This program connects disengaged youth with a local community member who can provide mentoring and support to build life skills and self-confidence.

The program focuses on children aged 12-16, who would benefit from the support of a mentor. It aims to assist the mentee to overcome participation barriers and actively participate in their community.

Local volunteers become adult mentors and work collaboratively with a mentee on a community project of the mentee’s own choosing.

Program Objectives:

1.      Engage young people through quality mentoring with a focus on building confidence, self-esteem and communication skills

2.      Enable young people to overcome barriers to community participation by developing team work, leadership and decision-making skills

3.      Recognise the positive development of young people and the contributions that they make in their local communities

4.      Build the capacity of mentors to provide quality mentoring to young people and to volunteer in their communities.

Under the program, the mentee will receive a minimum of 35 hours mentoring – to include at least 20 hours of one-on-one and face-to-face mentoring – one hour per week.

Each Volunteer Mentor will receive quality training to equip them for the role.