Transition to Adulthood
Transition to Adulthood initiative was established by Oranga Tamariki.
This is for rangathi to continue to be supported from age 18-21 after they have been discharged from Oranga Tamariki care at age 18.
Young people leaving care or a youth justice residence face some significant challenges and can often be extremely vulnerable, particularly when it comes to reoffending and/or living independently.
Te Rūnanga o Ngā Maata Waka is privileged to have been hand-picked alongside a small group of other NGOs to act as a provider for this service.
Our Kaupapa
What we do
Transition Workers are carefully seleted for their role as it is important they form a connection with rangitahi, and are credible and reliable. They will initially engage with rangitahi together with the appointed Oranga Tamarki Social Worker before the rangatahi turns 18. They collectively develop a transitional plan to
- Set and plan goals – the rangathi leads this process
- Meet identified needs, including accommodation, training and life skill development
- Mitigate risks – this could include a tangathi having more contact with family/whānau and needing to manage difficult relashinships and keep themselves safe.
This initiative was piloted in Auckland before starting up in Canterbury. We have had much success in Canterbury and our service is now considered a standout for Transitions to Adulthood in New Zealand.
Notably, it can take a while to get engagement or ‘buy in’ from the rangatahi. As a result, we do not ‘exit’ any rangatahi from this service; we focus heavily on making sure they can connect with their Navigator at any time. This was demonstrated during Covid-19 Level 4 Lockdown where we say a resurgence of rangatahi connecting with the service who has been difficult to reach prior.
Referral Process
Accessing our services here at Te Rūnanga o Ngā Maata Waka is simple.
Individuals can self-refer by filling out our online form below
or calling 03 382 6628 for more information.