began years ago, from fostering children and meeting their social workers.

But before she could explore social work as a career, her marriage fell apart and her children needed her attention.

“One of my daughters, at 13, started getting into trouble. By the time she was 15 she was sniffing glue.”

It took more than 10 hard years of rehab and relapses before she “got herself cleaned up”, says Anne.

During that time Anne met a counsellor who inspired her to enrol in a drug counselling course at Wellington Institute of Technology. A woman on the course worked for Victim Support, and suggested Anne volunteer for them.

28 RISE: Issue 29 – March 2015

“Victim Support changed my life.

Through them I went on a Living Without Violence course run by the Upper Hutt Women’s Learning Group.

“The programme was aimed at people who had lived with, or were working with women who were victims of family violence, which I thought would be helpful for a victim support volunteer.

“Part of the programme was sharing stories, and I was listening to these women’s stories and thinking ‘Oh my God, that is what has happened to me’.

“My first husband was never physically violent, but he was emotionally violent.

My next relationship was physically violent. For years I felt like I was living under a cloud. I felt I was useless.

“This course was my light bulb moment. I saw what my life had been and I didn’t want it to be like that.

I ended up facilitating the groups for the next eight years.”

Anne moved from volunteering to a paid part-time role at the Women’s Centre, where she remained for six years.

Finally Anne decided to rekindle her dream to become a social worker.

She earned a qualification in social work and gained a role with Child, Youth and Family.

Eight years on, Anne is passionate about her work and the people she

works with, even though it can be tough emotionally.

“We have a statutory obligation to ensure the safety of children – and sometimes in order to do that you have to have a bit of oomph.

We need to make people think about the consequences if they don’t put their children’s needs first.”

Anne says that people’s immediate assumption is that their children will be taken from them.

“But I say ‘Let’s see what is going on and how we can help you. It’s about you and your family making good decisions for your child, but if you can’t make those good choices, we can step in and help’.

“Because I have been through a lot, because I know what it is like to raise kids on your own, and I know what it is like to be abused, and I know what it is like not to have a good relationship with your mother, I find that I can connect with families,” she says.

“I really enjoy it. I like helping people.

My biggest regret is not becoming a social worker sooner.”

WEB LINKS www.victimsupport.org.nz www.cyf.govt.nz

Spotlight Spotlight on on Central xxxx

New lease on life Daniel Ousey knew from the age of eight he wanted to join the Armed Forces but after leaving school he got in a rut and lost motivation to do anything but play Xbox and sleep.

“I left school at 16. I was sick of it, I didn’t want to be there. I did some general labouring and was on and off the benefit for a year. Life wasn’t great, to be honest. I’d sit around, drink a bit, and worry about money. I wasn’t close to my family. It was just a struggle,” says the Masterton-born 20-year-old.

However, a visit to Work and Income changed all that.

“They told me about LSV and I thought I’d give it a crack. I needed to get myself into gear and get some life skills,” says Daniel.

Limited Service Volunteer (LSV) is a free, six-week, live-in motivational programme for unemployed young people, run by the New Zealand Defence Force on behalf of Work and Income.

It aims to increase the number of young people entering employment or training by improving their self-discipline, self confidence, motivation and initiative.

For Daniel, the Trentham-based programme did just that. In just six weeks it turned his life around completely.

He’s now proud to say he’s a gunner in the New Zealand Army, based at Linton near Palmerston North.

“It’s been my life goal to do this since I was young, when my cousin came home in uniform. But I didn’t have the motivation or the determination to do it until I went on LSV. “It’s changed my life. Two days into LSV they asked me what I wanted to do in life. I told them, ‘join the Army’.

Two weeks after the course finished I had an interview with the Army and now I’ve been here for a year.

“I’ve loved it since the day I joined.

It’s good fun, we work with firearms and heavy artillery, and I get paid to shoot rifles and blow things up!”

Daniel’s next aim is to get his heavy vehicle license, then he’s firmly focused on the future, keen to take up one of the 50-odd trades on offer within the Army. “I’m leaning toward engineering or mechanics. There’s so many things I can do and the Army pays for it all – it’s great.”

