Papakura Initiatives

There are a number of new and innovative projects taking place in Papakura which are aimed at:

• assisting businesses to learn new skills or brush up on existing skills

• helping employers to find the right young people for their workforce of
  the future

• helping young people move easily into the workforce.

You’ll find more information about Youthworks or Modern Apprenticeships here.

New regional business programme

EcoBiz aims to improve the environmental performance of Auckland businesses by building sustainable practices into how they do business.

It is a subsidised business partnership programme being launched by Auckland’s councils to provide assistance to Auckland businesses.

Read more

YouthWorks

The Youth Works project is a preventative programme which identifies young people who are at risk of failing to make a successful transition from school to adult working life and offers a helping hand.

The project has established a youth co-ordinator based in the community, to identify at risk young people and work with them to develop an individual pathway to sustained employment. The young person is mentored and supported into identified further work related training and/or employment opportunities. The project is championed by Papakura District Council in partnership with MSD (Work and Income), TEC, business and local youth providers.

The project was established in December 2003 and has proved to be highly successful and is clearly meeting a demand within the community. By May 2004, the project was already working with 97 young people of whom a growing number are being referred by their parents/caregivers. Referrals to the project are also coming from CYFS, Papakura police and Work and Income.

Fifteen young people are now in employment and three are in work experience (leading to full-time employment) as a result of this project. Others are in further education/ training – predominately literacy and numeracy – or have re-enrolled back at school with additional support. All are on a pathway to employment.

If you would like to know more about the project, please contact the YouthWorks
Co-ordinator on 029 244 5603 or the Business and Promotion Unit.

Modern Apprenticeships

The Economic Development Unit supports initiatives by other Agencies that are designed to assist both our businesses and our youth. Modern Apprenticeships is one of those initiatives.

A new workbased education initiative for young people that combine the best of the apprenticeship tradition with a modern twist. Designed to give young people not just a job, but access to quality workplace learning that offers them the start of a new career.

There are currently more than 6000 Modern Apprentices in New Zealand, working in 30 industry and business sectors, towards more than 260 different qualifications. Modern Apprenticeships are available to young people between 16 and 21 yrs of age.

If you would like to know more about Modern Apprenticeships,  telephone 0800 4 APPRENTICE, or contact the Tertiary Education Commission on 262 2100.