Southland’s Forward Focus

As the Southland dairy industry has grown, what were once fairly static and stable communities have seen large numbers of people from around the country and overseas move in and out each year.

Many don’t have the support networks of family and friends. Working long hours in isolated areas has led to drug and alcohol abuse for some, along with debt problems because of poor budgeting. This, in turn, is contributing to relationship breakdowns.

In 2008, concerned at the struggles some dairy workers were experiencing, Richard Kyte (a member of The Salvation Army Winton Corps) put together a six-week programme called Forward Focus to help farm workers get back on their feet. Four years and five courses later, this course is proving a real success in the farming community. Some graduates have returned to speak to new groups. They have also recommended the course to friends and employees.

Forward Focus is aimed at those aged from 17-35. It helps people explore their life choices so they can thrive in their work roles and general living. Those taking the course cover decision-making, goal-setting, finances, health and social skills, along with other practical topics. Forward Focus has been funded through The Salvation Army’s ‘Unleashing Fund’. A recent development has been the addition of a course for Filipino farm workers.

Richard says the people who have fronted up to the course have been a great mix of talented people with a strong will to give life another shot. Forward Focus has created a space and opportunity for them to take stock and think about why they are working so hard and what they want to achieve from this. This, in turn, has led to visible changing patterns in behaviour for course-goers, along with more focused decision-making.

Forming a tight-knit group is vital during the early stages of the course, says Richard. One of the strategies he employs is using activities such as flying a light aircraft. Not only does this help people interact with one another, but it also helps them listen to instructions.

Motivational speakers such as nine-time Coast to Coast winner Steve Gurney and double amputee and mountaineer Mark Inglis are brought in to speak to those on the course. Both men have a good knack for lifting people toward their goals. ‘We’ve had Steve Gurney come in twice,’ says Richard. He’s spoken to [the people] about their goals, making sure that these are their goals and not the goals of the dairy industry.’

One of the common issues The Salvation Army has found among those involved in the course is personal debt. Richard says some farm workers don’t know how to handle their money, which has seen them going backward rather than forward. ‘We’ve found that the average debt for couples is around $20,000, which is quite shocking.’ ‘Many people are in debt just because they don’t know how to manage their money—so we look at good debt versus bad debt, and [explain] how to get out of it. Of course, debt isn’t just a dairy industry problem; it’s something we see all through society.’

One couple that has benefited from Forward Focus’s financial help were dairy farmers $40,000 in debt through overspending on hire purchase and credit cards. Knowing they needed to make wiser financial decisions, the pair signed up for Forward Focus. They’ve acted on the advice they received and are now back on track with their finances and have their own business as contract milkers.

Richard says the driving force behind putting the course together was his desire to help people and his determination to live out the principles of Jesus Christ. ‘People always ask us [at The Salvation Army], “Why are you doing this?” And we tell them, “Because we believe in Jesus Christ and he taught us to give and not expect something back.” We don’t preach—we help people get to their goals and think about what they want out of life.’

 

By John Lazo-Ron (abridged from War Cry, 6 October 2012, p19)