Personalised approach to learner support powers Youth Guarantee Success

The impact of that approach was celebrated at Semester One completion ceremonies held at our Mt Albert and Waitākere Campuses last week, where ten Youth Guarantee students graduated from their respective Level 3 programmes.

The celebrations brought together students, their whānau and kaimahi from our Youth Guarantee and Student Support Services teams to recognise not only academic achievement but also the wrap-around support that was crucial throughout their learning journey.

For many of these learners, Youth Guarantee provides a vital pathway into tertiary education that may otherwise have been out of reach due to academic, financial or social barriers.

Student Support and Scholarships Advisor Duzan Castellanos says they have deliberately evolved their support model in response to the changing needs of students.

“Historically, the programme was designed to support students who had not completed NCEA Level 2 or 3 qualifications, helping them re-engage with education and progress toward completion through mainly financial support,” Duzan says.

“However, over the past two years we’ve seen a growing number of students experiencing challenges around socialisation and connection, especially since the COVID pandemic. Our response to that trend is a more flexible and personalised support model that addresses those needs.”

Currently, 29 learners were enrolled in the Youth Guarantee programme at our Mt Albert and Waitākere Campuses in Semester One with around 30 expected for Semester Two.

But this could increase after the recent Government Budget 2026 announcement to fund 1,000 additional Youth Guarantee places, raising total capacity from 4,500 to 5,500 places nationwide.

Duzan says his team acts as a link between Youth Guarantee learners and our existing support systems.

“This is a crucial role, as we offer many services and support, but students can often feel unsure about where to go for help,” Mr Castellanos says.

“We are well-connected to all these services, which allows us to guide students efficiently and follow up on their progress. This support can range from financial assistance and mental health support to academic and learning support, among others.”

The results have been encouraging. The programme has maintained completion rates of between 90 and 93 per cent over the past three years at our Mt Albert and Waitākere Campuses, significantly supporting learners to continue their educational journeys into higher-level study.

One of this semester’s graduates is Malennie-Hope Mareela, who previously attended Mount Albert Grammar School and enrolled in the Bridgepoint programme at the start of 2026 to gain the qualifications needed to pursue a career in social practice.

“I decided to come to Unitec because it offers courses that support my goals and career pathway,” she says.

Malennie-Hope credits the programme with helping remove barriers that could have affected her ability to study.

“The Youth Guarantee support helped me with my studies by providing a travel allowance, so I didn’t need to worry about how to get to campus, and also by supporting me through my challenges.”

She will now progress into Level 4 Social Practice in Semester Two, with aspirations to work in social services supporting children and communities.

Her transition reflects our focus on supporting students beyond the completion of their Youth Guarantee programme.

Duzan says staff worked closely with Malennie-Hope to ensure she had access to financial support before beginning her next programme, connecting her with Student Support kaimahi to complete her StudyLink application and providing information about scholarships and other assistance.

“Our work doesn’t stop when students complete their Youth Guarantee programme,” he says. “We focus on supporting continuity into further study and helping students successfully navigate their next steps.”

Lucian Carter-Bennett is another example of the programme’s long-term impact.

The seventeen-year-old completed a Level Three course with Youth Guarantee in 2025 and is now studying Level 4 Nursing, with plans to progress into the Bachelor of Nursing at Waitākere.

“I don’t think I would be where I am now if the Youth Guarantee pathway wasn’t available,” he says.

“Academically, I’ve improved a lot. I can do things on my own now because of the support people gave me and the motivation they provided.”

Lucian says the programme not only provided financial assistance but also helped him build confidence and connections with others.

His experience highlights the importance of our wraparound support approach, which combines academic guidance with pastoral care and wellbeing support.

This year, our Youth Guarantee team introduced several new initiatives to strengthen learner engagement, giving them greater input into activities and support services.

Based on initial feedback, they came up with a more flexible follow-up system that allows students to choose whether they engage through face-to-face meetings, online sessions or phone calls.

Youth Guarantee Lead Byron Iosia says listening to students has become a key part of the programme’s ongoing development.

“This year we introduced new survey systems that allow students to help shape activities and support services from the beginning of the semester. It’s about ensuring their voices are heard and that support is relevant to their needs,” Byron explains.

The Youth Guarantee team also maintains regular communication with programme coordinators across our campuses, allowing staff to closely monitor student progress and intervene early when additional support may be required.

Duzan says flexibility remains central to the programme’s success.

“We are actively adapting our approach to respond to the real and evolving needs of our students. Although this work is still developing, we’re already seeing increased engagement, stronger commitment from learners and positive outcomes,” he says.

Between 20 to 25 positions for Youth Guarantee are allocated to our Mt Albert and Waitākere Campuses per year. This number is allocated based on government funding and determines the number of students we are able to enrol each year.

“These places are then distributed across the programmes we support, taking into account the number of applicants, demand within each programme, and where we believe this support will have the most positive impact. We also consider any specific requests from the schools,” says Duzan.

With additional government investment in Youth Guarantee announced by the Government, MIT and Unitec is looking forward to more young people having access to a pathway that can reconnect them with education and future career opportunities

For many of our learners graduating from this pathway, the Semester One completion ceremony marked not the end, but the beginning of the next stage of their tertiary education journey.