Army course boost for young adults

Kyle Messent, former New Zealand Second Lieutenant Graeme Vercoe, Rihara Haira, Sonny Tansey, David Jonathan, Rotorua Mayor Kevin Winters, Patrina Zoing and Richard Leathers. Photo / Ben Fraser

Rotorua young people are finding success through a motivational training course.

Nine Rotorua youth recently graduated from the Limited Service Volunteers (LSV) course run by the New Zealand Defence Force at Burnham Military Camp in Christchurch. The graduates had a celebration morning tea with Rotorua Mayor Kevin Winters at the Rotorua District Council Chambers.

Bay of Plenty Work and Income regional community liaison advisor Julie Hill said young people aged between 17-25 could take part. Past participants have come back a changed person.

"It gives them self belief, self motivation and self discipline," she said.

"They go down there, not knowing what to expect and in week one they're not too impressed. But by week five, they don't want to come home."

While the course takes place in the military environment and uses military facilities, a large part of the content is led by external providers, and the course had a strong focus on achieving employment-related outcomes for participants.

"We work really closely with them, they have phone conversations with their case manager to find a clear employment or training direction when they come back," Ms Hill said.

"The priority for us is to link them with an employer."

Ms Hill said graduates are appealing to businesses looking for workers.

"[Employers] are really happy with them as they've developed work ethics and discipline," she said.