Kia ora!

Please join us at the 2023 YEA Good Youth Employment Symposium! We’ve crafted a programme that demonstrates the power our sector has to create meaningful change and powerful impact for youth, employers, and our communities.

WHEN: Thursday 14 – Friday 15 September 2023

WHERE: Lower Hutt Event Centre, Lower Hutt, Wellington NZ

TICKETS: Per Day Charity Rate $55+gst+fees Per Day Government and Business Rate $85+gst+fees 

Rangatahi will share with us what matters to them in the world of work and our lineup of speakers includes Professor Jarrod Haar from Massey University, Tanya Pouwhare, CEO of NZ Ethical Employers, and Michael Stevens from BLab. 

We’ll also be hearing from employers as well as practitioners working on the frontline helping youth into employment.

This is a unique opportunity for everyone with a vested interest in this sector to come together to share experiences and learn from one another.

Day One Thursday 14 September

7:45 TOWN HALL REGISTRATIONS OPEN

8:30 TOWN HALL Mihi Whakatau and Whākawhānaungatanga

9:10 Speaker Session One: Professor Jarrod Haar, What is good youth employment?

10:30 Member of Parliaments, Chris Bishop, National Party, Jan Logie, Green Party, Benjamine Wylie-van Eerd, Opportunities Party, and Takuta Ferris, Te Pāti Māori

11:00 Tea break

11:20 Presentations and workshops
Town Hall. Fair, Ethical & Legal employment of young people with Tanya Pouwhare
Meeting Room 1. Uncharted Pathways: Redefining Success with Jerome Tairi
Meeting Room 2. The responsibility of local Business Associations to support youth employment with Sam Jackman

12:30 Town Hall. Lunch

1:30 Presentations and Workshops
Town Hall. A stepped approach to building cross-sector youth employment partnerships with Patrick McKibbin
Meeting Room 1. What are Employers looking for with Skills, Training and Youth Engagement? Insights from the EMA’s 2023 Skills Shortage Survey with Joanna Hall
Meeting Room 2. Untapped Talent: How employing young people with disabilities can benefit your business with Jono Craig and Michael Stevens

2:15 Break

2:30 Presentations and Workshops
Town Hall. Chance-making: The imperative to pave multiple-chance pathways to meaningful employment with Kauri Tearaura and Charlotte Mitchel
Meeting Room 1. Activating communities to awhi youth employability and employment with Hilary Karitiana and Joel Bradley
Meeting Room 2. Examining recruitment of underrepresented youth and retention strategies with Abe Gorrie and Kylee De-Blecourt

3:30 Town Hall. Youth Panel: Facilitated by Gala Baumfield

4:00 Town Hall. Mix and Mingle – cash bar, please purchase drinks, nibbles provided

6:00 CLOSE

Day Two Friday 15 September

9:00 TOWN HALL Welcome back
9:15 Guest Speaker
9:30 Plenary Session:
Supporting Rangatahi Mental Health in Today’s Workplace with Dr Louise Cowpertwait
Trauma aware: a brief guide for employers and educators with Lloyd Martin
The role of employers and communities in care leavers’ transition to in(ter)dependence with Kath Harrison and Albany Lockie

10:50 Morning Tea

11:00 Presentations and Workshops
Town Hall. Whakarangatirahia: Be the best you can be with Joseph Tyro
Meeting Room 1. Turning intentions into change? with Baruk Jacob
Meeting Room 2. Speaking the same language with Joe Wilson and Michelle Lye

11:45 Break

12:00 Presentations and workshops
Town Hall. Engaging young Pasifika talent in the youth sector with Salā Henry Samia
Meeting Room 1. Shape-shifting: Creating workforces for our future with Joe Dodd
Meeting Room 2. Bringing the hustle to Rangitahi – Self Employment Pathways with Tony Henderson-Newport

12:45 Lunch

1:35 Political speaker – ACT MP Karen Chhour

1:45 Presentations and Workshops
Town Hall. Sending the elevator back down with Jessica Te Moananui and Taylor-Rose Salanoa
Meeting Room 1. Employment as Career Development: Pathway purpose and ownership with Dan Russell
Meeting Room 2. Internship Framework – guide to employing youth interns with Fati Tagoai

2:30 Break

2:45 Presentations and Workshops
Town Hall. Whakatipu programme: Growing soft skills for employment through outdoor education with Krishan Kumar
Meeting Room 1. It’s not just about employment: every interaction matters with Tammie Metcalfe
Meeting Room 2. Rangatahi mai ki te Rangatira – Our Youth, Our Future with Shannon Seiuli and Gemma Turney

3:30 Break

3:45 The Future of YEA with Stewardship Group

4:00 Close

*Schedule subject to change