IBA Initiative
IBA Programme Services
The IBA programme consists of a 11-week pre-employment programme (4 per annum) and a post pastoral support programme of at least 6 12 months based on individual need.
IBA has a deliberate focus on linking youth to employment, study or training pathways and developing key employability skills while also delivering an understanding of wellbeing and vocational skills to increase resilience.
IBA take an individual and flexible approach including around programme timeframes, based on individual circumstances, needs and potential for undertaking sustained employment or further education.
The learning of tikanga and te reo Māori is woven into the design of the programme, which is delivered to communities across Tauranga.
The IBA 11 week programme is based on three main pou:
• The Whare Tapa Wha Māori health and wellbeing model (taha tinana, taha hinengaro, taha wairua and taha whānau)
• Eight key Employability skills positive attitude, willingness to learn, resilience, reliability, self management, teamwork, thinking skills (problem solving and decision making) and responsibility. Added to these are employability tools (CV and cover letter preparation, interviewing techniques and pathway planning) and communication tools (principles of good communications writing, speaking, listening, the effective and safe use of social media, and holding courageous conversations)
• The Bay of Plenty Youth Development Trusts Five Core Values:
IBA service delivery activities come under the headings below:
• Tauranga Boxing Academy (TBA) 3 one hour physical exercise sessions per week with coaches
1
• Individual pathway plans (using “IBA Guidebook” guided by personal strengths/interests)
• IBA psychologist deliver individual support and facilitation of youth modules e.g., critical thinking skills, planning pathways support, resilience, confidence and wellbeing.
• Work readiness skills and resources
• Work experience
• Employer/Industry site visits
• Guest speakers
• Community excursions
• Link into pathways employment or further education/training at local institutions e.g., Toi Ohomai
• Post Pastoral Support programme at least 6 months support and mentoring once in employment/study/training placement.
Break down of services
11-week programme
Whare Tapa Wha Māori health and wellbeing model
We focus on all elements embedded within Te Whare Tapa Wha model, constantly reminding the importance of seeking a balance between physical, mental, relational, and spiritual health. This model enables us to expand their knowledge of te reo Māori and tikanga.
Major components of teaching and learning practices throughout the programme include a focus on enhancing identity, building confidence and resilience, and making cultural and community connections.
IBA hold regular Whānau and Support Person Huis for each participant during the programme, to discuss progress, any specific support required and celebrate successes.
2
The curriculum also includes a focus on the life skills needed to be independent in the world and includes financial literacy/budget advice, how to obtain personal documentation (e.g., licence, birth certificate, passport), opening a bank account, Kiwi saver education and drug and alcohol education. There is also a focus on development of literacy, numeracy, and communication skills particularly on writing, listening, and speaking.
Individual assessments to support positive social and wellbeing outcomes for youth are supported by IBAs psychologist. These assessments are undertaken at the beginning and near the end of the 11 week programme and provide staff with insight into areas requiring specific support, for example, lack of connection or building of social skills.
The wellbeing and social measures undertaken by IBAs psycologist includes; Sustainability Employment Scale, Kessler 10, Social Connectivity Scale and Occupational Search Inventory (as required) and there are also self assessments around employment skills such as capacity to lead, to be part of a team, or self manage.
One on one interventions are also provided for rangatahi as required (e.g., grief counselling or trauma related support).
The Western BOP PHO provide health education and information to support enrolment of a General Practitioner. A general health check is encouraged to ensure our youth are physically fit prior to moving into employment or another pathway. Red Cross are also asked to provide education on CPR and general health matters. Healthy relationships and good hygiene and health practices are further discussed and developed.
Eight Key Employability Skills
Our youth undertake intensive and tailored learning opportunities which focus on developing eight key employability skills – a ‘License to Work’ – to succeed in the workforce, as identified by employers. These skills are discussed in a classroom setting and expressed through guest speakers (for example employers, elite sports people, members of the community). The skills are then put into practice through self assessment, peer assessment, reflections in the IBA Guidebook, feedback from facilitators, and by undertaking and reflecting on work experience and community work. The employability skills are woven across the 11 week course to encourage meaningful change and create the highest impact on the young people.
Youth who have successfully completed their ‘License to Work’ are linked with employers or training institutions. Note that those youth who are still engaged with IBA but are not ready for this step may reengage in IBAs 11 week programme or be referred to an alternative education provider or organisation if specialized support is identified and youth are open to this. Often, youth will opt to continue to receive post pastoral support/mentoring by IBA facilitators when this occurs IBA has an open door policy which allows re entry at point in time.
Five core Values
The intention of the IBA Programme is to support the mana of rangatahi through asserting the same core values as the Tauranga Boxing Academy. Again, these values are discussed and woven into the programme teachings.
3
Tauranga Boxing Academy
IBA students have three (or more) physical training sessions per week with the TBA per week.
