The Final Frontier: A Pasifika perspective of the transition gaps from adolescent to young adults in state care
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Other Title
Authors
Tavita, Robson Alualu
Author ORCID Profiles (clickable)
Degree
Master of Applied Practice (Social Practice)
Grantor
Unitec, Te Pūkenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology
Date
2024
Supervisors
Tominiko, Falaniko
Bentley-Gray, Daisy
Bentley-Gray, Daisy
Type
Masters Dissertation
Ngā Upoko Tukutuku (Māori subject headings)
Keyword
West Auckland (N.Z.)
Aotearoa
New Zealand
Pasifika youth
Pasifika men
young people leaving care
independent living
post-care accommodation
talanoa
interviews
Pasifika
Aotearoa
New Zealand
Pasifika youth
Pasifika men
young people leaving care
independent living
post-care accommodation
talanoa
interviews
Pasifika
ANZSRC Field of Research Code (2020)
Citation
Tavita, R.A. (2024). The Final Frontier: A Pasifika perspective of the transition gaps from adolescent to young adults in state care (Unpublished document submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Applied Practice (Social Practice)). Unitec, Te Pūkenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology https://hdl.handle.net/10652/6409
Abstract
RESEARCH AIM:
• To explore the experiences of young Pasifika men (aged 16-25) who participate in a transition to adulthood programme (TTA) on exit from state care.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1. What were the background histories and prior experiences of the young Pasifika men, with their families and state care before entering the TTA programme?
2. What was the effect of the TTA programme in supporting the research participants to transition from state care to independent living?
3. What are participants' experiences with key elements of the TTA programme (the values, rites of passage, roles, and responsibilities)?
ABSTRACT
In New Zealand leaving statutory care (state care) to live independently occurs when a young person turns 18. Many ‘state leavers’ make up an unseen population who lack adequate preparation for this journey into independence and adulthood. This research examines state care leavers who have participated in a culturally responsive Transition to Adulthood (TTA) programme with a well-established Pasifika and Māori youth mentoring programme in West Auckland. The ten research participants were young Pasifika men aged 16-25 years.
Data collected for the research was through Talanoa – the art of the spoken word via audio recordings that were transcribed and thematically analysed. The Talanoa conversations draw out and tell the participants’ stories and identify key aspects of their experience before participating in the programme. The research highlights the state leavers' backgrounds, the extent of their state care and their lack of social and emotional preparation for transition. Risk factors such as peer pressure, exclusions, incarceration, drugs, and alcohol were acknowledged by the participants to be additional barriers to their integration into society.
While the participants experienced the mentoring programme as holistic, supportive, and nurturing the TTA programme is constantly challenged to meet the needs of the state leavers. This research recognises professionals such as youth workers, social workers, and agencies like schools and Pasifika organisations, must engage in a significant preparatory role with young Pasifika males, before and after their exit, to help prevent them from returning to the ‘system’ through other agencies e.g., prison or ongoing welfare dependency. The recommendations from this research emphasise the importance of culturally responsive mentoring to include family support and reciprocity, a (re)balanced life, and continuing personal development.
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