We are looking for diverse women aged 21 years plus who live on the Central Coast, or in South West Sydney and Western Sydney, (or be prepared to travel to these areas) with a strong focus in the following areas in which there is a high demand for volunteer mentors: Wollongong, Tweed Heads and Hunter Region (Newcastle and Muswellbrook). You will need to be nonjudgmental, compassionate and have time to devote and be able to attend two days of on-line training on the 10 and 11th February 2023. EOI to new submitted by 5 February. For more information on this position please contact the organisation whose details will be provided in a return email to you when you submit interest in this role online.

There are no fixed location and this won't be known until the volunteer is matched with a mentee. Once matched the location will vary depending upon where their mentee lives and where they plan to meet (cafe, park, gallery, local court etc). Some volunteers will be matched with a woman who is still serving a custodial sentence and will enter into a letter-writing mentor/mentee relationship.During this time they may wish to visit their mentee at the correctional/ transitional facility in NSW where the mentee is servicing their sentence.

The Mentor assisted by the support of the Women’s Justice Network, assists the Mentee to gain the necessary skills, confidence and direction to overcome life’s obstacles and avoid the possibility of incarceration, particularly during vulnerable periods in adolescence.

Mentoring is in-between that of a friendship and a professional relationship. Mentees often refer to their Mentors as their ‘guide’, ‘role model’ and ‘go-to person’. Mentoring is not case management or counselling, rather it is empowering a Mentee to find, and implement their own solutions whilst enhancing their social supports and networks.

Benefits: Volunteering to mentor women and girls life changing and rewarding experience to both the mentor and mentee. Our volunteer mentors describe how being a mentor enriched their lives and describe what they have learnt from the experience. "I feel I have contributed to a worthwhile organisation and mentee, I feel good about that. My mentee is so good. I have really understood patience through her, how little things matter a lot and appreciate what you have, your life’s experiences, challenges and joy." - Chris "Being there for someone in a positive way is really rewarding. I've learned how resilient and strong women are even when faced with traumatic life experiences. I have been able to see firsthand the impacts of childhood trauma and its relation to adverse life outcomes and deviance. The good thing though, is past experiences that lead individuals down the wrong path isn't definitive, people just lose their way, and seeking a mentor can help the process to get back on the right path." - Cass