Empowering our youth - EPIT

An initiative by

Dr Lynette Reid

in Partnership with EPIT

August 2023

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This commissioned research was designed to contribute to EPIT's focus on Transitions by seeking to understand practices, processes, and strategies of careers staff in a selection of secondary schools in South Auckland that serve multicultural, and diverse income communities. It sought to better understand the successful strategies employed by careers advisors to empower and equip students with the tools necessary for making informed decisions about their post-school pathways.

The drive behind this initiative

The transition from school to further education or entry into the workforce has become increasingly complex and challenging, particularly for students from low socio-economic backgrounds. This is evident in Aotearoa New Zealand for many of our 15–18-year-olds, but especially so for those who are Māori and Pasifika.

Approach to change

Impact for Equity

Identified:

  • that structured, funded and well-supported programmes, which deploy career development thinking across the whole school, are clearly having positive impact.
  • that strong leadership support from Principals and their executive teams made a difference
  • the crucial role of careers education in our secondary schools, and the need for collaboration between schools, whānau, aiga and families, employers, and community organisations.

Good conversations where we all work together, not just with the student, but the parents, local provider, employer, whoever is important in a student’s pathway. There is a lot of pressure in understanding and identifying a pathway. As a group we can push the student to think, give parents and employers options and food for thought

Participating school leader

Learnings & Outputs

Schools with the most successful transitions programmes demonstrated four key attributes:

  • Executive leadership commitment and strategic direction that included careers transitions and pathways planning
  • A 'whole of school' approach that enabled every teacher, and non-teaching staff member, to understand the role they play in influencing careers conversations with students, in addition to the careers staff
  • Significant engagement with, and education of, family, whānau, aiga to help them understand and navigate the current post-school landscape
  • Strong connections with businesses (local and national) and community groups

About

Dr Lynette Reid

Dr Lynette Reid, Ngāti Konohi, a career education researcher contracted to EPIT, has over 20 years’ experience in the NZ careers field. A published author, Lynette’s research includes areas such as employability, work integrated/related learning, professional / career / cultural identity, and career transitions.