
Programme
Beat the crowds and collect your name badge and bag the day before!
Rāapa 06 Ākuhata
Wednesday 06 August
3pm - 6pm
Rāpare 07 Ākuhata
Thursday 07 August
8.00am
REGISTRATION OPEN
MIHI WHAKATAU AND WELCOME
MORNING PLENARY SESSION including Dr Claire Achmad, Matua Ruru Hona
*Note music will be apart of the session
9.00am
10.30am
PARAMANAWA / MORNING TEA
11.00am
CONCURRENT SESSION A | Click on the down arrow for more session information
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Auditorium
with Dr Claire Achmad Chief Children’s Commissioner, Josiah Tualamali'i, Arena Williams MP and Vanessa Weenink MP, facilitated by Jane Zintl
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Room: Conway 1(upstairs)
Inati - Pasifika sharing of resources
Henio Koloi, Ake Pereira Vibe - Hutt Valley Youth Health TrustLoto Tele - Be of good courage
A creative, musical presentation by local Pasifika youth workers and practitioners in Ōtautahi.
Sela Faletolu-Fasi, Ielua Taula -
Room: Conway 2 (upstairs)
Creating a world without barriers for young disabled people
Wendy Preston, Meg Lyster, Olivia Trass, Jack Harwood, Taylah Rasmussen, Hannah Butson, Izadine Ahmat Abdallah I.Lead -
Room: Conway 3 (upstairs)
Autonomy is an action: Supporting youth agency in mentoring relationships
Dr Hilary Dutton University of AucklandTogether we thrive: The impact of youth development programmes which unite neuro-diverse youth with peers and local communities
Leonie King Duke of Edinburgh's Hillary AwardRestorative justice in the youth sector: Supporting young people through healing and accountability
Ari Nicholson The Collaborative Trust for Research & Training in Youth Health & Development -
Room: Conway 4 (upstairs)
Words weaving, from writer to witness: Building lasting connections through spoken word
Ramon Narayan, Ken Arkind, Talia Stanley, Sheldon Rua, Eric Soakai, Koromiko Jacob-Williams Action Education -
Room: Conway 5 (upstairs)
Brief intervention tool for working with youth with alcohol and drug use
Jo Claridge Whāraurau -
Room: Bealey 1 (downstairs)
Mahi Tuturu
Ara Taiohi & AUT -
Room: Bealey 2(downstairs)
How Microsoft forms and power BI revolutionised our reporting game!
Tarannah Poletti-vette, Terry Watts Mahitahi Hauora‘Better together: Measuring impact as a collective'
Shaz Reece Te Rourou-One FoundationHands for impact™: Telling the story of youth work in Aotearoa with Social Return on Investment (SROI)
Claudia Wace, Dr Marie Nissanka Hands for Impact™ -
Room: Bealey 3 (downstairs)
Hosted by Ember Innovations and The Kings Trust
Un-conferencing is a participant-led session format that flips the traditional conference model—attendees set the agenda, spark the discussion, and shape the outcomes. It’s an open, flexible space to explore shared interests, dive deeper into topics, and connect through spontaneous conversation and collaboration.
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Room: Bealey 4&5 (downstairs)
Mō Āpōpō future-makers: Equipping rangatahi to shape a better tomorrow
Amy Knudsen Tokona Te Raki
12.15pm
WĀ TINA / LUNCH
1.15pm
CONCURRENT SESSION B | Click on the down arrow for more session information
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Auditorium
To age or not to age - That is not the question. How do we create space for safety online for young people
Terryann Clark, Lola Fisher, Kate Whitaker, Vince Nathan, facilitated by Vira Paky -
Room: Conway 1(upstairs)
Passion-powered careers: A cohesive model for youth skills development and employer engagement
Jigna Desai, Kings Trust Australia25 Years of Kotahitanga: The Mayors Taskforce for Jobs and the future of youth employment
Tammie Metcalfe Mayors Taskforce for JobsYouth consumer, peer support, and lived experience workforce
Eden Grimwood, Liam Teichmann Whāraurau -
Room: Conway 2 (upstairs)
Intersectionality 101 in youth work
Amy Knudsen, Tokona te Raki, Mau te Rangimarie Clark, University of Otago, Melissa Lama, Ministry for Pacific Peoples -
Room: Conway 3 (upstairs)
The changing landscape of primary youth mental health in Aotearoa: Increasing risk,complexity, and youth-led solutions
Liz Hosking-Clement YouthlineRooted in connection: Planting seeds of mental wellbeing with Potplant Studio
Joshua Peauafi Potplant StudioUnderstanding Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI): A compassionate approach
Dr Kirsty Fraser Dr Kirsty CoachingWorking together to achieve improved youth mental health and wellbeing in Aotearoa
Dr Ella Cullen, Katie Sherriff Te Hiringa Mahara (Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission) -
Room: Conway 4 (upstairs)
