Quality employment opportunities in construction, infrastructure and allied trades are being created for young South Aucklanders who often face challenges in the labour market – those not in education, employment or training, sole parents and people who have experienced long-term unemployment or sporadic, low-wage employment.
The Māori and Pasifika Trades Training programme is led by The Southern Initiative (TSI) in South Auckland, in partnership with a consortium of private training establishments and with funding from the Tertiary Education Commission.
As part of the initiative, TSI tested a wraparound employment brokering service with graduates over 13 months. They wanted to ensure they had the licenses, equipment and relational support to connect the young people to quality jobs with professional development and meaningful wages. They found that providing quality manaakitanga (pastoral care and coaching) before and after a placement, improved graduates' chances of securing long-term sustainable employment.
Due to demand, TSI expanded the programme in 2018, adding a 14-week information and communication technology course to put participants in a stronger position to gain employment.
In 2018:
- 207 students enrolled
- 176 completed their qualifications
- 56 graduates have gone on to employment and others into ongoing training and qualifications
- 13 MPTT graduates were employed on the Manukau Bus station project
- 16 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) signed with CEs of construction and infrastructure businesses to provide employment for graduates