New Zealand Youth at unprecedented risk – what will political parties do about it?

Collaborative Research Hui –‘Positive Youth Development Research: Where to now?’
Thursday 17th November 2011, 8.30am 4.00pm

NZ teens are at “unprecedented risk”. The Gluckman Report on adolescent health (‘Improving the Transition: Reducing Social and Psychological Morbidity during Adolescence’) has highlighted the extent of difficulties faced by New Zealand youth. Youth rates of sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancies are on the rise. The report says the major issues of self-harm and low mood for 20% of our high school students, a rising youth suicide rate, and youth unemployment rates of 25-30%, require a great deal more research into solutions.

These issues will be addressed at a conference to be held in Christchurch on 17 November 2011. The Youth Collaborative 4th Research Hui will be reflecting on developments in the area of positive youth development research since the 2002 publication of David Hanna’s National Youth Development Strategy Aotearoa. Leading researchers on Positive Youth Development Jane Higgins, Tim McCreanor and Chris Jansen will be facilitating workshops with conference delegates to come up with the directions for further research that is needed to discover ways to address the alarming negative statistics.

Representatives of the main political parties are attending to present an outline of what their party’s commitment will be to ensure healthy youth development in Aoteaora. This will be the only opportunity before the Election to hear what the political parties are intending to do about these pressing issues.

The day will be summarised by Simon Denny, lead researcher on the national Youth ’07 study of high school students in New Zealand.

‘Positive Youth Development Research: Where to now?’
Thursday 17th November 2011, 8.30am 4.00pm.
At St. Christopher's Avonhead, in Warren Hall, 244 Avonhead Rd, entrance parallel to Coniston Ave

ENDS

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