Many IBA participants are 'new' to physical exercise as part of a routine, and they are often at different levels of fitness or have personal barriers that impact physical testing. Often there has been resistance to exercise which has been well managed through meeting individually to discuss personal goals.
• Physical Fitness Initial and post measures are taken. Physical fitness is assessed based on changes in perceptions and routines around physical training.
• Participant Progress is measured based on observation by facilitators of implementation of IBA core values and achievement of personal goals. These are set at outset of programme and measured near completion of the 11 weeks.
The Tauranga Boxing Academy programme is a programme under the BOPYDT that has been operating successfully since 2018.
The TBA aims to:
• Help youth access positive role models
• Develop physical and mental fitness
• Integrate the BOPYDT’s positive core values into everyday life into all the members’ activities (both in or outside the gym), including providing experiences like fishing trips and organized local activities. Such as the annual Mount Fun Run.
The TBA programme has a fully equipped, modern gym where learning the skill and art of boxing is an important mechanism for holistic youth development. This physical outlet provides a safe space for meaningful social interactions, positive role models, and is a place for learning how to enact the core values. The positive changes the TBA are seeing in youth include:
• Increased confidence and self esteem
• Better decision making about life choices
• Being responsible for their actions
• Developing strong friendships with other members
• Improved overall physical health and mental wellbeing
• Developing a stronger sense of being part of a team and a group
• Developing social skills
Individual pathway plans
The IBA guidebook is personal to each young person and has been developed as an on going resource for our rangatahi to take away and refer to in the future.
IBA participants are required to write comments and reflections in their personal Guidebook. These reflections are looked at each week by IBAs facilitators and psychologist to ascertain progress in the range of skill development activities within the programme cirriculum.
IBA uses the My Mahi learning platform to complement delivery of information and experiences.
4
Work Readiness Skills and Resources
We incorporate practical work readiness skills into the programme which includes CV and cover letter development, setting up personal emails, setting up an appropriate answerphone message on their cell phone and interview etiquette and support. We undertake personality or skill based tests to help identify job fit credentials. Work readiness skills are enhanced and further developed through listening to guest speakers such as employers, local sports personalities (such as members of the NZ Rugby 7s team) and other well known and well respected personalities.
Work readiness support is provided specific to the employment or study pathway identified by each participant. For example, pathways within the Trades and Industry, may include completing a site safe certificate, forklift licence and progression from a learner to a full, drivers’ licence.
We have staff from Blue Light working with participants during various stages of obtaining their driver’s licences a Police initiative that ensures a continuous pathway is achieved from a learner to a full licence.
All IBA students are provided with entry level resources so they can begin their pathway into study, training, or employment. For example, a first aid certificate may support someone who is already caring for elderly or siblings in the home. Someone entering study can be supported by IBA providing textbook resources and IT equipment. Others can be provided with equipment and clothing needed in the workplace (such as boots, helmet, and gloves).
Work experience
IBA provide specific work experience opportunities and youth can obtain entry level skills required in the workplace of their choice. These kinds of experiences provide opportunities for participants to start applying the skills and knowledge that they have gained through the initial weeks of the programme.
Intensive pastoral care support from IBA staff is ongoing during this time, including regular check ins with youth (daily in the first few weeks, then once a week thereafter), and check ins with the employer and mentors (‘champions’) to identify any challenges the participant may be currently facing. This enables our students to apply these employment experiences into learning opportunities within a supportive environment.
Employers and Site Visits
IBA have a strong emphasis on solid partnerships with local employers and industry and see this as an important aspect of our ability to be successful.
Our staff engage with employers to understand their specific workforce needs. Employment mentors or ‘champions’ are then identified within each business, to support young people in the workplace and liaise with our staff. This kind of engagement also applies to any providers and institutions that support transition into further education or training.
5
Introducing My Mahi for schools Presentation : My Mahi
Support from employers includes allowing IBA to conduct regular site visits and for employers to provide workforce/industry education and experience. The designated employer champions within their business work with the IBA team and employers are encouraged to provide further job opportunities and pathways (including cadetships and apprenticeships).
Regular employer and stakeholder events take place to enable feedback on the IBA programme, to share success stories and to enable IBA to thank our partners for their support.
Guest speakers/community excursions
Guest speakers are a regular part of the curriculum where a broad range of individuals, particularly successful people whose early life experiences echo those of our youth, visit IBA. These presentations have a very powerful and positive influences on the IBA participants.
It is here where employability skills are reinforced. They provide first hand insight into the workplace or provide an educational component around life skills and experiences for participants to reflect on.
Guest speakers include elite sports people, employers, self employed locals, and members of our community who can offer insight into a particular experience.
IBA use opportunities with guest speakers and excursions to build on skills development. For example, practising how to thank guests, thanking employers we visit, doing research on employers before meeting them and so on.
