Family and Community Engagement

Helping Teenagers Manage Friendship Issues

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Free Mental Health First Aid Workshop 

Family Support Services - Catholic Care Sandhurst

Mentors (especially male mentors) wanted in Kyabram for the MATES Youth Mentoring Program

MATES is a youth mentoring program which matches a young person (mentee) with a volunteer (mentor) from the local community.

With the strong support of the schools and community, MATES aims to:  

• Mentor - provide an additional positive role model in the lives of young people
• Assist - assist and extend the positive life experiences of young people
• Trust - model a trusting relationship between the mentor and mentee
• Engage - engage young people more into their schools and local communities
• Skills - identify and enhance the skills of young people

MATES is run by Campaspe Youth Partnerships in collaboration with Kyabram P-12 College and St Augustine’s College in Kyabram and other schools in Campaspe. We currently have four mentors meeting weekly with students from St Augustine’s College and one mentor and mentee meeting at Kyabram P-12 College.

The benefits for the young person are improved self-confidence and feelings of self-worth and helping students ‘get back on track’ with their learning. The whole community benefits as it creates positive links between generations. Evidence shows that youth mentoring positively impacts on the lives of both young people and mentors.

Most of the young people say the best part of the program is “to have someone to talk to” and “to have someone to hang out with”.

To become involved in the program, Mentors need to be over 18 years of age and have good communication skills that are adaptive to working with young people. They are required to complete four hours of training and to commit to one year with 40-60 min ‘catch ups’ per week during school terms. All visits will be at the school. The mentor will need to adhere to the MATES Code of Conduct, Child Safe Standards and to all school and MATES Policies and Procedures. A Working with Children Check will be required which is free for volunteers.

We are running Mentor Training on Monday 27th May, 2pm-4pm and Wednesday 29th May, 2pm-4pm at Kyabram Community & Learning Centre.

Would you like to find out more about the MATES Mentoring Program or register for the training?

Contact Cheryl Sweeney Campaspe Youth Partnerships on 0400 896 295 or by email youthpartnerships@kclc.com.au or ring the CCLLEN Office on 5482 6055.