What we do
This plan highlights some of the programmes and initiatives our region is undertaking to make the lives of our people better. All these things expand on our core business.
Our core business is about providing services to those in real need, helping people to help themselves be successful in their lives. We take pride in helping the people of the Bay of Plenty through:
- employment services - Work and Income
- income support and superannuation services - Work and Income and Senior Services
- the care and protection of at-risk children and young people and youth justice services - Child, Youth and Family
- connecting families with their communities and funding early intervention programmes - Family and Community Services
- student allowances and loans - StudyLink
- funding youth development programmes and supporting young people to have a say in decision making processes - Ministry of Youth Development
- protecting taxpayers' money through fraud investigations and debt collection - Integrity Services.
To do this we work with other government agencies, non-government organisations, advisory and industry groups, and communities and iwi. Together we aim to make a positive and lasting difference.
The priorities for the Bay of Plenty in 2009/2010 are:
Employment
We want to keep as many people in the Bay of Plenty in work as possible. We will work with businesses and industries to help them stay viable and to be ready for the economic upswing.
Young people
We want our young people to thrive. We want them to be able to make positive choices about their lives and to influence their own futures. We will help them to engage in education, training or work. We want to help young offenders to break cycles of offending and to get back on the right path. To do this, we are implementing the Government's Youth Opportunities and Fresh Start packages.
Keeping kids safe
We want children to have the best start in life. We offer parents access to resources to build their parenting skills, especially young parents. We will keep children safe - particularly at-risk under two-year-olds.
Value for money
We will make sure there is value for money in everything we do by running efficient and effective programmes and by sharing resources to keep overhead costs low.
