Southern Regional Plan 2008/2009
What John has to say
“All this work focuses on building the region’s opportunities to overcome challenges. Every day our people invest energy and passion into making a difference in people’s lives. Our success depends heavily on the many healthy working relationships we’ve established”.
John Allen
Regional Commissioner for Social Development
Highlights of 2007/2008
In partnership with government agencies, individuals and organisations, a variety of initiatives and programmes have been developed to address the Southern region’s important social issues.
Highlights of work include:
- launching of the Invercargill Local Services Mapping report
- establishment of Family Violence Response teams
- completion of a survey of Queenstown employers on local labour market conditions
- successful trial and evaluation of a Strengthening Families lead agency pilot
- release of the free booklet Keeping Warm and Healthy this Winter
- establishment of a Youth Transition Steering Group
- distribution of the Great Little Cookbook to social service agencies.
Key Priorities for 2008/2009
Give children the best start in life
Key programmes and initiatives include:
- supporting families at home
- focusing on children
- ensuring children in care enjoy a stable home
- building parenting skills
- providing the right help at the right time.
Help young people achieve their potential
Key programmes and initiatives include:
- helping young people into work
- supporting at-risk youth
- helping young offenders make better choices
- helping tertiary students make good decisions
- developing our young people.
Enable people to live independent lives
Key programmes and initiatives include:
- helping more people into paid work
- helping Queenstown’s local employers
- supporting offenders to make positive changes
- making finding work easier
- valuing our older people.
Support families and whanau to be safe and resilient
Key programmes and initiatives include:
- providing an integrated response
- bringing families and support agencies together
- building support for families experiencing violence.
Strengthen communities
Key programmes and initiatives include:
- strengthening community providers
- supporting new business enterprises
- helping migrants and refugees
- supporting local-level planning
- improving access to government services
- supporting the supporters
- bringing services together in one place.
