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Volunteer |
The award winning Volunteer Youth Mentor Service seeks to build caring and committed relationships between community members and young people. Such relationships aim to build these young people’s self esteem and confidence, provide them with positive alternatives and networks and assist them to achieve their goals. Since SYC’s inception, volunteers have played a key role in providing services to meet the needs of young people.
The volunteer youth mentor project offers three forms of mentoring – Youth Mentoring, Peer Mentoring and Workplace Mentoring.
Youth mentors work alongside SYC staff to provide young people with practical support in a range of areas including housing, education, training, employment and recreation.
While the focus is on practical assistance and the achievement of goals, HYPA™ youth mentors also provide a great deal of emotional support and encouragement to a young person by listening to them and believing in them.
Peer mentors build positive relationships between junior and senior students. SYC is committed to developing confidence, compassion, respect and resilience in the junior students and their mentors.
Workplace mentors support young people to successfully complete structured work placements that will prepare them for employment. Workplace mentors help young people prepare for entering the workforce, negotiate the work environment and workplace relationships, develop necessary employment skills and a positive work ethic. Having a workplace mentor enables young people to build their confidence and self esteem.
Volunteer Youth Mentors:
¨ provide young people with support in a range of areas including housing, education, training, employment and recreation ¨ “Value add” to the services provided by SYC staff ¨ work within group programs and individual mentoring relationships
Volunteer Youth Mentors assist young people who are:
¨ accessing SYC for assistance ¨ aged between 12 and 25 years ¨ may or may not be attending school or working ¨ experiencing a range of barriers making it difficult for them to successfully undertake employment, education or training, or participate in the community in a meaningful way ¨ socially isolated and lack positive role models in their lives ¨ may have had contact with the Juvenile Justice System
Ways you can help:
¨ provide tutoring in maths, English etc ¨ if you play sport – run clinics etc ¨ join programmes as a support person e.g. Bronzed Up©
To become involved, mentors are required to:
¨ Be over the age of 18 ¨ Complete a police check form ¨ Supply the names of two referees ¨ Participate in an interview ¨ Undertake the volunteer training program, including mandatory notification training ¨ Attend ongoing training sessions ¨ Be reliable and consistent in their involvement in the project ¨ Have good communication and interpersonal skills ¨ Be available to spend about 2-3 hours each week working within group programs or one-on-one with their mentee ¨ Be willing to participate in training and attend regular support sessions ¨ Be a positive role model ¨ Have a sense of fun and enjoy the company of young people
Training for Mentors covers:
¨ The roles of a youth mentor ¨ Creating effective mentoring relationships ¨ Establishing boundaries ¨ Values and ethics behind mentoring ¨ Confidentiality ¨ Communication skills ¨ Getting to know the client group ¨ Mandated notification and duty of care ¨ Policies, procedures and program guidelines
Volunteer mentors receive ongoing support and encouragement from SYC staff.
If you are interested, please contact the volunteer youth mentor team on 8211 8466 or email volunteer@syc.net.au. |
