Youth19 is the latest in the Youth2000 survey series, now including over 36000 adolescents over two decades. In this showcase we share highlights from Youth19 and focus in on ‘Harnessing the Spark of Life: Maximising Whānau Contributors to Rangatahi Wellbeing’.

We’ll also announce a new partnership with Te Hiringa Hauora/Health Promotion Agency. As part of a 12-month grant, Te Hiringa Hauora is supporting two Māori and Pacific Masters-level Youth Wellbeing Researchers to develop their research and science communications skills. The Youth Wellbeing Researchers will develop public-sector appropriate youth health and wellbeing research outputs, and will respond to public sector and community requests for Youth19 insights.

‘Harnessing the Spark of Life’ is a core component of Youth19, led by Associate Professor Terryann Clark, (Ngāpuhi) | The University of Auckland. It began with a rangatahi photo elicitation project about what supports rangatahi to thrive, and discussions about these photos together with their whanau. This information was used to shape questions in the Youth19 survey about key aspects of whānau connectedness/whanaungatanga. These included items like having fun with family, sense of belonging, identity and feeling that whānau have your back. The team then analysed that data, finding that rangatahi had better health and wellbeing outcomes when these key factors were part of their lives. They also found what was good for Māori was good for other young people.  Now the team is in the final phase of that project, developing social media resources, rangatahi/whānau resources which celebrate these dimensions of whanaungatanga and communicate them in ways that support the health and wellbeing of rangatahi Māori and their whānau.

This showcase will be celebratory and fun. It will include time for discussion and whanaungatanga among those seeking to support rangatahi wellbeing.

Presenters and discussants will include: Associate Professor Terryann Clark, University of Auckland & Associate Professor Terry (Theresa) Fleming, Victoria University of Wellington, Dr Jade La Grice and Logan Hamley, University of Auckland; Professor Sue Crengle & Dr Jude Ball, University of Otago.

Venue: Room GBLT3; Old Government Building, Bunny St, Wellington. This room is easiest to find if you enter the building from Bunny Street, then turn left (heading for the corner near to the railway station).

Register to attend online or in person: https://youth19-showcase.eventbrite.com

Queries? Please email  Tatyana King-Finau tatyana.kingfinau@vuw.ac.nz