Daniel says LSV prepared him well for his Army job. He found it strict.

The early morning physical training sessions and the long days were difficult, not to mention getting little sleep thanks to a room-mate who snored.

“It was a wake-up call but it didn’t put me off. You’ve got to push yourself and you’ve got to want to do it.”

Daniel knows LSV has transformed him in many ways. He’s lost weight, gained motivation, displays manners, shows maturity and respect for others and makes better decisions. “People reckon I’m a different person. It really has helped me to grow up,” says the oldest of five children.

His mum Tracey, a teacher aide, is quick to agree.

“Daniel and I had horrendous arguments. He saw me juggling four jobs. I wasn’t relying on Work and

Income and yet he was sitting around at home on a benefit.

“But he’s like my best friend now.

I’m blown away by where he is. He rings up and the first thing out of his mouth is ‘are you right mum, do you need anything?’ whereas before it’d be ‘have you got $80 I can borrow?’”

When Daniel tried to prepare for LSV, Tracey, a runner, remembers how he failed to make it even halfway around the 2.4km block she’d run with him. “Now I don’t run with him, I bike. There’s no way I can keep up.

He’s too fast, too fit!” she laughs. “If I have a down day, I just think of Daniel and I’m good again. I’m very proud of him.”

For Daniel, LSV has given him a life.

“I have lots of reliable, good mates, being in the Army. I have an awesome income. I’ve got everything I’ve ever wanted and I’m only 20. I’ve got a ute, I’m about to get a dirt bike, and I’m in a really nice house with some Army mates with a bbq and all the boys’ toys,” he says excitedly.

“The Army really is my dream come true.”

WEB LINKS www.workandincome.govt.nz/ individuals/looking-for-work/ limited-service-volunteer.html www.workandincome.govt.nz/ video-clips/lsv/

“It was a wake-up call but it didn’t put me off. You’ve got to push yourself and you’ve got to want to do it.”

RISE: Issue 29 – March 2015 29

Regional round-up Southern Foster Care Awareness Week: Dunedin foster parents were treated to a night out at their annual FOSCARS event in November, as part of the local celebrations. Awards acknowledged foster parents who have cared for more than five years.

Supporting offenders into work: Work and Income Southern and the Department of Corrections have established a working party to streamline how the two organisations work together to support offenders into employment.

Health and Disability Forum: The forum facilitated by national office was well attended by health and disability regional teams. The purpose was to discuss and workshop how to best support clients with health and disability issues into employment from a strengths-based approach.

Canterbury White Ribbon Day: More than 1,000 people gathered outside Christchurch police station to march to Hagley Park to mark White Ribbon Day. MSD staff were among those to tie balloons to fence railings outside Christchurch Hospital, and hold a minute’s silence.

Focus on Affirm: MSD staff joined forces at Affirm, the Aranui Family Festival for 2014. In recent years Work and Income’s stand has reflected on work done across MSD, including Child Youth and Family and SKIP information for Parents. This year MSD covered information from all service lines, focusing on employment and supporting families to do well.

It’s Christmas time: Canterbury’s children and young people in care had a great time at the annual Christmas party in Bishopdale.

Nelson, Marlborough and West Coast New partnership: Work and Income has partnered with Nelson Bays Primary Health to boost awareness of the services that are available to help meet the needs of clients it sees. Nelson Bays Primary Health provides a gateway into working with the health sector and can help Work and Income staff better inform people about services to help people with health or disability issues find work.

Close relations: Child, Youth and Family West Coast is working closely with local community organisation Homebuilders, supporting them as they work directly with families to develop their day-to-day parenting skills.

30 RISE: Issue 29 – March 2015

Wellington Successful training initiative: Work and Income has contracted with Capital Training Limited and StudyLink to prepare beneficiaries for employment with StudyLink in customer service representative roles. Nineteen beneficiaries completed the programme.

New contracts: Two providers, Equip Worldwide Limited and WelTec, have been contracted to provide 145 training places. About 70 percent of participants are expected to move into sustainable employment in the building and civil construction industries.

