Praxis PD Gathering 2024

Dr Judy Bruce has contributed to many fields of youth work. Originally a trained teacher, Judy is one a few pioneers of alternative education in Aotearoa and a stalwart of Te Ora Hou. Along with her experience in the research and academic world, Judy also spent a season serving overseas. Now residing in Auckland, Judy serves as the Co-Chairperson of Praxis along side Hēmi te Hēmi.

Tama Bucknell, the manager of Praxis Education Kenepuru, the alterative education school in Porirua. Tama, is also originally a trainned teacher, then served for 20 years in Central Hawkes Bay as a youth worker through a trust he and is wife founded “Epic Ministries”. Tama has years of experience supporting other youth workers to partners with young people, their schools and whānau.

Interested in exploring the ways in which education and youth development overlap? Keen to understand how we practice youth work within an interdisciplinary team? In this workshop you will have the opportunity to strengthen your practice and learn with others.

We will:

• consider our current practice

• reflect on what is working/not working

• imagine differently and design something new

• get an action plan together.

Tāneora Tūnoho Ryall is a descendant of Tainui waka, hailing from Ngāti Raukawa (ki uta, ki tai) and is currently working as a Kaiako Reo Māori and Tikanga Māori advisor in Te Whanganui a Tara. Over the years he has been helping community groups more confidently navigate Te Ao Māori (The Māori World) through understanding Māori cultural protocols and language. He is currently based in Wainuiomata with his wife and three boys and enjoys cooking, reading and teaching.

The Tikanga Māori workshop focuses on how Tikanga Māori (Māori cultural protocols) and narratives of the past can help us better navigate everyday scenarios. Whether for work, home, at school, or on the marae, Tikanga Māori plays an important role to keep everyone safe.

Miriam Bucknell is the Wellington Year 2 tutor with Praxis and leads the Year 2 programme nationally. For over a decade she has worked in high school as both a teacher and guidance counsellor. She and her husband Tama founded Epic Ministries, in Central Hawkes Bay, a faith based youth and community organisation which celebrates its 20 year anniversary this year.

This workshop includes a variety of experienced faith based youth workers who are passionate about good quality youth development. If you work in a faith based organisation, church, have a faith yourself and want some encouragement, or, just keen on a space to ask questions around this topic this is the forum for you.

Dr Andrew Shepherd

Andrew has spent three decades as a thinking-practitioner, involved in the sectors of intercultural and environmental education, practical conservation, youth work, and leadership formation. His current role is as a Senior Lecturer in Theology and Public Issues within the Theology Programme, University of Otago / Mātai Whakapono Karaitiana, Te Whare Wānanga o Otāgo. One of his main research areas is seeking to find wisdom from within the Christian tradition to help us live well in the face of a range of contemporary environmental challenges.

Papatūānuku, Place, & Prayer: Attentiveness in an age of Climate Anxiety and Activism. This forum will reflect on the emergence of ecological anxiety, particularly noting the impact of this upon rangatahi. It will critically examine the conditions that contribute to this shared state of anxiety, and then explore ways in which ancient practices might help alleviate this emotion and assist young people to live well in the face of ecological uncertainties.

Ko Jane Zintl ahau

Nō Kernow ōku tīpuna

Jane is the CEO of Ara Taiohi, the peak body of youth development in Aotearoa. 2024 marks the 27th year of training in ethics/law for Praxis!

He mokopuna ahau o Taranaki maunga, te uri ō Tūwhakairiora, me Kai Tahu.

I te taha o tōku whakapapa pakeha, nō Kotirana me Airangi

No te hapu o Araukuku Tuwhakairiora Arowhenua Awarua hoki

Ko Tyler Ngatai toku ingoa

Workshop:

Revisiting the kōrero around the professionalisation of Youth Work.

Korowai Tupu is the professional association for Youth Work Aotearoa was established in 2018. In this time over 200 youth workers have voluntarily chosen to join the association and become externally accountable for their practice. There have been a lot of learnings! We are about to embark on the most significant research into the state of Youth Work nationally since Llyod Martin’s Real Work. Mahi Tūturu 2.0 will include surveys and focus groups with kaimahi all over the motu explore our profession, where we are positioned and what it looks like moving forward. This workshop is the first of many kōrero – and we would love you to join us.

Beth Gibbes (Ngāti Kahungunu)

A West Auckland-based Youth Worker and proud Praxis Alumni from 2015/16. She also graduated with her Bachelor’s in Health and Social Development majoring in Youth Development in April 2021. Beth has experienced a wide range of what the youth sector has on offer and now is the Youth Enterprise Lead for The King’s Trust Aotearoa New Zealand.

