Extended Families works with a group of volunteers who believe that having joy in your life and being a part of your community is important for everyone. To that end, we support children and young people with a disability aged 0-30 across Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula to build friendships and connect with their community. Extended Families supports diverse families and is seeking the same in our volunteers. No matter who you are or where you’re from, we would love to hear from you! No specific qualifications are required, however a minimum of 12 months commitment to the program is requested. Our volunteers all bring different life experiences and skill sets to the role.

Volunteer Mentor Needed! Location: Coburg

Ava is an active 8 year old girl with an outgoing personality. She has been diagnosed on the Autism Spectrum as having Asperger’s Syndrome. She lives at home with her parents and older sister. Her family have very few supports in their own network and would love to see Ava having the opportunity to get out into the community on a regular basis with the support of a Volunteer Mentor.

Ava has lots of interests and it would be great to see her connect with someone who may share some of these. She loves animals (especially dogs), playgrounds, climbing, swimming, playing ball games and other active pursuits like bike riding, bushwalking and being outdoors in nature. Some places she may like to visit with her mentor friend could include parks, zoos, museums like Scienceworks, climbing centres, and as she also loves to read, so may enjoy going to the library to borrow books!

Ava struggles with her social skills and also has some dietary restrictions. These challenges can sometimes cause her to feel anxious or frustrated. She would greatly benefit from regular support from a mentor friend who has the ability to be calm and patient and work alongside the family on the best ways to support Ava when she is feeling this way. Ava’s family would love to see her supported by a young adult female who could assist her to practice her social skills, whilst enjoying regular time out in the community with her new friend. A fortnightly visit or outing would work well for the family, who are open to this occurring anytime during the day on Saturdays or Sundays with some flexibility for weekdays after school.

If you are someone who is fun, energetic and has a calm and patient approach with kids, we would love to hear from you to consider your suitability for the role of Volunteer Mentor for Ava.

Extended Families is an organisation committed to child safety and the freedom from abuse and exploitation of all people with a disability