On trial: The Wellington Service Centre has been hosting a trial initiated by the simplification team at national office to help clients to move into online digital services.

Central Connecting clients: Feedback from a recent series of seminar sessions run by Central Region has been positive. Hundreds of Palmerston North clients were invited to the day-long expo, which enabled up to 180 clients to meet with local training providers. Training providers represented courses that included Care Giving, Training for Work, Retail and Hospitality, Rural Industry Skills and Call Centre Training. There were also sessions for youth about LSV and Outward Bound options.

Legal driver trial: A Levin initiative is seeing clients referred via the Neighbourhood Policing Team to a Work and Income-funded training programme which helps them to gain a driver’s licence.

All nine places available under the trial have been filled, three clients having completed the programme, with two gaining licences and one moving into employment shortly after.

East Coast Joining forces: Wairoa Work and Income recently teamed up with YROA YNOT of the Wairoa District Council to stage a careers expo for the town’s young people.

Beard growing: MSD men from across the region recently joined counterparts from Hawke’s Bay Regional Prison, Community Probation and Corrections for a beard-growing competition, raising funds for Women’s Refuge and Victim Support. The event, in support of White Ribbon Day, raised about $1,100.

Adopt a Family campaign: Napier and Taradale Work and Income and staff from East Coast Regional office and Napier Child, Youth and Family supported the Napier Salvation Army’s Adopt a Family Christmas Cheer appeal, where disadvantaged families are connected to community agencies providing Christmas hampers.

Taranaki, King Country and Whanganui White Ribbon thriller: The 2014 White Ribbon day was marked by the third street relay in three years. Work and Income and Child Youth and Family participated, with Work and Income running second to overall winner YMCA. Dental care important: Raising the profile of Mäori health is the main aim of a six-month dental cadetship based in Hawera. The Taranaki District Health Board is working with Whakatipuranga Rima Rau Trust, MSD and Te Whare Punanga Korero Trust.

New managers: Work and Income’s Michelle Atkins, employment co-ordinator New Plymouth, and Robyn Karena, prison re-integration case manager Whanganui, have been accepted on to the Ministry’s Te Aratiatia programme.

RISE: Issue 29 – March 2015 31

Bay of Plenty 3K to Christchurch: A new initiative to help with labour shortages in Canterbury is proving effective in connecting more than 80 Bay of Plenty jobseekers with employers.

Children’s team: The Rotorua children’s team recently celebrated its 18-month anniversary.

Bringing together frontline professionals working with children from health, education and social sectors to protect vulnerable children and young people, more than 100 children have been assisted.

Ministry of Youth Development: Ministry of Youth Development Central North regional team recently supported the Lake District Health Board with its youth consultation towards developing the Lakes District Health and Wellbeing Strategic Plan.

Waikato Children and employment focus: Child, Youth and Family social workers and Work and Income staff were at Lake Karapiro in January for the waka ama sprint nationals. With a focus on families, keeping children safe and securing employment, it aims to help people make positive changes this year.

Graduates aid shortage: Recent graduates of a dairy farming programme in North Waikato are hoping to help ease the shortage of skilled farm workers.

Wellbeing on show: April’s Wellbeing Waikato Show enables the community to discover the amazing wealth of health and wellbeing products, services and organisations available in the region.

Work and Income staff attended the show last April and spoke with hundreds of people, providing information and advice on help available.

Auckland Working Together to Keep Kids Safe: Child, Youth and Family sites around Auckland will be inviting people who work with children to attend a Working Together to Keep Kids Safe workshop during March and April. The workshops are designed to deliver child protection education and bring key groups together.

PM Youth Programme: One hundred 2015 Prime Minister’s Youth Programme participants from across Auckland recently spent the week challenging themselves and engaging with high-profile New Zealanders. The week-long programme is for young people who have faced, and are managing, challenges in their lives.

Northland Fast Track Job Match: It’s a little like speed dating but instead of looking for love, Fast Track Job Match participants were looking for employers and employees for their perfect job.

