RASNZ, New Zealand's refugee health and wellbeing agency (www.rasnz.co.nz) has recently engaged in a collaborative venture involving the Umma Trust, Ethnic Youth Trust, Ministry of Social Development, ASB Community Trust, and refugee advocacy groups to establish the RYAN (Refugee Youth Action Network) initiative.

The purpose of RYAN is to create an environment which motivates and inspires young people to take on ways of thinking and behaving which lead to full participation in an inclusive New Zealand society. One key strand of RYAN is comprehensive career assessment and guidance and preparation for training, work readiness and job experience.

Expressions of interest are invited from leading, innovative and highly competent career practitioners and coaches. You must be prepared to learn to work cross-culturally and in relevant, responsive ways to help our young people set and attain their goals. You must be committed to helping our young people realise their vast potential in training, education, job placement, and career path action.

The first phase of the project is presently underway, with the anticipated roll-out of the third phase involving the Career Path strand in early 2011. Expressions of interest are invited from Career Practitioners and Services to prepare the consultations regarding the nature, extent and costs of career guidance and coaching.

The preferred provider may be contracted during the launch of the full RYAN project in early 2011. EOI's should be addressed to Dr Arif Saeid, Manager, Community Services stating your organisation's qualifications, experience in working with people from multi-cultural and immigrant backgrounds, how you would approach the task, and summary of your fees. Deadline for submissions in the initial round is 15 September, 2010.

Shortlisted providers will be interviewed and the preferred provider selected by the end of October with preparation to go operational in early 2010. EOI proposals to admin@rasnz.co.nz with subject heading RYAN Career Strand EOI.

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