Unity in action: Trans inclusion in an age of disinformation
Mason and Lara InsideOUT, Jen Shields Qtopia -
Room: Conway 5 (upstairs)
Eco-ethics climate justice and youth workshop
Tim Corney Victoria University, Australia -
Room: Bealey 1 (downstairs)
Faith it ‘till we make it - Mana at the centre of faith-based youth work
Lizzie Pringle Praxis, Richard Bell Youth Work Wellington -
Room: Bealey 2 (downstairs)
Showing up when it matters
Agnes Napia, Mike Tsang, Blair Nathan, Diako Abdullazada Te Hā Oranga -
Room: Bealey 3(downstairs)
Hosted by Ember Innovations and The Kings Trust
Un-conferencing is a participant-led session format that flips the traditional conference model—attendees set the agenda, spark the discussion, and shape the outcomes. It’s an open, flexible space to explore shared interests, dive deeper into topics, and connect through spontaneous conversation and collaboration.
-
Room: Bealey 4&5 (downstairs)
Pou Pasifika workshop
2.30pm
PARAMANAWA / AFTERNOON TEA
AFTERNOON PLENARY SESSION
including Dr MahMah Timoteo, Tyler Ngatai, and Andre Afamasaga
*Note music will be apart of the session
3.00pm
4.15pm
Day one of INVOLVE concludes
We will have a special guest of our Youth Minister, James Meager.
Non-alcoholic drinks and nibbles provided. Cash bar avaliable if you choose to purchase a beverage.
Head out to the Exhibition space for Happy Hour till 5.30pm!
Whanaketanga i Aotearoa: Ngā Tahuhu Kōrero A History of Youth Work in Aotearoa by John Harrington. Click HERE to register
John Harringtons Book release 5.30pm-7pm
Rāmere 08 Ākuhata
Friday 08 August
WELCOME TO DAY TWO
MORNING PLENARY SESSION
including Eru Kapa-Kingi and Riana Te Ngahue
*Note music will be apart of the session
9.00am
10.30am
PARAMANAWA / MORNING TEA
11.00am
CONCURRENT SESSION C | Click on the down arrow for more session information
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Auditorium
with Andy Coster, Claudia Wace, Shaz Reece, and Sarah Finlay Robinson facilitated by Chillion Sanerivi
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Room: Conway 1(upstairs)
Connecting Youth Workers to Strengthen Support for Rainbow Rangatahi
Lara Moses InsideOUT KōaroJoy in Community: Highlights from the Ōtautahi Rainbow Rangatahi Expo
Mace Malcolm InsideOUT KōaroAdvocating for rainbow rangatahi in the wider world
Jennifer Shields QtopiaPresentation title to be confirmed
Kiwa Kahukura Denton Mana Tipua -
Room: Conway 2(upstairs)
STOP, BLOCK & TALK® Digital wellbeing & safety workshop
Neysa Koizumi Collaborative Trust -
Room: Conway 3(upstairs)
The world tried to bury us - little did they know we were seeds. Youth speak on the impact of parental incarceration & what needs to change
Corrina Thompson Pillars, Youth Members of Ngā Rangatira Mō Apōpō“Not these questions, again!” How (and why) we wrote a reportabout the experiences of rangatahi without asking them to tell us their stories
Ihorangi Reweti Peters, Lisa McLaren, Kirsten Smith VOYCE - Whakarongo MaiCentring young people’s development in Whai Wāhitanga
Hannah Dunlop, ReVision and Sarah Finlay-Robinson, InCommonNZMai World, My World - Mana Mokopuna sharing on the United Nations Convention Rights of the Child
Mana Mokopuna Children and Young Person’s Commission -
Room: Conway 4(upstairs)
Casting light in the shadows - Extending youth work to young people in adult prisons
Ashley Shearar Young Adult Justice Expert -
Room: Conway 5(upstairs)
Reconnect with Mixit mahi - straight up and real
Wendy Preston, Izadine Ahmat Abdallah, Kaviesha Abeysinghe-Perera,Oscar Arnold,Sajal Taneja
The Mixit Charitable Trust -
Room: Bealey 1 (downstairs)
Valentine Tauamiti The Youth Impact Foundation
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Room: Bealey 2(downstairs)
Building NightWise: Creating safety without fear or blame
Jules Puckle, Sylvia Bellingham Rape Prevention EducationEvaluation of the first phase of the Youth Hub CHCH
Harriet Fraser University of CanterburyLearnings from Auckland’s largest youth centre
Conin Bowker Shore JunctionYoung people are diverse, and they need diverse housing options
Danielle Marra Waipuna Young Parents Development team. Rachel Taege Christchurch Methodist Mission Youth Hub Housing. Tania Smith Christchurch Methodist Mission Youth Housing -
Room: Bealey 3(downstairs)
Hosted by Ember Innovations and The Kings Trust
Un-conferencing is a participant-led session format that flips the traditional conference model—attendees set the agenda, spark the discussion, and shape the outcomes. It’s an open, flexible space to explore shared interests, dive deeper into topics, and connect through spontaneous conversation and collaboration.
