Learning skills to be a youth worker

Press, 13 May 1987, Page 17

Learning skills to be a youth worker

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Formal training for local youth workers is being pioneered by the Canterbury Youth Workers’ Training Forum. The forum will run two courses for youth workers this year. Workers from a range of backgrounds will attend, such as Te Roopu Awhina, a group working with disadvantaged youth, the Christchurch Youth

JOCELYN McNEE

Centre, the Anglican City Mission and Woolston Development. The courses result from a report on the training needs of youth workers in Canterbury, compiled last year by Kirsty Macnab. Kirsty looked at the issues and problems faced by youth workers, and the skills and attitudes they needed to work well.

She talked to all kinds of youth workers, both paid and unpaid. Her emphasis was on those working with disadvantaged youth. She believes that many problems faced by youth workers could be overcome through training. Problems the report defines include lacks in role definition, Job security, support and supervision, and professionalism. “Because youth workers

are a very diverse bunch of people, training, if it is to be effective, needs to have a multi-faceted approach,” it says. “Training should be organised in a number of ways.” Suggestions are regular workshops to develop particular skills, huis, newsletters and buddy systems where new youthworkers are encouraged to pair up with a more experienced counterpart.

One of the forum’s members, Peter Voice, thinks the proposed training will help youth workers significantly. “Because it is being organised in consultation with the field, the course will meet practical needs,” he says. Tutors for the first two courses will come from throughout the community. The advanced course is designed for people who

took part in an introductory course held last year who are working in the field. Subjects covered will Include Maori, Pacific Island and pakeha culture, human development, accountability of youth workers, politics and support and networking skills. The part-time advanced course will start on June 8 and will run until August 31.

The introductory course ■ is set up for people who s have either just begun youth work, or who are I interested in becoming youth workers. Some . youth workers who , missed out on last i year’s course will also attend. > It will cover a wide range of subjects, such as I motivation for becoming a youth worker, values, networking, support and accountability. -