Speech – New Zealand Government

Launch of the report, Youth ’09 : the health and wellbeing of young people in Alternative Education: A report on the needs of alternative education in Auckland and Northland Speech

Launch of the report, Youth ’09 : the health and wellbeing of young people in Alternative Education: A report on the needs of alternative education in Auckland and Northland

University of Auckland, School of Nursing and the Adolescent Health Research Group

Delivered by Dr Sue Crengle on behalf of Minister Turia

I am in the very fortunate position, of having my own sample group of adolescents living with me in Wellington, to test out some of the ideas in this report.

And so as I looked through this report last night, in my own mind I was thinking about Pakaitore, who’s 15; Pinetuakua who’s 17 and Piata at the grand age of nine but rapidly reminding me that her teenage years are just around the corner.

As I thought about these mokopuna, and read through the synthesis of findings in this report, it highlighted for me the real opportunities that we must all take up to address the fundamental roots of education failure, health and social disparities and instead turn them into endless possibilities for success and optimism.

And in many ways, I think that is one of the biggest messages in this report.

The report presents findings from a health and wellbeing survey of 335 students attending alternative education facilities in Auckland and Northland.

That one word – alternative – can be a source of immediate tension for some – who may automatically associate it with being away from the norm, alienated, marginalised.

What this report is asking us to do, is to instead make a connection to the taiohi; to let their stories come alive. It asks us to own our young people – to feel a sense of responsibility for their future; to try to understand the range of health and social issues they face.

It is, if you like, an invitation to consider these rangatahi as our own.

And it sets out a very clear prescription for what we need to do, to help all our young people be the very best that they can be.

The report challenges us to understand that young people who feel connected, have good quality relationships, are actively engaged and have opportunities to participate are less likely to engage in risky behaviours. Such young people are therefore more likely to enjoy good health and to make positive and valuable contributions to society.

I don’t want, for a minute, to suggest that a little risk-taking is a recipe for disaster. Indeed, risk-taking is as central to life and to success in business and enterprise as any other element. Where risk-taking becomes problematic is when the possibility of danger or of loss dominates any possible advantage.

In the context of this report, that sense of loss is most obvious in the raft of health issues for students in alternative education – health issues that are not currently being met by existing services.

What all of us know, is that unresolved health and social issues can have a significant impact on a student’s ability to learn and to participate in the classroom.

It is very hard to concentrate on calculus when your head is spinning about the impacts of an unplanned pregnancy or the challenges of finding a place to live.

But where the situation becomes even more complex is that in alternative education facilities the experience is far too frequently marred by limited access to basic health services such as school nurses or public health nurses.

Add to that the additional burden of socio-economic deprivation and this report highlights that young people in alternative education do not have the same access to resources which other young people have – and that poverty plays a major role in affecting their health outcomes.

And just in case there was any uncertainty, this report states in black and white that health and social systems disproportionately disadvantage Maori students and their whanau.

The key issue in all of this, of course, is that lack of educational achievement limits job opportunities and income, perpetuating intergenerational poverty and bringing with it associated health and social issues.

Although the problems seem enormous, there are some very simple, tangible solutions that can make a difference.

District Health Boards, with the support of the Ministry of Health, have established school based health services in decile one and two secondary schools, teen parent units and alternative education facilities.

And for those who like the statistics, there are some great news stories from a review of school based-health services which indicate that these services had twice the utilisation rate of general practice; and in fact for mental health services, visits were ten times higher amongst students who had access to school-based services.

But it’s not just about services by any means. And that’s where our responsibility comes into it. Because if we truly want to reduce the risks and increase the chances of our young people growing up healthy and successful, then the best approach is found within the embrace of Whanau Ora.

And I want to refer back to the wisdom of the Puao-te-ata-tu report which told us:

“The Maori child is not to be viewed in isolation or even as part of a nuclear family, but as a member of a wider kin group or hapu community that has traditionally exercised responsibility for the child’s care and placement.

The technique must be to reaffirm the hapu bonds and capitalise on the traditional strengths of the wider group”.

I have to be straight up and declare that I have always had some difficulty with the concept of the paramountcy of an individual child. My view is very much bound by the understanding that as members of whanau we have a reciprocal responsibility to care for our own.

And so, in a Whanau Ora context, I would hope that our young people are just as fundamental to the effectiveness of a long-term approach as any other member of the family.

Accordingly, I believe that while we can ensure the delivery of school-based health services is reviewed with an absolute aim of improving access; that we must also recognise the health and wellbeing of our young people as implicitly considered in the best interests of whanau.

Finally, I want to share the success of a group called Taiohi Morehu who have been engaged in the collective pursuit of a violence-free community.

The influence of youth worker Matt Davis, in working with young people from Taita College, Heretaunga College, Upper Hutt College and others, has been notable in supporting young people to show leadership in their homes, their classrooms, their communities.

In trying to confronting bullying and violence, the group has every challenge in front of them, but through the means of kapa haka, dance and drama has been able to share stories which their peers can relate to, and in such ways, make the difference that is needed.

And so when I come to this report, Youth ’09, I have been thinking of the lessons learnt from initiatives such as Taiohi Morehu – and indeed any of the other amazing initiatives that so many of our rangatahi are involved in.

The transformation has come about from being focused on the greater needs of the community, rather than specific issues such as truancy, suspension, vandalism.

It is revealed in a spirit of cooperation, to work together for the collective best interest.

And it gives me great hope that we are in a strong position to learn from Taiohi Morehu; from Whanau Ora; from Puao-o-te-ata-tu; from the Youth 09 report – to do all that we can to support the young leaders of tomorrow.

Students who are present at school, maintain positive relationships with teachers and peers; are motivated to learn, are supported by whanau; are able to manage themselves, to stay safe and well – are far more likely to achieve, to be happy; to enjoy success.

And isn’t that what all of us want?

I want to thank the authors of this report – Terryann Clark, Jodi Smith, Deborah Raphael, Catherine Jackson, Terry Fleming, Simon Denny, Shanthi Ameratunga, Elizabeth Robinson, Robyn Dixon and the various agencies that comprise the Adolescent Health Research Group.

And an especially big thanks to the students who welcomed these researchers into their lives, and have shared their stories with us.

We are in a much better position now, through the wisdom of the words in this report, to do all that we can to improve the health and wellbeing of all our young people. For all of our sakes, let us make the commitment to let their words mean something to us all.

ends

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