Specialised Mentoring Programs
Big Brothers Big Sisters is committed to remaining responsive to the needs of young people and local Australian communities. Whilst our community-based model has been the mainstay of our program delivery for 30 years, we recognise the need to diversify and tailor programs operating under Big Brothers Big Sisters in Australia. Current examples of these unique programs include:
Young Refugee Program
This innovative program engages young refugees, from the Karen, Kachin and Chin (Burmese) communities. Refugee groups often face unique challenges when arriving in Australia including learning to read, write and speak English, navigating a new city and identifying what opportunities are available to them.
The program matches volunteer mentors with newly arrived refugees, aged between 10 and 25 years of age. Current research indicates that integration is more successful when newly arrived refugees are able to make meaningful connections with the wider Australian community.
The Young Adults Program
The Young Adults Program targets young people aged between 15 and 25 years, who need additional support as they transition to further education or employment opportunities.
Mentors provide one-to-one support to a young person through spending time with them on a regular basis. The type of support provided may include friendship, social support, a chance to learn new skills or try new activities and assist with study or exploring career options. Activities can be as simple as having a coffee and a chat or can be task orientated, such as writing a resume.
The Young Achievers Program
The Young Achievers Program targets young people studying in years 10 to 12, who have limited adult support. The young people selected for the program are all excelling either academically, or in a sporting or artistic field.
The program matches these young people with a mentor, working in a field of interest, for a minimum of 12 months. In addition to mentoring, young people also participate in targeted workshops on a monthly basis, providing them with unique challenges and leadership opportunities.
