Child, Youth and Families - Youth Mentor

Change a young person’s life.

Become a Youth Mentor and make a difference to a young person’s life.

 
Youth Mentor Program supports young people who are between the ages of 12 and 17, and may be experiencing challenges with family, personal and educational circumstances, to build positive relationships with caring and supportive mentors from the community. The program offers a way for responsible adults to make a positive difference in a young person’s life, by spending time with them and being a positive influence.
 
Mentoring can have many benefits for a young person including:
  • Enhancing their social and emotional wellbeing
  • Developing and improving social skills and self-esteem
  • Helping them to make better choices

 

Youth mentoring programmes can improve outcomes across academic, behavioural, emotional, and social areas of young people’s lives. (DuBois et al.,2011).

 

What’s involved
Mentoring includes aspects of being a friend, a role model and someone who can help build a young person’s self awareness and confidence, by simply being there for them.
 
Mentors spend a few hours a week with a young person for 3 months and then fortnightly for the remainder of the 12 month mentorship.
 
Some of the activities that mentors, and mentees can do together include:
  • Cooking
  • Board games
  • Going to the movies or to the footy
  • Playing sport
  • Assisting with homework
  • Going on a day trip

 

Becoming a Mentor
Volunteer mentors come from all walks of life, young and old, and have a variety of skills and abilities. Mentors must be:
 
• Interested in supporting a young person
• Aged 18 and older
• Non-judgemental, flexible, patient, and reliable
• Based in and around the local government areas of Whittlesea, Nillumbik, Banyule, Darebin, Yarra, Moreland and Hume
 
 
“I have received so much more from the mentorship than I expected; it has broadened my world view and helped me to be more mindful of maintaining a positive thought life.”
-Uniting Mentor 
 
Uniting conducts a thorough assessment of volunteers to ensure the safety of both young people and volunteer mentors.
 
 
The process to become a mentor includes:
  • Participating in an information session to learn more about the program, the expectations and have any questions answered
  • Submitting an application form
  • Attending an interview
  • Completing the required checks including Police and Working with Children
  • Being endorsed by senior staff Uniting supports mentors in the program in a number of ways:
  • Induction and training
  • Peer support sessions
  • Professional development sessions
  • Regular supervision and reviews

 

For further information on becoming a mentor, please contact Uniting  Youth Mentoring Coordinator on (03) 8401 0100 or email volunteers@vt.uniting.org. 

Uniting is a child safe organisation and is committed in everyday practice to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all children, at all times. As a ‘child safe’ organisation, employment with Uniting is subject to a satisfactory national (and international where relevant) police check and relevant Working with Children Check in your State prior to commencement of any paid or unpaid work and/or participation in any service or undertaking.

 

It is a condition of engagement that all eligible workforce in Victoria receive the COVID-19 vaccination and supporting evidence may be requested in order to perform duties at any of Uniting’s workplaces.

 

Uniting is also committed to equal opportunity and ensuring the workplace is reflective of the community. We encourage people from different backgrounds to apply, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and people with a disability.

Qualifications Required

  • National Police Check Must be at least Completed
  • Working with Children or Vulnerable People check Must be at least Completed