Lay summary
Education is one of the strongest predictors of good health. Tamariki who achieve at school are more likely to grow up healthy and successful. There is a clear dose-response: the more school you attend, the higher your achievement. Conversely, young people who are chronically absent, stood down or drop out of school prematurely are more likely to engage in risky behaviours and to have negative health and social outcomes.
We will work with the Tāmaki community in Central Auckland exploring community-driven options for prevention and intervention for truancy, absences and stand-down. Combining western and indigenous knowledge, we will develop a multi-level, multi-sector collaboration based on the Tāmaki Makaurau Rangatahi Action Plan, the Pae ora Māori framework, and trauma-informed and tikanga-informed approaches: Acknowledging neuroscience and the effect of the past - it is not what’s wrong with you, it’s what’s happened to you (and your ancestors).