We also encourage our youth to take part in and experience public events as a team, to build a culture of camaraderie and provide students opportunities for ‘giving back’ to the community through various projects or engagement with community organisations.
Some examples include helping the Good Neighbor move houses for single parent families, helping Lion with community projects such as book fairs, donating and building a pizza oven area in local primary schools, painting a mural for another school, and garden clean up projects for whānau in need.
Pathways employment or further education/training
IBA maintain links to networks that support opportunities into further education, training or employment and work closely with local providers across these areas.
Several our employers provide cadetship and apprenticeship opportunities or a clear training and development pathway for progression toward a career in the Organisation.
IBA facilitators match youth with employers based on individual skills, personal strengths and job requirements and aim to ensure a job fit that works well for both parties. This includes working with participants who have no work history because they have a disability that prevents them from engaging in full time work.
The establishment of the Piritahi Youth Collective has enabled IBA to engage with a range of local providers on a regular basis. Many providers are also part of the ‘Social Link’ group. These groups, that include iwi providers and Priority One (particularly the Te Ara rau Hub), support the IBA programme with
6
potential employment and training options and with an understanding of available pathways for young people across the region.
Post-Pastoral
Support (PPS) Programme - 6-12 months (as-needed basis)
Once in employment or study, we aim for all youth to stay connected with the IBA Programme. Our goal here is to provide a successful transition process, either into work or into a desired career pathway, until they are confident on their own.
Initially, Post Pastoral Support (PPS) involves daily contact and on site support working alongside youth for the first day or more, in employment to desensitise them to the unknown, and to check in with the employer/champion.
A similar process applies for students who continue into further education, such as providing support with study habits, gathering resource materials they will need and navigating the local tertiary campus. Regular meetings are held with IBA participants who choose this option.
The intensity of contact generally tapers off after a few weeks, to weekly check ins either face to face or via phone calls noting that the intensity and type of contact is determined on a case by case basis dependant on each individual’s needs.
Some youth will re engage with IBA after a period of independence due to life influences requiring some further support.
Regular ‘reviews’ are undertaken on how the young person is going in their role to identify any concerns or areas where further support can be provided.
IBA maintain strong connections with employers and/or their ‘champions’ (mentors) to enable and support their needs also, during early employment with youth. We recognise and acknowledge that employers also require advice on how to deal with youth who have not come through ‘mainstream’ channels, and our support is appreciated.
7
Timeline of service delivery
IBA Intakes 2 x 11 weeks & 2x 10 weeks, 2 weeks planning in between
PPS Programme – on going over the year (6 12 months as needed)
Year 2023
16 January 30 March 2023 (11 weeks)
17 April 29 June 2023 (11 weeks)
17 July 21 September 2023 (10 weeks)
9 October 14 December 2023 (10 weeks)
Weeks 1 3
ORIENTATION:
Introducing: Five Core Values, Te Whare Tapa Wha, Employability Skills Matrix, Work Values, writing reflections and guidebook
Introductions/building relationships with group/staff including TBA staff
Paperwork filled out
Initial wellbeing and fitness tests
Introduction to welbeing modules and IBA psycologist
Start job fit modules
Start personal goal setting
Activities: Bluelight licencing, motivational guest speakers (e.g. Rugby Sevens, Ray Everest and SpaFix)
Trip Maketu/Mount Maunganui focus on sense of belonging/pepeha
Weeks 4 8
Develop personal Plans ongoing
EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS Positive Attitude, Willingness to Learn, Resilience, Reliability, Self management, Teamwork, Thinking Skills, Responsibility Guidebook Modules
My Mahi modules
Skills development using Social Media/Youtube/Ted Talks
Workbook Reflections ongoing
Communications skills focus Speaking, Listening, Social Media, Courageous conversations
Work readiness preperation CVs, cover letter, interview preperation
Wellbeing Modules weekly
One on one psycologist support (needs basis)
TBA sessions three per week
Guest Speakers
Connections to employers/Site Visits
Work experience
Whanau meetings ongoing
Community Work Good Neighbour, Lions Club, community referrals
Community Event (e.g. CANVAS Careers Day, Ramp it Up)
Weeks 9 11
Drilling down into passions encourage opportunities for participant leadership in these Whanau meetings ongoing
8
Employability Tools
Final Wellbeing and TBA Measures
TBA sessions three per week
Complete reflections
Graduation
PPS preparation/personal plans concluded
Post Pastoral Support transfer participants in employment, study, or training
Introductions to participant and whanau to mentor (employment or study)
Regular contact with IBA and employers/training institutions
Up to six months (flexible)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Individual pathway plans and Guidebook
The IBA guidebook is personal to each young person and has been developed as an on going resource for our rangatahi to take away and refer to in the future.
