Youth Engagement Head Moves on to the Ministry of Education

Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology head of Community and Youth Engagement Olivia Dhanjee will be taking her expertise to new heights. 

The long-standing Toi Ohomai staff member will be taking up a newly created role at the Ministry of Education as Chief Advisor Education to Employment. 

Olivia says she wants to thank all of the ākonga who have chosen to learn with Toi Ohomai.

"E rau rangatira mā, tēnā koutou katoa. Ko te tumanako e piki ana te ora i waenga i a koutou ko tō whānau i tēnei wā nei. 

"As I sit here working through the last week as Head of Youth and Community Engagement at Toi Ohomai, I’m reflecting on the incredible privilege I’ve had of leading the rangatahi engagement and transition workstream for this organisation."

She says that while the aim of the Youth Engagement team is to support students to succeed in their chosen programme of study, it is clear that tertiary education is more than the knowledge and skills students learn.

"It is also about the relationships and connections they make with their peers, teaching staff and prospective employers - applied and vocational learning is particularly important now more than ever.

"To the wonderful school and kura staff that I’ve had the opportunity to work with over the last 13 years, I have so much admiration for the relentless mahi that you continually show up for every day, more so than ever in a post COVID-19 environment.  Kia kaha, kia maia, kia manawanui."   

Olivia will move into her new role at the Ministry of Education on 14 March.