Tauwhiro Taiohi (YWiSS)

Tauwhiro Taiohi - Youth Workers in Secondary Schools (YWiSS) is a low decile secondary school-based youth worker service for rangatahi to improve their school attendance, engagement, achievement, and wellbeing.

The transition to secondary school is often a challenging time for rangatahi, particularly the move up to year 9. 

As part of the Prime Minister's youth mental health project, youth workers trained in mental health issues now work in selected low decile secondary schools.

The youth workers mentor rangatahi who are at risk of, or are actively disengaging from school. The aim is to improve their school attendance, engagement, achievement and oranga, with an emphasis on mental health.

The service is available to students and their whānau, at no cost to them. The youth workers are contracted by NGO providers, and funded by us.

Find out more

For more information, or to request additional resources please contact your Māori, Partnerships and Communities regional advisor.

Published: March 13, 2017 · Updated: September 28, 2023