Research on Resilience

Pathways to Resilience

International youth research suggests that high-risk youth are very capable of negotiating their way in and out of social services. They are survivors, and the outcome of good negotiation is resilience and service savvy youth. But what about the services themselves? Are they meeting the needs of these youth and if so, how effective are services working with other service providers for optimum youth wellbeing?

Micheal Ungar, author and renowned family therapist leads an international youth research project from his home base, Canada, titled Pathways to Resilience. New Zealand is one of 6 countries involved with this study, Dr Jackie Sanders and Dr Robyn Munford from Massey University's School of Social Work and Social Policy gained Foundation for Research Science and Technology (FRST), funding for the New Zealand component and secured ethics approval to commence this research in 4 regions of Aotearoa.

The Donald Beasley Institute is leading the project in the Dunedin/Otago area with Dr Brigit Mirfin-Veitch as Project Manager and Maori researcher Kelly Tikao taking on the Fieldwork Co-ordinator position. The Pathways to Resilience project will interview 120 high-risk, high-service using youth, plus 120 low-service using youth over a period of 10 months. Currently, Kelly and Brigit are informing youth agencies and schools within Dunedin and surrounding areas about the project and have commenced the recruitment process. If you or your organisation are interested in this research project and may have access to potential youth participants suited to this study please call Kelly Tikao 03 479 2162 extn 208 or email