West Wallsend High will be the latest Hunter school to benefit from youth mentoring organisation Raise Foundation.
While Cardiff High, Belmont High, Warners Bay High and Glendale Technology High are already running the evidence-based program with great success, the Holmesville-based educational facility is set to join the ranks in 2023.
The initiative provides young people with a caring, independent volunteer mentor who shows up each week to listen and support the student they are matched with, empowering them to share their load.
“The teenage years are immensely challenging,” Raise founder and CEO Vicki Condon AM said.
“Not only is suicide the leading cause of death among young people, 50% of Australians have been impacted by suicide by the age of 25.
“Mission Australia’s Annual Youth Survey 2021 states that one-in-six youth feel negative or very negative about the future and one-in-four feel lonely all or most of the time.
“It certainly has been a tough period recently and, according to Beyond Blue, young people are the least likely group to ask for professional help.
“It’s a growing crisis and there’s an urgent need for the community to come together to support adolescents.
“At the moment, we’re running two-hour programs at Cardiff High, Belmont High, Warners Bay High and Glendale Technology High once a week, so we’re delighted West Wallsend High is now on board.”
The positive impact of a mentor for young people is well-recognised.
Support from a neutral role model during the adolescent years can change the course of a youngster’s life.
One-to-one assistance helps teens build resilience and cope better with their struggles, too.
“Every day we see the positive impact our mentors make,” Ms Condon 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 also requires members of the community to volunteer their valuable time for 23 weeks of the year.
“There is a growing need for mentors right across Australia,” NSW state manager Tamara Salamacha said.
“Once registered and screened, our highly-qualified Raise team will train and equip you with all the skills you need to make an exceptional youth mentor.
“It’s a very rewarding way to give back to your community.”
Volunteers can apply at www.raise.org.au
For more news stories:
- Speedy teen’s driver’s licence confiscated by police
- Better patient access to everyday health care
- Humble Heroes line the lake
Get all the latest Newcastle news, sport, real estate, entertainment, lifestyle and more delivered straight to your inbox with the Newcastle Weekly Daily Newsletter. Sign up here.
