Did you know 1 in 5 Australians are neurodivergent? This includes autism, ADHD, and other learning differences that shape how young people experience the world. Neurodivergence is not one-size-fits-all. Each student experiences school differently, and support needs may change across developmental stages and life circumstances.
When it comes to teenagers, teachers are at the coalface – working with hundreds of teenagers every year. Committed Student Support Officer Huzzy Rodríguez once again talks to us and tells us what is happening for the teens at his school. And how Raise is helping.
Clinical Psychologist Melissa spent a few years considering ways she could volunteer, wanting to volunteer in something she could continue in her retirement was important. Melissa also wanted to build further connections with her community and continue those as her work life scaled down.
Keen volunteer mentor Abby joined Team Raise and boosted her impact. By running in the HBF Run for a Reason she raised enough to recruit, screen, train, and onboard a new mentor, whose work will help support young people during the critical early teen years, and build resilient communities.
Risk. For many parents, the word alone can trigger fear, worry, or an urgent desire to protect. But for young people, risk is an essential part of growing up. It’s how teenagers learn who they are, what they value, and how to navigate the world with confidence.
For many families, the return to school is meant to bring structure, friendships and a sense of normality. But for a growing number of young people across Australia, going back to school feels overwhelming. Instead of excitement, it can bring anxiety, shutdowns, tears at the school gate, or a quiet refusal that’s hard to put into words. If this is happening in your home, you’re not doing anything wrong, and you’re not alone.
As a psychology student, Mia was looking for ways to extend her training and gain further experience ‘in the field’. In the process of upskilling herself she has also positively influenced the lives of numerous young people.
There are as many stories about the benefits of mentoring as there are mentors – each story is unique. For retired lawyer Robert, his decision to make a difference in the life of a young person set him on the path to a new occupation – education.
Talking with your teens about the upcoming social media restrictions.
We often talk about the Raise Village and how important it really is. That’s because connection, and coming together for a greater purpose, is the key to addressing many of society’s problems. We are seeing this community spirit in action through our partnership with Telethon 7.
Raise relies on an extended community of kind hearted, generous individuals and partners to help change young lives by providing a mentor for every young person who needs one. Partners like Kain Foundation go above and beyond in support of this mission, providing funding and hands-on support, in the process, becoming an essential part of the Raise Village.
Teenage years can be tough - loneliness and disconnection, the impacts of bullying, lack of confidence, lack of engagement and lack of hope are observed in many young adolescents. Many more suffer in silence. After 10 years running early intervention Youth Mentoring Programs in schools throughout Queensland, Raise has proven that individual, evidence-based mentoring during the important early adolescent years, 13 – 16, can change young people’s paths and transform lives.