In this session, Beth, joined by Richard Bell from MYD, will explore the transformative power of entrepreneurship as a catalyst for positive youth development and engagement. We’ll delve into inspiring stories of young entrepreneurs we've supported, share effective models of practice, and provide valuable resources to ignite entrepreneurial spirit our taiohi. You will have the opportunity to step into the shoes of an entrepreneur and craft your own 60 second pitch. Let's connect, collaborate, and pave the way for impactful change together.”

Tali Aitofi (He/Him). From the villages of Moata’a, Savaia Lefaga, and Sapapali’i, is a New Zealand born Samoan/European who hails from the Promised Land of Porirua!

“I feel like I bring a unique perspective to the conversation around Pasifika Youth Development. Being New Zealand born, bi-cultural and gay, I have walked on the edge of not fully belonging in any one space, so I have no greater joy in my practice than helping a young person find their place of belonging.” From Alternative Education to youth Pastor, to being a huge part of the Praxis Team, Tali’s practice has been shaped by the experiences he had over is 10+ years working with young people from across Te Whanganui-a-Tara.

Koroseta Timu (She/Her) known to many as Koro, hails from the villages of Satuiatua on her mother's side, and Saleaula on her father's side, she is a New Zealand born Samoan who currently resides in South Auckland. Koroseta currently leads the Manukau Salvation Army youth team and alongside the team she facilitates a Pasifika youth program in the community South Auckland. She has over 10+ years of experience working with young people from across Tamaki Makaurau and is excited about seeing young brown people achieve excellence.

Using the practice of Talanoa, Koroseta and Tali will explore what it means to grow up in Aotearoa, in a society that is fast paced and modern whilst holding on to our Pacific identity and traditions. You’ll have the opportunity to explore different Pacific models of health and wellbeing, add your critique to them and develop your own.

Lloyd has been involved in the youth work training space for over twenty years, initially through developing the Praxis course in Aotearoa and the Pacific Islands. These days he provides supervision and facilitates workshops in youth development for anyone whose work impacts young people.

Lloyd’s specialist areas are the Circle of Mana and alternative education, he is in the last stages of a doctoral research project in these areas. Lloyd’s workshop at the Praxis Gathering will focus on trauma and adversity. How it affects development and learning, and how educators/youth workers can create social spaces that support young people move to from what they have experienced.

Andre Afamasaga is Samoan, Rainbow and an ex-pastor and youth worker. Andre is a leader and speaker on human rights, lived experience leadership and social cohesion. He is also on the Board of Zeal NZ.

In this session, Andre will share some principles and good practice examples of how to create safe and inclusive spaces for young people of diverse genders and sexualities, followed by a respectful and safe Talanoa/korero for people to share their own positive tips and learnings.

If there’s one thing we are known for at Praxis that’s the ability to bust out a great waiata to tautoko. Whether that’s a welcome, farewell, celebration or just to help a group gel. The art of being ready in any rōpū to bust out a waitata tautoko is simply 101 tikanga youth workers should have.

Join some of our talented Praxis team to learn a waiata or two that you can take back to your teams.

Adi Leason is a teacher and peace campaigner who lives on an organic farm in sunny Ōtaki with his wife Shelley and several of their children. He enjoys growing food, building houses for people who need a place to live, driving his yellow truck and chopping firewood. Each summer Adi hosts Ōtaki Summer Camp, where 200+ young people gather to organise for positive change in their communities. On weekdays Adi is kaiako rehutai at Te Kura-ā-iwi o Whakatupuranga Rua Mano.

Muzz Shearer lives in Porirua East with his wife Shona and their three children. His happy place is out fishing in the tinny with his son Gabe. Like Adi, he enjoys chopping firewood. He doesn’t own a yellow truck, but he magically turns chip oil into biodiesel out in his shed. For the past few years Muzz has served on the komiti at Maraeroa Marae. He is a tutor at Praxis, looking after the regional diploma students.

Adi & Muzz have both spent time in SE Asia living among marginalised groups such as refugees and urban squatters. These experiences shaped their youth work practice back here in Aotearoa, where they have established community houses, organised service opportunities, led exposure trips and created opportunities for political activism. In a wide-ranging conversation, Adi and Muzz will share a few yarns about the good old days; more importantly, they will discuss what some of these early experiments have evolved into today.

