New line to youth

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33454, 8 February 1974, Page 10

New line to youth

Few people may know that the Government employs “youth activities ofiicers,” but many would have come in contact with the man who has held the post in Christchurch for two years. He is Mr Alan Ross, who will leave Christchurch this week-end to take up a new ‘ position with the Internal Affairs Department as senior youth activities officer. He will oversee the work of seven officers throughout New Zealand. During his two years in Christchurch he has left his mark on a variety of community and youth groups. He has strengthened some, transformed others and created new organisations where they have been needed. "FACILITATOR OXLY" He describes himself as ai •facilitator’, or "enabler", working as a catalyst ini some instances and as an intermediary between' struggling organisations, the public, and business groups. He is convinced of the need for more professional youth workers but says I there must be career security and adequate training. “Most of the work is being done by voluntary! workers at present. They have a very important role to play, but the number of professional youth workers '■hov.ld be increased. The Government has recognised this by increasing the number of youth activities officers." he says. “We can no longer, as we have done in the past, rely on the good will of the voluntary worker to promote youth work."

At present there is no| training course designed es-j pecially for professional! community or youth work-1 ers. The diploma course in! Wellington trains social! workers, who are trained in the art of counselling and; case-work, dealing with indi-j viduals rather than groups, ! Mr Ross sees the need for j regional courses to train voluntary workers as well :as a course for professional

I youth or community workers. I “I think we’ll see the day when we will have a career i structure developing, so that -people who enter youth 'work can make a career out |of it, whereas a lot who enigage in youth work at j present find their career (prospects rather bleak.” I Mr Ross’s successor in { Christchurch has not yet ibeen appointed.