David Hill / LDR
Kaikōura’s new Mayors’ Taskforce for Jobs youth employment co-ordinator Aysia McMillan.
Aysia McMillan says she always wanted to work with young people.
When the opportunity to lead the Kaikōura Mayors’ Taskforce for Jobs (MTFJ) programme came up, she jumped at the chance.
‘‘I had always wanted to work with youth. I was a young mum myself and so I know that having someone take the time for you makes a big difference.’’
McMillan worked in the wine industry in Blenheim before moving to Kaikōura earlier this year with her partner for the lifestyle and to be closer to her father.
While she has not worked with young people before, she has the experience of becoming a mum at 17-years and the challenges of finding work.
‘‘I’m 37-years-old and I have finally found my fit.
“We are all on a path and we need to help young people to find their path.
‘‘It is about helping them get some skills and find the confidence, and when they get some confidence you can step back and lead from behind.’’
The Kaikōura MTFJ programme placed 60 people in employment in the year to June 30, but the funding has been reduced with a new target of 38 for the next 12 months.
‘‘We just want them to be happy and enjoying their role.’’
David Hill / LDR
Mark Paterson is ready to take young job prospectors out fishing.
She said she hoped to organised a careers expo next year to showcase what employment opportunities Kaikōura has to offer.
Local businesses were supportive of the programme, but many were finding it tough in the present economic environment, she added.
Mental health and anxiety was a barrier for many local youth, she said.
But she said she was lucky to have a good ‘‘right hand man’’ in Mark Paterson, who has recently been appointed youth employability co-ordinator.
Paterson moved to Kaikōura 18 months ago with the intention of retiring, but said the opportunity to work with local youth was too good to refuse.
He uses his passion for fishing to break down barriers.
‘‘We really want to try and tie in the outdoors stuff because they spend all their time indoors.
“It is about that connection to whenua and what is going on around them.’’
Paterson said young people often found the courage to open up while in the outdoors.
Seven Sharp
Sasha and Jeremy talk to clinical psychologist Sara Chatwin to find out how life’s ‘micro-transitions’ affect our overall mental wellbeing.
McMillan said having the MTFJ programme as part of Te Hā o Mātauranga (Kaikōura Education Trust), based in Ludstone Road, meant it provided a one-stop shop for supporting local youth.
Driving lessons, counselling, youth groups and education programmes were all offered from the one building.
Kaikōura Mayor Craig Mackle said he would like Parliament to come up with a cross party agreement to ensure the MTFJ programme’s longevity.
‘‘At the moment we can only offer 12 month contracts, but this is a programme which has proven it works.’’
He would also like the funding model to offer more flexibility to allow neighbouring councils like Hurunui, Kaikōura and Waimakariri to work together.
‘‘There is an allocation of funding for each district, but if say we could only place 40 people and Hurunui needs more funding because it can place 60 people, we should be able to pass it on.’’
