Agency
Agency is supporting rangatahi to make good choices and informed decisions. We can encourage their positive growth by providing choices and opportunities.
We can support them to think about the consequences of their decisions before they take actions so they can take informed responsibility for their choices. This way they learn how to make good decisions that last.
Thanks to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment for funding the research that created these resources (MAUX2006).
This work by J. Sanders, R. Munford, J. Webster, J. Mercier, D. Abbott & L. Liebenberg is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Kaimahi who support rangatahi agency:
To explore this element in more depth go to the PARTH in practice reflection sheet. |
"Agency" orientated rangatahi voices
Pete's voice
Pete reflects on the difference between the 'real' people and the 'fakes'.
Vince shares an experience of acknowledging and respecting rangatahi agency.
It was only two weeks ago a rangatahi I am working with gave me his new address because he just needed time where people didn’t know where he was.
I sort of knew what area he was in and what area he was working in. We kept in text communication, but he just needed a bit of a break from professionals related to foster care and checking up on him and seeing where he was and what he was doing.
He just needed to regain some of that control I guess. After being in residential settings for such a long time, not that he has unhappy memories from being in residential care, but just having that freedom of making his own choices and not having someone asking, ‘ok what time are you coming home?’ ‘who are you going to go see?’
So, eventually he gave me his address so I can go see him.
Read Hine's story on creating spaces and opportunities for rangatahi collaboration.
We do things that create spaces for rangatahi to be passionate about the things we do as well.
Recently, we have given them the opportunity to jump on board and help organise some of our group events. So last year there was the Christmas party, and a few rangatahi attended preparation meetings, joined in the discussions and planned what the activities were going to look like.
To see them have that opportunity and to be part of what we do and see them become passionate about organising that event was really cool.
Agency indicators
You know you are supporting rangatahi Agency when you:
- Give choice where you can and an opportunity to be in control where it’s ok to do so.
- Check in often with the rangatahi.
- Develop and review plans together.
- Invite the rangatahi and their whānau to meetings.
- Advocate on behalf of rangatahi and show them how to advocate for themselves.
- Use pre-teaching. For example, ‘if you abscond this will be the consequence, if you choose to stay this is what will happen’. You can then come back to this conversation in the heat of the moment.
- Prep rangatahi for FGCs and other hui and make sure the rangatahi knows what to expect but also what they want.
- Create an environment where rangatahi can make choices, such as having the right people and services around them, having time and being clear about the types of choices young people do get to make.
- Are an agent of change, advocate, make links and help to create change.
Agency reflection cards
Starter resources
