Since 2017, VOYCE – Whakarongo Mai have provided advocacy and connection services for the children of New Zealand in state care, as well as those who have transitioned out of care. The Todd Foundation has been involved with VOYCE since its beginning, and the organisation was co-designed by children with care experience for children with care experience.
Gabriella Guy – head of the Insights and Impacts team at VOYCE – explains that VOYCE was established to give young people in the care system a voice, as tamariki said they often feel unheard during their care experiences. VOYCE aims to influence individual care positively and collectively affect change in the broader care system.
The breadth of the work VOYCE does is varied, including building connections for young people in care to help them feel less alone, equipping them with essential life skills and leadership skills, and addressing broader issues within the care system.
Gabriella says there are young people in care who credit VOYCE with supporting transformative long-term outcomes that have changed the course of their lives. A report released in February of this year on the impact of VOYCE on the lives of children in state care showed that the organisation has contributed to many positive changes for these young people. Several young people in care described VOYCE as supporting them in maintaining contact with their siblings, and in some cases, improving their relationships.
"I have a better relationship with my brother, caregiver and VOYCE"
Another care-experienced young person described the regular contact from their support person, helping them to feel valued, and encouraging them to seek help with their mental health.
The VOYCE team also organises community events for children in care, particularly around celebration days that are often experienced differently. For example, over Easter this year, the Hawke's Bay team delivered Easter packs to children in care, with a focus on those living in group homes. The packs included colouring, word searches, DIY bunny ears, cookies to decorate, recipes, chocolate eggs, and toys, bringing joy, a sense of connection, and a little bit of Easter magic to the children.
The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care had a scope that primarily covered events up until 1999, and VOYCE felt it was important to highlight that abuse in care did not end in 1999. They supported a group of young people in creating their own report about their experiences and what they believed was important for young people currently in care. This report included a series of recommendations and was presented to the Prime Minister at the time of the tabling of the full report in Parliament. VOYCE felt that young people needed to be heard in this context, even if the inquiry's scope did not specifically cover them.
On the horizon for VOYCE are plans to establish a foster care museum in New Zealand, showcasing the experiences of foster care. The pilot pop-up museum in Christchurch showcased artefacts from care-experienced young people and received good attendance, particularly from local Oranga Tamariki staff. The initiative aims to highlight positive stories from care-experienced young people, countering the stigma that all experiences in care are negative.
Gabriella explains that support from the Todd Foundation partnership enables VOYCE to maintain its advocacy independence, and our multi-year funding agreement has bolstered VOYCE's confidence in planning and execution. She says that another way of looking at our partnership is that support from organisations like ours shows care-experienced young people that there are organisations outside of government that care about their well-being.