Michael Smith Co-leader of Praxis currently in the final stages of a Masters of Educational Leadership. He has two decades of working with young people and their communities in Puketapapa, Mt Roskill and Hastings, Hawkes Bay through developing teams of practitioners to journey in community with young people.

We all know Youth Workers produce the best Youth Workers. Working with young people is hard mahi, it goes to the next level when you are working with and supporting other to work with young people.

Join this Forum to hear from some legends of the sector who are having a radical impact in their community whilst growing the next generation of practitioners. The good, the bad, the ugly and the funding applications.

Nathan Thomas has been involved with Praxis for a number of years as a tutor and facilitator of Activity Based Learning. One of Nathans greatest joys is taking a group of young people on a journey of fun and development. Nathan has experience in leading groups within church, school and community settings in Mt Roskill, Auckland and more recently in Whanganui.

Laz Lemanutau is a happily married Samoan father of 2, currently supporting the Alternative Education space at Kāpiti Youth Support. With 20 years of experience in the Youth Development sector, Laz can attest to the strength of ABL and its ability to connect with all peoples and spaces. Faafetai mo le avanoa.

In this workshop we will discover how group work is still a fundamental, relevant and a powerful tool in youth development today, all while having so much fun and sharing so many laughs that you wont realise your learning!

Jenny Duckworth has been in and around youth work for 35 years. As part of Urban Vision for 3 decades she has remained passionate about grassroots community development, living intentionally as good neighbours to see a community thrive. Together with Justin she has found herself leading across the Anglican church in the Wellington dio particularly focusing on supporting AYM (Anglican Youth Movement) and those innovating to see faith communities responding in fresh ways to the needs of their communities. For the last 10 years she has been a tutor in the Praxis and loves the rich diversity and potential of our students and the pedagogy of the Praxis way of learning.

More recently she has become convinced that reconciliation is the heart of her vocation. She comes at the topic full of hope, from a theological, sociological and practical perspective against the background of our polarized and conflicted world and its increasing challenges. This workshop simply offers a chance to kōrero around this topic hoping to inspire in each other, a deeper commitment to reconciliation in the work we do as youth workers.

Chris has been the Digital Director at Zeal since 2020. With a background in Technology, Digital Comms and Youth Development, his focus at Zeal has been on helping young people to bring to life their digital/tech ideas to help their communities. From mental health apps to fixing old computers he’s had a front row seat to the mind-blowing creativity of rangatahi across Aotearoa. One of his projects, “West Tech” is helping hundreds of West Auckland rangatahi learn to fix donated laptops, and keep one as their graduation gift.

In this workshop you’ll:

• Learn lots about fixing computers

• Gain insights into youth work opportunities that come from side by side tutū with stuff like computers

• Explore what’s needed to scale up a project like this one to support large communities

• Gain insights into young people’s experiences of digital exclusion and their stories of overcoming this

• Hopefully see opportunities to align your youth work to kaupapa young people care about like climate and the environment

Eddy Davis-Rae is a Senior Advisor Participation and Engagement Team Mai World

My ancestors from across the UK, but I was born on the whenua of Kai Tahu in Ōtepoti Dunedin. I live in Wellington with my partner Meg.

For a number of years I worked at BGI and ran programmes in the community. I then began work on a Youth Participatory Action Research project where a group of young people explored youth perspectives on mental wellbeing in Wellington and took the research to Parliament. While completing this project I also completed my Masters of Education with a focus on Youth Participation.

Through this work I became familiar with the work of the OCC and Mai World and decided to apply for a role in the team to share my own experience and expertise while learning from experts in the field of child and youth participation.

Parani Morgan comes from Waiwhetu, born and bred. I am the father three and married to my beautiful wife Elizabeth. I was raised in Te ao Maori starting from kohanga reo than moving onto kura kaupapa maori at Waiwhetu primary school and in my home the Cook Island language was spoken. My dad Is Maori and a descendant of Te Atiawa, Ngati Tama and Ngati Toa and my mum is of Cook Island and Tahitian descent.

I have been a part of youth work for over 10 years, ranging from coaching sports, church youth group leader, and holiday programs Being raised in Te ao Maori and knowing the reo has given me the chance to stand in places where I can support change for rangatahi Maori. My goal for working at OCC is to encourage mokopuna on a larger scale so that I can contribute to positive system change.

In this workshop, we will explore opportunities to positively and actively contribute to system change that supports and encourages rangatahi through advocacy at both the grassroots level and at the Beehive!