OUR YOUTH
OUR
YOUTH
Youth Three Sixty offer a diverse range of high-quality mentoring programs to meet the needs
of young people across Australia. Read how lives are being turned around by connecting
young people with positive adult role models, and breaking the cycles of disadvantage.
Amelia's Story
Due to COVID-19 Amelia and her Mentor Maddy’s ability to catch up face to face with one another has been limited, however they have been making sure they are catching up on online via video chat instead.
Jhett's Story
“We have fun and I enjoy hanging
out with a nice person with a sense
of humour like me; and we are both
redheads!”
Storme's Story
“I love the program it gives my three
grandchildren a chance to have
time with someone for themselves. It
means they can talk and share fun
times doing things they choose with
their Mentor. “
YOUNG ACHIEVERS MENTORING PROGRAM
Amelia and Maddy were matched in February 2020. They share a similar bubbly personality and wide grin!
Amelia is from Sri Lanka and moved over to Australia to study at high school. She currently lives here with her sister, whilst her parents remain in Sri Lanka.
Amelia wanted to have mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters to access adult support and guidance as she experiences her final year of high school. Amelia thinks she would like to study nursing or medicine, but isn’t very sure about what either of these pathways will entail. She has limited access to people who can help her with this decision and provide information about possible pathways after high school.
COMMUNITY BASED ONE 2 ONE MENTORING PROGRAM
Jhett says:
“Denis is who he is, you have to get to know someone cause you can’t read a book by his cover”
I meet Denis every week for 1-11/2 hours and we go swimming, walking to the Library for trivia, chess as well as the Botanical Gardens, Crazy Golf and down the street. I love the monthly planning meetings where we both get to decide what’s on for the next month and Nan gives $20 so that the activities can go ahead. I’m really happy that Denis helped me get a library membership. We have fun and I enjoy hanging out with a nice person with a sense of humour like me – we are both redheads! I am comfortable with Denis.”
COMMUNITY BASED ONE 2 ONE MENTORING PROGRAM
Storme says:
We do lots of activities including cooking sausage rolls, baking banana loaf, going to bounce, to the skate park or swimming. Sometimes I will ride my scooter and Charlie walks alongside and we chat. We usually decide what we are going to do together, and it usually depends what is on and what we both feel like doing. Charlie and I are thinking about making our own YouTube channel for cooking. Charlie has a really good personality; he has taught me how to cook and bake and been a really good friend who is easy to talk to. “It has been really good, and I have had a really good time”. I feel like it has been easier to get to know Charlie as time has gone on. I want the match to continue.
Charlie says:
In the main the catch ups are very enjoyable and as time has gone on Storme is responding better and not repeatedly asking for treats. I believe that trust and acceptance has grown in the 12 months as has enjoyment of the activities we decide on together. I feel at ease with Storme and we have fun together after the first 3 or 4 visits we began to feel really comfortable with each other.
I am conscious of my role as a mentor not just a friend and the importance of boundaries and providing Storme with guidance. Storme is a cheeky, happy person and is good company, full of life.
Denise the grandmother caring for six children says of the Big Brothers Big Sisters program:
” I love the program it gives my three grandchildren a chance to have time with someone for themselves. It means they can talk and share fun times doing things they choose with their Mentor. I have seen each of them become more confident and have a greater sense of self” I am very keen for them to continue it helps the kids enormously”.
*During the pandemic Denis and Jhett, and Charlie and Storme kept in contact over the phone and on Skype while working towards becoming connected more regularly on Our Space.