Youth mentoring organisation Raise Foundation has announced it will run its youth mentoring program for the first time at Oberon High School in 2023.
This is in addition to the schools already benefiting from the program including Grovedale College, North Geelong Secondary College and Western
Heights College.
Up to 15 students from each school will benefit from participating in the Raise early intervention mentoring program in 2023.
Based in high schools across Australia, Raise provides young people with a caring, independent volunteer mentor who shows up each week to listen and support the student they are matched with.
Raise delivers youth mentoring programs across Australia, recruiting and training volunteers who are matched with students who stand to benefit most from an independent adult to talk to, someone who shows up, just for them, every week.
“Every day we see the positive impact our mentors make,” Founder and CEO of Raise Vicki Condon AM said.
“When our young people feel valued, heard and supported they flourish. Through our comprehensive evaluation we can identify significant improvement in their ability to ask for help, resilience, engagement with school and hope for the future. A mentor brings a lot to a young person.”
Supporting young people through Raise’s in-school, early intervention mentoring program requires members of the community to volunteer their time for 23 weeks of the year.
“There is a growing need for mentors in our programs right across Australia. In Victoria we are looking for over 500 volunteer mentors to support year 8 and 9 students at these local high schools,” acting state manager for Victoria Joanne Comerford said.
“Once registered and screened, our highly qualified programs team will train volunteers and equip them with all the skills they need to make an exceptional youth mentor. It’s a very rewarding way to give back to your community, in a year where Raise Victoria reaches 10 years of age.”
To volunteer to mentor with Raise or to find out more about program dates and times head to raise.org.au
Programs running in Greater Geelong:
Grovedale College – Tuesdays 1.30pm to 3.30pm
North Geelong Secondary College – Tuesdays 9.47am to 11.47am
Western Heights College – Mondays 1.20pm to 3.20pm
Oberon High School – day and time tbc
