 What is your name?
Ramp Mentoring Program
How old are you?
3 years
Who funds you?
Department of Human Services
What kind of mentoring program are you?
I combine one-to-one mentoring (where young people are matched with volunteer mentors) with group mentoring at Reach Workshops, Camps and Community Days.
Who are your young people? –
I work with young people in residential care in the eastern region. All of my participants are in the Child Protection System and come from disadvantaged backgrounds.
What do you try to do for your young people?
I help young people overcome the social disengagement and self esteem issues they experience through positive, fun, strength-based activities and role-models. I also assist young people with their transition when leaving care.
Where do you operate? –
In the eastern region of Metropolitan Melbourne
How many young people and mentors do you support right now?
I support 30 matches each year.
What’s so exciting about you?
I draw on the strengths of the two partner organisations to facilitate the engagement and matching process for these at risk young people. I utilise Whitelion’s wealth of experience in mentoring in combination with the positive experiential workshop and camp format that Reach deliver.
How are you different to other mentoring programs?
I’m a mentoring program with the lot! I engage young people in their residential units and spend time getting to know them. Each month I hold well-attended activities – either Workshops at Reach or Community Days. I also match young people with well-trained volunteer mentors who spend time with them every fortnight.
Do you have any partners to help you out?
Along with Whitelion and Reach, I’m well supported by DHS, Eastcare, CARA and Wesley.
What have you learnt from your journey so far?
The effects of mentoring may not be evident immediately, but the positive experiences and role-modeling will stay with these young people forever.
What has been your biggest challenge?
Engaging young people who are notorious for shunning most programs
How have you dealt with this challenge?
Consistent, friendly, supportive, face-to-face contact with not only young people, but also their carers and workers.
What’s the best thing you’ve done so far?
Every house visit, Workshop, Community Day, Camp and catch-up with a young person has its potential logistical difficulties. My success in these pursuits would not be possible if the young people did not know and trust us and enjoy spending time with their mentors and at group activities. Gaining that trust from a young person, then seeing them enjoying themselves at an activity or with their mentor is the greatest reward possible.
What is the one piece of advice would you give to other programs?
Mentoring is a marathon not a sprint |
