Sandra has a new role!
Upper North Island Delivery Lead Sandra has some exciting new mahi with Kaitiaki o Ara, check out this blog to learn about her new role with us.
Kia ora everyone
This week I am talking to you about my transition into a newly created role at Kaitiaki o Ara. At this stage, it is a two-year secondment/trial.
For some time now I have been doing my Programme Delivery Lead work in Auckland and Northland, as well as dipping my feet into working with a harder-to-reach audience of rangatahi.
Some examples are working in collaboration with NZ Police. The Police Pathway Program (PPP) has been running for some time and I have been facilitating road safety workshops directed at students who are interested in joining the police or other uniformed services.
https://www.sadd.org.nz/connect-with-your-community/sadd/kaitiaki-o-ara-police-pathways-program
The other newer programme is called ‘U turn’. U turn is for low level first time driving offenders who have come to police attention. In conjunction with police, we educate the participants who have committed driving offences into changing their behaviours and decision making in a different direction. The pilot was initially held in Counties Manukau Auckland, but we will be looking to expand this soon. On the 5th of May, I was invited to attend the Counties Manukau district awards ceremony, on behalf of Kaitiaki o Ara, with Constable Caitlin FiuFalefa. We received a ‘District Prevention Managers Certificate of Appreciation’ in recognition of our service and contribution to the programme, thus reducing victimisation.
Here is what Constable Caitlin Fiu-Falefa from Counties Manukau East Police has to say about the U turn programme:
“The U-Turn programme has been a fantastic resource for the police in CME. We have no other programme like it for this target audience and it has definitely filled a much needed gap in the youth space. I believe we have successfully created a safe space for young people to learn from their mistakes and gain knowledge around safer driving choices to keep themselves and other road users safe on our roads.
Our rates of re-offending are very low and the majority of our participants have not had any further involvement with police which is amazing. I am personally very grateful to Sandra and Donna from SADD who with no hesitation jumped on board with this idea and ran with it. SADD play an invaluable role in the running and longevity of the programme and it would not be the success it is today without their support and hard work.”
As part of my new role I will also be scoping areas of harder to reach audiences through alternative education providers and other networks. Overall, I will be facilitating workshops and events to empower rangatahi to develop strategies to prevent risky road user behaviours.
To my Auckland and Northland schools - please don’t worry, until my old role is filled, I am still Auckland based and will still be here for you! When we do have a replacement, there will be a thorough handover and introductions to maintain our connections with you. I have really enjoyed my time working with students and our community partners in the Upper North motu. Each region is unique so it’s been great seeing what works in different areas. Travelling to parts of the Far North that I haven’t been to in years has been an eye opener. We have had a few struggles, particularly with weather events but being able to adapt is what is key. The ability to change things with hardly any notice and change to online if we needed to has been helpful.
All the young people I have been working with continue to surprise me at how creative they are. Leaders have immersed and I love how passionate you all are to truly have an impact on road safety in Aotearoa.
Thank you also to all of the community partners I have had the pleasure of working with, the emergency services, youth network providers and in particular Road Safety Coordinators - Far North REAP, Northland Road Safety Trust and Auckland Transport. You have been a major part of assisting me with workshops and providing your services to SADD groups in schools when they are running activities, as well as supporting students to get to our annual conference. I will still be contacting you for other things though, you can’t get rid of me that easy :-)
Last but not least, a massive thank you to my amazing work colleagues (Donna, Vic, Roger, Ti, Lydia, Mia, Mark, Bobbi & Renee)! The support through the last year has been something else and I am very grateful to be given this new opportunity with Kaitiaki o Ara.