The pilot event saw more than 40 people successfully placed into work. A second event followed, with 12 employers and 81 jobseekers attending. FTJM is a collaboration between Whangarei District Council and MSD, supported by the mayor’s Taskforce for Jobs. Applicants move around stations and have three minutes to sit down with potential employers, giving both a chance to explore whether it’s a match made in heaven. The relaxed atmosphere allows jobseekers to perform at their best and ditches the process of going through hundreds of CVs for employers.

32 RISE: Issue 29 – March 2015

Tips, links and news New job and bonus to boot Casey-Marie Young experienced a wow moment when she took on a new job at a Nelson cafĂŠ.

Not only did the 23-year-old secure a 30-hour a week job at CafĂŠ Istanbul, she also received a surprise in the form of a Work Bonus through Work and Income. “It was such a surprise and was so helpful.

I could get all my bills paid and was able to do a big grocery shop for the ďŹ rst time that I can remember, so that I had everything in place before I started my new job.â€?

Work Bonus is an incentive payment available to some beneďŹ ciaries who choose to work even though they don’t have work obligations as a condition of their beneďŹ t.

Casey is one of 8,133 who have received the Work Bonus, paid automatically to those eligible when they cancel their beneďŹ t to move into work, since it was introduced as part of the July 2013 Welfare Reform changes.

Casey says she’s worked hard to get a good future under way for her and her four-year-old daughter.

Last year, with help from Work and Income, she studied and completed a certiďŹ cate in Professional Restaurant, Wine and Bar Service at the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology.

Not only that, she passed with Merit and as the top student in her class. “Getting childcare sorted was a big part of making my plans go smoothly and Work and Income was able to help me with that too,� she says.

Casey had worked part-time to top up her Sole Parent beneďŹ t, but 2015 is the beginning of a new era for her.

Armed with her qualiďŹ cations, a head start through the Work Bonus and a job that uses her skills, Casey has certainly had a sweet start to the New Year.

WEB LINK To ďŹ nd out if you qualify for a tax-free Work Bonus visit: www.workandincome.govt.nz/ individuals/brochures/work-bonus.html

Rise in print, online or iPad – it’s your choice Rise for the iPad Rise is available as a digital iBook on your Apple iPad. As well as icking through the magazine on-screen, you can access extra video and photo galleries, and interactive web links. Plus it will update itself whenever a new issue is available.

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MINISTRY OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ISSUE 26 – MARCH 2014

MINISTRY OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

ISSU E 25 – D EECEM B ER 2013

MINISTRY OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ISSUE 27 – JUNE 2014

MINISTRY OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ISSUE 28 – NOVEMBER 2014

“He aha te mea nui o te ao?

Mäku e kŨ atu. He tangata, he tangata, he tangata!�

“He aha te mea nui o te ao?

Mäku e kï atu. He tangata, he tangata, he tangata!�

“He He aha a te mea nui nui o te e ao ao? a Mäku äku e kĂŻ atu. atu u. He e tangata, ta tangata tan ngata, he he tangat tangata ta tan anga ata ta, a, he a, e ttan tang ta nga ngat gat ata!â€? ata a!â€?

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“What is the most important thing in the world?

I tell you. It is people, it is people, it is people!�

“What is the most important thing in the world?

I tell you. It is people, it is people, it is people!�

“What at is the most ost impor important ortant tant ant nt thing t g in n the th he wo wor world? world orld ld d?

I tell ell you. It is pe people, ople, ple itt iss people, opl it is people! peop peo opl ple ple e!!��

“What is the most important thing in the world?

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Achievement Home for life – the foster family with a dream home It’s Not OK – tackling family violence in the heartland

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Community

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Joining up for Kawerau kids – Social Sector Trials

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Shed Project – opening the community to disabled people

Cyber marae – connecting young MÀori

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Onjeurlina Leiataua – our youngest Black Fern From lost to leaders – former refugees make their mark

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RISE: Issue 29 – March 2015 33

If you get a job before you have to, you could get a tax-free Work Bonus.

Talk to us to see if you’re eligible.

Contact us: Call us on 0800 559 009, or visit a Work and Income service centre, or visit www.workandincome.govt.nz