Detached youth worker wanted for gangs

Press, 1 July 1978, Page 14

Detached youth worker wanted for gangs

A detached youth worker willing to work with Christchurch gangs is sought by the Maori Affairs Depart- : ment. The successful applicant will help gang members and those from trade-training hostels organise recreational activities, and advise them on employment and welfare. He will also try to foster communication between the gangs themselves and between the gangs and the community. The youth worker would also be expected to work closely with other voluntary organisations dealing with young people, and maintain

links with Government de- 1 partments. The person selected must i be able to relate to the gang 1 members who generally range from about 16 to 24 1 . years of age, and have liai- : son with more formal organ- ; isations, said Mr W. Edwards, the District Community Officer. The Polynesian Common- i ity Support Group has been ; set up to help the youth ■ worker selected. An advisory : group will, in turn, assist and guide both the detached 1 youth worker and the support group. Advisers will be drawn from the community services division of the , Christchurch City Council, ,

the Department of Maori Affairs, the Ministry of Recreation and Sport, and the police. Aministrative support will also be provided by the Maori Affairs Department. However, the organisers' of the project said that the worker will have autonomy and it will be left, to him to devise and implement programmes. The Government had approved the "detachedworker” scheme in principle and will pay the appointed worker’s salary of $7500. The project is planned to last three years but will be subject to annual review.