-
Room: Bealey 4&5 (downstairs)
12.15pm
WĀ TINA / LUNCH
1.15pm
Concurrent session D | Click on the down arrow for more session information
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Room: Conway 1(upstairs)
“It’s about no shame, no blame – just support” Māngai Whakatipu
Lucia Campbell-Reeves, Pado Reid, Society of Youth Health Professionals Aotearoa (SYHPANZ)Supporting Rangatahi Impacted by cancer
Sasha Finlay Canteen AotearoaEmpowering futures: Exploring the role of school nurses and rangatahi wellbeing in New Zealand
Lara Wall University of WaikatoPresentation to be confirmed
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Room: Conway 2 (upstairs)
The new digital sexual landscape – Equipping the youth workforce
Nikki Denholm The Light ProjectStarting early: The role of RSE in addressing harmful online sexual material with rangatahi Pip Merhtens – The Collaborative
From wolf whistles to catfishing! Responding to the shifting landscape of sexualised behaviour in 2025
Rebekah Fraser, Lyn Jansen Stop ServicesSexting, nudes, and sextortion: Helping young people stay safe online Neysa Koizumi, The Collaborative Trust & Youth Development Champions Project
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Room: Conway 3 (upstairs)
Tou Ake Mana: Whirinaki ka eke ki runga
Justina Webster, Sharn Webster, Jordan Pahina, Aria Webster-Pahina School of Social WorkFocus on young women’s wellbeing
Zeta Mohn YWCA of HamiltonAll bodies and all desires: Sexual wellbeing Aotearoa’s new programme for people with intellectual disabilities
Leah Rothman Sexual Wellbeing AotearoaKo Au, Whanau, Whanaungatanga, Whakawhanaungatanga – Creating FASD supports through connections
Tania Henderson, The Collaborative Trust & Youth Development Champions Project -
Room: Conway 4(upstairs)
This workshop offers an opportunity to address a critical issue facing our young people and communities. Collaboratively facilitated by a working group of experienced youth workers, we invite you to engage with a crucial new resource designed to support young people. Drawing on lessons learned and as a positive, proactive response ongoing pervasive radicalisation, we will delve into understanding the evolving faces of white supremacy and introduce the 'radicalisation funnel'. This is not just a presentation, it's a call to action and we need your insights. Review the draft resource, offer your invaluable input, and help us refine this tool for other youth workers. Ara Taiohi
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Room: Conway 5(upstairs)
Youth development within a Hawaiiki Hou workshop
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Room: Bealey 1 (downstairs)
Practical applications of intersectionality workshop
Elbie Burnett Northwest Anglican Parish -
Room: Bealey 2 (downstairs)
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Room: Bealey 3(downstairs)
Hosted by Ember Innovations and The Kings Trust
Un-conferencing is a participant-led session format that flips the traditional conference model—attendees set the agenda, spark the discussion, and shape the outcomes. It’s an open, flexible space to explore shared interests, dive deeper into topics, and connect through spontaneous conversation and collaboration.
-
Room: Bealey 4&5 (downstairs)
Strengths-based practice and mana in positive youth development workshop
Penny Prescott, Angelina Tivalu Youth Development Champions Project
2.45pm
PARAMANAWA / AFTERNOON TEA - GRAB AND GO, with a gelato
AFTERNOON PLENARY SESSION
including Chris Jansen
*Note music will be apart of the session
3.05pm
4.05pm
INVOLVE 2025 finishes