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Prime Minister visits Nikau Centre

 

The Prime Minister Helen Clarke was hosted in Augustby Family Works at the Nikau Centre, based at Marewa School in Napier.

The Nikau Centre is an educational initiative that aims to provide schooling and family focused support for 10–14 year old students who are not attending school or have been removed for behavioural reasons. The service aims to return children to school within a 10 week timeframe with a better social environment, improved learning skills and a positive outlook on education.

The Nikau Centre was set up in 2004 as a result of an initiative from the Napier Youth Aid section of the New Zealand Police, who were concerned at the number of local intermediate-aged children who were not attending school and becoming involved in criminal activities.

“The daily truancy rate in NZ schools in 2006 is 4.1% and it is increasing, so that means every day thousands of our children from around the country are truant from school” says Wim Smit General Manager of Family Works, a service of Presbyterian Support. “The Nikau centre addresses the social problems that often lie behind the negative results in the classroom. A total of 75% of all children who attend the centre are successfully returned to mainstream education” adds Wim. “Its a great example of collaboration between a number of local service providers here in our region despite facing an ongoing battle for funding. . The current MOE funding is committed only to the end of the 2007 school year. We are seeking to extend this as without it the centre will be forced to close.”

To support this initiative, Presbyterian Support East Coast employed a full time social worker to provide non-educational support for students and support for their families as well. Other collaborators in the project include school representatives, Police Youth Aid, Ministry of Education, CYF, Maraenui Urban Renewal Project and the Napier City Council

“The Nikau centre is one example of an innovative community-based response to the needs of families and children” said Shaun Robinson CEO of Presbyterian Support. “We are looking forward to talking to the Prime Minister about what Family Works experience shows us is needed to improve care and protection of children and support for families” said Mr Robinson.