Inspiring the Future is an exciting programme that connects schools to local volunteers from the world of work so that young people can learn about different jobs.
At an Inspiring the Future event, students get the chance to kōrero with volunteer role models from their own communities who do regular, everyday jobs – people just like you.
The aim is to broaden young people’s horizons and challenge stereotypes formed at a young age that can limit their potential. It’s a great way for them to learn about different careers and why people love doing them.
What's involved?
- To get started, you’ll be asked to complete an online profile and complete a criminal record check.
- After this, your profile will become visible to schools on the Inspiring the Future website and teachers can invite you to participate in an event near you (or online).
- When a school invites you to their event you’ll receive an email asking you to log into the website and find out more.
- The invitation will include all relevant details such as students' age, number of students, length of event, what they want students to learn and any other specifics.
- Reply promptly to let the school know if you can attend the event. Invitations expire after 7 days.
- You can accept or decline the invite based on your availability.
- At the event you will be one of several role models talking to a group of students. The number of role models depends on how many students are involved with an event. It may be one class, a whole year group, or an entire (small) school).
- You will get a series of emails leading up to the event with instructions on how to prepare and reminders.
- An induction role model guide and videos are provided to help you prepare.
How do events work? In-person events:
- 20 questions: Students ask questions to try to guess role models’ jobs.
- The reveal: Role models reveal their job alongside a prop that represents it.
- Discussion groups: Students break into smaller groups to ask role models questions and learn more about their story.
Online events work:
- Investigation sessions: Students spend time with role models in breakout groups to find out about their jobs and pathways.
- The pitch: Everyone comes together for a short pitch from each role model about their mahi.
- Show and tell: Students choose which job they’d most like to learn more about, and then go into new breakout groups to hear from their chosen role model.
What do volunteers gain?
No matter what your role is or how you got there, you can be a role model to tamariki and you never know how your story might inspire them to consider opportunities they never knew existed.
Requirements
- Passionate about your job. You can talk about a previous job if you want to, or if you are currently unemployed.
- Interested in creating a better future for tamariki.
- It doesn't matter if you've been in your job for one week or 30 years. It's important to show young people all experiences.
- Ability to fill out a profile about yourself online.
- Respond promptly to event invites you receive by email.
- You are responsible for your own travel to and from events.
- All volunteers need to complete a Criminal Record Check because keeping students safe is important.
- Read the role model guide provided.
- Prepare a 2-3 minute spiel about your job.
- Bring along a prop or uniform to events that represents your job.
- We'll send you an online survey after an Inspiring the Future event, it will help us improve if you fill it out.
A Ministry of Justice background check is required for this role.
Time commitment
You can accept or decline as many event invitations as you wish based on your availability.
Events last 2-3 hours. You should allow time to travel to and from the event and up to 1 hour for preparation.
Getting started
The first step is to express your interest by filling out the form below.
We will then put you in touch directly with the organisation for more information on the role and how to proceed.
Ref: 1972
Youth & Children
Volunteer South's office is closed from Friday 20th December until Monday January 6th. Many organisations listing roles online will also be taking a break. During this time your requests to connect will go through, however there may be some delay in you hearing from the organisations you select. Please be patient and if you have not heard back from them by mid January email them directly and give them a nudge. Thank you and have a wonderful holiday season and summer.
Enquire about this role:
Dunedin