Engaging with young people at risk

Photo of a Hercules aircraft at the Whenuapai Airforce Base, Credit Royal New Zealand Airforce

I spent time this week working alongside staff from the Youth Development Unit at Whenuapai Airforce Base in West Auckland.  They run a six-week program for young people 18 – 24 years, referred from the Ministry of Social Development. These young people are unemployed, with many from extremely challenging backgrounds. With a long life ahead, supporting these young people in developing the skills for social participation in the world is an incredible gift that those in service give these young adults.   

A key skill set is to support those on the programme to stick with it. Many come with a significant number of adverse childhood experiences (ACE’s), so much of the work is around engaging and retaining participants in the programme. Developing resilience to ‘hang in there’ is half of the work.  

Take for example Trish, a 19-year-old young woman who left school in year ten and hasn’t worked or engaged in any training since. She tends to spend time with whānau/family at home and gets anxious socialising. Her goal for attending the programme is to be more sociable, feel confident and get a job. On week two of the programme, Trish approached staff asking to be released as she is feeling homesick.  

Darren is a 23 year old gang affiliated male with a history of violence. His goal coming onto the programme was to get away from gang life, get straight and get a job as he has a one year old son. He wants to be a better man than his dad was to him. He is withdrawing from substances and is tearful and irritable. Darren had a verbal altercation with another trainee who wasn’t pulling their weight in the barracks. Darren is struggling with the absence of drugs and he is worried he may get violent with the other trainee. He has asked staff to be released from the programme.  

It would be easy to give into letting both Trish and Darren ‘walk’ from the programme. However, not giving up on these young people and engaging in ways to disrupt the ‘avoidant response’ is the work of the YDU team. We spent the day exploring motivational conversations that team members could have to support these young people through these moments. Life is often about turning up, even when we don’t want to. Learning to manage our worries and anxieties as in Trish’s case will allow her to engage more fully in the world. This would allow her to have an expansive, rather than restrictive, experience of the world. In Darren’s situation, we don’t always get along with others. Darren has an ethic of people pulling their weight as part of a team. Also, as a dad, he is motivated to pioneer a different future for his son. These young people deserve the best we can give them. The outcomes of spending time with the YDU staff provide them with that opportunity.  

For more about the programme go to Making a difference at YDU – New Zealand Defence Force (nzdf.mil.nz) 

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