Shire aids mentoring role

YARRA Ranges Council’s Youth Services team is co-ordinating several youth mentoring programs to help young people in the Yarra Valley reach their full potential through positive relationships with adult mentors.
There are opportunities for one-on-one mentoring, driver mentoring and school-based mentoring programs.
Mentors assist young people in gaining positive, trusting relationships with a caring adult who will help to build their confidence and self-esteem, support them through life challenges and encourage them to fulfil goals and aspirations.
The Jindi Woraback program is one-on-one mentoring that requires mentors to commit to spending a minimum of one hour a week for a year with a young person participating in low-cost or no cost activities.
The L2P driver mentoring program provides opportunities for volunteers to work one-on-one with learner drivers aged between 16 and 20 who face significant barriers in getting their probationary driver’s licence.
The L2P program includes training, a safe vehicle and ongoing support for the mentor.
School-based mentoring provides opportunities for volunteer mentors to assist teachers by providing a one-on-one approach in the classroom that is dedicated to the student’s education and personal growth.
Mentors must be over 18, friendly, relaxed and approachable and able to spend one hour per week with a young person.
A screening, training and assessment process is completed before being matched.
Screening includes police and working with children checks.
For more information call Mentoring Project Worker Maria McLoughlin on 9294 9294 6716 or email m.mcloughlin@yarraranges.vic.gov.au