1:1 Positive Pathways Volunteer

Blue Light Victoria is seeking police and emergency services members in the Bendigo, La Trobe and Melton areas to act as role models/mentors for local disengaged or vulnerable young people aged 10-17 years.

The volunteers will support at-risk young people up to 3 hours per week (1.5 hours per session twice a week) for four weeks to make a significant impact in their lives.

We are seeking volunteers who are open-minded, calm, supportive and reliable. You have experience or an interest in supporting disengaged young people and understand the barriers and issues young people face. You enjoy providing guidance and support to people and making a positive impact in someone’s life.

Our program focuses on providing support for those young people who are disengaged from family, school or community groups, or coming to the attention of police and/or the justice system.

The program provides opportunities for young people to form positive and empowering mentor/mentee relationships with adult role models from emergency services organisations, such as SES, Victoria Police, Ambulance Victoria or Fire Rescue Victoria within their local community, through a gym focussed program with a fitness instructor.

The relationship between the young person and the volunteer role model/mentor is critical to positive program outcomes.

As a volunteer you would be making a significant impact to a young person’s life by:

• Improving their physical health and fitness.

• Improving their confidence and self-esteem.

• Improving their mental health and wellbeing.

• Increasing their ability to make healthy and safe decisions.

• Improving their discipline and enhance life skills.

• Increasing their engagement with schooling or employment.

• Increasing their social engagement.

• Increasing their connection to community.

• Supporting trust in relationships between adults and young people.