Student Wellbeing
Raise Mentoring 2023 – Newsletter article | Week 7 Term 1
Raise Mentoring Program is back for 2023! Now in its third year at Brookside, the Raise Foundation will deliver the youth mentoring program across terms two, three, and part of term four for a group of up to fifteen Year 8 students. This a highly rewarding and valuable experience for mentees (and mentors!) in the past and we’re looking forward to another year of the program at Brookside.
Through mentoring, mentees will be matched with carefully selected and trained volunteers from the community who are there to be supportive, positive, and non-judgemental role models for students. Young people who graduate from the Raise Program experience growth in resilience, help-seeking skills, sense of belonging and hope for the future.
At the end of last year’s mentoring program at Brookside:
Next week, Year 8 students will hear from Laura Popescu, this year’s Raise Program Counsellor, to learn more about this great opportunity. After the student information session, we encourage students to register their interest with Mr Ryan, however, but spots are limited so get in quick! Please note that signing up does not guarantee a spot in the program.
If you have any questions about the Raise Mentoring Program, please feel free to ask Sandra Pham (School Counsellor) at the Zone.
Our Kirrip programs aim is to culturally support and encourage our Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander youth’s connections to their community and culture by allowing the young people to be the strongest versions of themselves by sharing, learning and participating in culture with other young people.
The YIP program runs at Mt Atkinson, Truganina. Study Buddies runs at Kirrip in Melton.
Our Kirrip Youth Group program occurs once a week on a Tuesday evening after school from 4.30-6pm during school term at Edmund Rice Community Centre at Mount Atkinson.
We provide a culturally safe space for school aged Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples living within the Melton/Brimbank Community, where we offer them the opportunity engage through cultural learnings, sharing’s and experiences from First Nations Kirrip community members. Our learnings and sharing includes understanding local bush foods, learning about and connecting to Country throughout the area and engaging with youth in a culturally safe manner.
We also include active activities for our Youth through our Partnership with Edmund Rice by including interchanging outdoor activity weeks to help build and strengthen our Youth Groups teamwork, relationship building, promote a healthy & active lifestyle and community strengthening & growth within the Group. Afternoon tea/snacks are provided for the group, the kids work up a big appetite!
Our Study Buddies Program occurs once a week on Monday evenings after school from 4pm-5.30pm during the school term at Kirrip House Aboriginal Community Organisation. Afternoon tea/snacks are also provided in this group!
Study Buddies provide support and encouragement for our school aged community children and youth with their homework by providing a culturally safe space to work and learn in, providing stationary for use during the program to help with homework tasks, meeting and receiving support from local volunteer tutors and creating a safe learning space to have fun and meet other local children/youth within the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community.
The young people can sign up to the program by contacting Kirrip on 03 8088 0764 or alternatively our mobile number is 0422 126 835.
I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to attend your school and talk to the Aboriginal/Torres strait islander students about our program and culture.
The flyer is attached below.
Have a lovely day,