IBA participants are required to write comments and reflections in their personal Guidebook. These reflections are looked at each week by IBAs facilitators and psychologist to ascertain progress in the range of skill development activities within the programme cirriculum.
Each participant will be supported to devlop an individual pathway plan.
IBA uses the My Mahi learning platform to complement delivery of information and experiences.
Introducing My Mahi for schools Presentation : My Mahi
Services Delivered:
• My Mahi learning platform external
• Guidebook Resource (cost printed and online version)
Services Delivered:
• Wellbeing Modules delivered by IBA psychologist 1/2 per week
• One on one interventions IBA psychologist 3hrs/week plus as required, or Court imposed support
• Progress/Support Hui with family IBA psychologist/Facilitators
• Individual wellbeing assessments IBA facilitators/IBA psychologist
• Western BOP PHO health education/information, support enrolment at a General Practitioner external
• Life Skills:
o drug and alcohol education Pat Buckley
o Haircuts Havana Barbers (Hair to Train)
o Cooking, food preparation and kitchen hygiene
9
of
Breakdown
specific services delivered (3 Pou) 1) Whare Tapa Wha Māori health and wellbeing model
• Guest Speakers support motivation, mental health discussions
• Community Service Experiences Good Neighbour, Lions Club, community referrals
• Physical Fitness Tauranga Boxing Academy 3 sessions per week (3hours per week)
Additional Services:
• Team building activity one per intake
o Rotorua Luge Trip
o Waimarino canoes/water park
o Nganumahine
o Fishing Charter Trip Pete Cross
• Extra one on one support for those with dyslexia or other cognitive learning difficulties 20 30% of participants and tools to support Extra FTE 0.5 to allow one on one support
• Hygiene and good Health Habits module
• Healthy Relationships module e.g., Mates and Dates free
Additional Psychologist services:
• Collaborative Agency plans lead and coordinate for higher risk participant referrals e.g., wrap around supports with agencies, facilitate meetings and discussions and care plan e.g., Oranga Tamariki, Youth Justice, Police and Mental Health DHB referrals
• Whanau/Parents support programme
• Staff supervision, support staff in managing serious incidents e.g., Notifications of Concerns to Oranga Tamariki, deliver training modules to staff.
2) Eight Key Employability Skills
Services Delivered:
Facilitator discussions in a classroom setting. Skills are put into practice through self assessment, peer assessment, reflections in the IBA Guidebook, feedback from facilitators, and by undertaking and reflecting on work experience and community work.
Work experience opportunities are provided for example. Interior Fit outs, Plumbuilt, Kingfisher, Good Neighbor, Barista work (in house starting January 2022).
Site Visits and Guest Speakers (expressed through guest speakers (for example employers, elite sports people, members of the community). Examples:
o Barber Shack
o Strength HQ/ David Leti
o Tauranga Fire Department
o Noxen
o NZ Rugby Sevens
o Future Focus/Ray Everest Weightlifting
o Marty Burke BOP Steamers
o Az Hughes (Employer)
o Zane Winslade (Employer)
o Specific Employer site visits
10
3) Work Readiness Skills and Resources Services Delivered:
o ANZ Financial literacy/budget advice, opening a bank account, Kiwi saver education
o how to obtain personal documentation (e.g., licence, birth certificate, passport) IBA as needed
o Introduction to education pathways e.g., Toi Ohomai/Waikato University visits
o Site Safe tickets into specific Industry roles
o Active Endorsement Ltd specific Industry tickets e.g., forklift etc.
o Saint Johns basic first aid training
o Good Neighbour Cooking lessons, work experience
o Ara Rau Hub links to employment services e.g., Dress for Success, employment opportunities, community events
o BOP Driving School progress licencing class based on each individual’s status
o Individual pathway work readiness resources ($500 per participant)
o Work experience and volunteer work opportunities
4) Five core Values
The intention of the IBA Programme is to support the mana of rangatahi through asserting the same core values as the Tauranga Boxing Academy. Again, these values are discussed and woven into the programme teachings.
Services Delivered:
• Facilitator discussions in a classroom setting. Skills are put into practice through self assessment, peer assessment, reflections in the IBA Guidebook, My Mahi ap, feedback from facilitators, and by undertaking and reflecting on work experience and community work. The TBA further emphasise the Five Core values in their training sessions.
5) Post Pastoral Support/Employer Services
Services mentioned above via Mentor support for six twelve months on an as needed basis
One on one psychologist support (as needed basis)
At six month in work/study milestone, each rangatahi (and employer) is celebrated for a six month milestone which includes a congratulations letter, lunch, IBA jersey
Additional Post Pastoral and Employer Services
Increasing employer events/workshops to three per year to ensure continued support and engagement
Celebration Event annual Graduation community event for those from IBA to attend who have been in work/study for at least 6 months. Community, Employer and Rangatahi event with local community leader presence.
11
