MEDIA RELEASE

1 April 2015

Extension of Social Sector Trials

For immediate release

Excel Rotorua will begin work on a new action plan to influence government investment in Rotorua to improve educational and social outcomes for children and young people after news the Social Sector Trial is being extended.

Social Development Minister Anne Tolley has announced the Social Sector Trials in 16 communities around New Zealand will be extended for a year, to July next year, saying they are “demonstrating that a community-based approach can better coordinate Government resources to the people who need them”. With a view to adopting permanent structures, her department will analyse how the Trials can work alongside other initiatives such as Children’s Teams and Whānau Ora.

The Rotorua Social Sector Trial has already established a cross-agency approach, says Roana Bennett, General Manager of Te Taumata o Ngati Whakaue Iho Ake Trust, which is the lead agency for Excel Rotorua.

“We’re working across government agencies and local organisations for combined outcomes that lead to improved educational and wellbeing outcomes for children, young people and their families. Our Community Leadership Group, which drives the direction for Excel Rotorua, includes representatives from Government agencies, the local Children’s Team and Whanau Ora,” Ms Bennett says.

“We now have the opportunity to investigate what sort of structure might lead to some permanent installation in Rotorua of this approach. Mayor Steve Chadwick has been leading the thinking around how to embed the Excel Rotorua Community Leadership Group and cross-agency collaboration in our community. There’s awareness at ministerial level in Wellington of what’s happening in Rotorua and I think we’re well placed to move from a platform of funding projects to collaboration for shared outcomes.”

Excel Rotorua’s current term as a Social Sector Trial finishes at the end of June and the team will now start work on a new action plan to take the initiative beyond that, with an emphasis on what the community sees as priorities and how these can be delivered on in a collaborative way, Ms Bennett says.

“We’ve been given another 12 months to embed this in our community to achieve shared objectives around educational achievement and learner wellbeing. When we achieve that, we all win.”

Ms Bennett says one of Excel Rotorua’s key successes to date has been establishing ongoing dialogue that’s leading to real collaboration between school principals and between education and social sectors and agencies. “We’re all headed in the same direction with a key vision – improved wellbeing and education engagement and outcomes for all Rotorua children and young people.”

Another success story has been the establishment of a trust to support and progress improved connectivity across Rotorua to ensure access to e-learning for all students, she says.

“Our suite of projects was about setting the groundwork to find local solutions to address local needs and meet local aspirations.

“We’re being asked about whether this means the continuation of pilot projects and we can’t give a firm answer at this stage as we’ve no idea about what project funding may come with the extension,” Ms Bennett says.

The Government’s Social Sector Trials were established to test innovative ideas for improving the quality of life for young New Zealanders, giving communities control of resources, decision-making and accountability for results with a community lead appointed.

Excel Rotorua differs from other Social Sector Trials in that it has a focus on education. At its launch Education Minister Hekia Parata said she would look to Rotorua to provide the blueprint for other communities to follow in establishing locally-focussed education services.

The aim is to set in place a framework to improve educational achievement in Rotorua through educational and social service systems, programmes and initiatives tailored to local needs, ensuring all children and young people, from pre-school to tertiary level, can excel in education – whatever excelling in education means to them.

Link to Minister Tolley’s announcement, extending the Social Sector Trials across New Zealand:https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/extensions-social-sector-trials

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