Miranda Palmer
Ara Taiohi Role: Korowai Tupu Accredited Member
How did you get into youth work?
It took a while to realise I was most happy seeing others succeed, I went through 2 years of music school and worked overseas for a bit before I made the great change. It was a friend who told me that the happiest she saw me was when I was celebrating and encouraging others, and next semester I went in for an interview at University of Auckland and also signed up to teach dance to youth with special needs!
What is the kaupapa that drives your youth work practice?
‘Nothing about us without us’ And that I need to be the person I needed when I was young and struggling. Teaching our young people how to ask for help and help others is going to heal the world.
What does being part of Korowai Tupu mean to you?
Korowai Tupu helps me to feel pride in the work I do and makes me feel tuhono to other youth workers. I feel encouraged to engage in mahi to help new youth workers because Korowai Tupu is also so encouraging to new/young workers. I appreciate the flow of updated info and resources and also how patient the comms/admin staff are with all the requests I’ve had in the past few years! Because of how involved Ara Taiohi is with tikanga Māori, it has made me even more determined to continue to learn and grow myself in my work with Māori rangatahi and be the best I can for them as a Pākehā youth worker.