Mentoring Program
The Stand As One Mentoring Program is for young people, who are getting ready to leave the Youth Justice Centre. The program matches young people, aged 10 to 21 years, with adult mentors. The mentor helps the young person learn life skills such as how to get a Medicare card, look for work or find a home.
What happens in the program?
The Stand As One Mentoring Program assigns a volunteer mentor to a young person at least 3 months before the young person’s release date. During this time the mentor and mentee meet regularly in an effort to develop a strong, trusting and stable relationship.
The mentor then continues to support the young person in a range of areas as they attempt to reintegrate themselves back into school, vocational education, work and the community in a broader sense.
Ideally, this period of community support and mentorship is expected to last 12 months.
Where is the program offered?
Mentors provide support to young people moving back into communities across the greater Sydney metropolitan area, the Central Coast, the Hunter region (all in NSW), and the ACT. SHINE for kids provides the Stand As One Program to mentor young people.
What are the benefits of the program?
The Stand As One Mentoring Program helps young people in the Youth Justice System rebuild their lives when they leave the Youth Justice Centre, with the aim of reducing the risk of re-offending.
Research shows that young people in the juvenile justice system who have experienced a parent in prison are at a higher risk of imprisonment in the adult justice system themselves. A mentor gives the young person the level of support needed to help them establish themselves in the community.
How to join
Young people must be referred by their caseworker. You can contact the young person's caseworker at the Frank Baxter Youth Centre to make a referral to this service.
How to make a referral
If you are a caseworker you must make your referral through Youth Justice.