Named "Ka Awatea", meaning "The Dawning of a New Era", by Ngati Whatua, this service provides bicultural support for young people transitioning from the care of the Department of Child, Youth and Family, into independent living in the community.

The Service

This service is currently provided in the greater Auckland region, where a key goal of the young person's Child, Youth and Family social worker, is for the young person to achieve an appropriate level of independent living.

Each young person accessing Ka Awatea is allocated a Kai Atawhai (Personal Advisor) who works alongside the young person as an advocate, a coach and facilitator. The Kai Atawhai empower young people to make informed choices about employment, training, accommodation and developing positive social peer groups.

Ka Awatea also provides limited financial support for training, accommodation, work and pro-social initiatives. These aspects are developed with the Kai Atawhai, the young person, other relevant agencies and the wider Ka Awatea team, to ensure that young people on the programme are enabled financially to achieve their agreed goals.

Service Participants

Ka Awatea is contracted by Child, Youth and Family to provide the service for Rangatahi Maori, and young people with complex needs.

Ideally, planning for the transition from care commences with Kai Atawhai engaging the young person from the age of 15. When the young person turns 17 prior to discharge from the care of Child Youth & Family, a planning meeting is held where Ka Awatea may become the lead agency in supporting young people to live independently in the community through to the age of 20.

For further information please contact Kapeliele Su'a (Programme Manager) on 09 573 0954 ext 242/ 021 673 769  or at kaps@youthorizons.org.nz