Friendship Mentor - Connections Program
VolunteeringACTOur Friendship Mentors are matched with a participant and accompanies them as they reconnect with their community.
You will be in a unique position to provide friendship and one-to-one support to a participant, as they reconnect with their community.
Friendship Mentor Process
- Meet with coordinator
- Attend information sessions
Complete Mentor training and Volunteer Induction
- Wait to be matched with a participant (please be aware that matching is not always immediate as time and care needs to be taken in making successful matches)
- Meet with participant and coordinator
- Review match
- Arrange and attend social activities with the participant fortnightly
- Report progress to coordinator
- Report any incidents or concerns by following program procedures and within the timeframes stated in the procedures. (Training in program procedures will form part of the compulsory training session)
Support Provided: In addition to ongoing training, Connection Coordinator will check in with Friendship Mentors within a week of their first volunteer/participant social engagement, and continuing checks ins will be scheduled. Check in’s can occur face to face, or over the phone, depending on convenience. VolunteeringACT volunteers also have access to counselling through VACT’s EAP services.