Raise Community

Community mentors, selected from our in-school programs, are qualified counsellors with experience in youth engagement. While they possess counselling qualifications, their role in this program is mentoring, utilising Raise’s mentoring curriculum.

We focus on four main areas with mentees: help seeking, hope for the future, school belonging, and resilience. However, we leave the structure of the one-on-one sessions open to the mentor and mentee’s discretion.

They can choose to address the weekly topic covered in the provided workbook, or set their own agenda based on issues important to them. Weekly topics can include friendships, positive self-talk and stress management.

Raise Community Mentoring doesn’t have to be an either-or support. We collaborate with other support services, offering a holistic approach to youth support. Mentoring can perfectly complement the maintenance phase with a psychologist, or supplement a youth support program when weekly sessions aren’t needed but additional support would be beneficial.

The program costs $120 per session for 17-weeks (total is $2040). Payment can be made upfront or through an agreed payment plan. It’s a requirement to cover the cost of all 17 sessions, and we offer a 20-week window to complete the program, allowing for illnesses, school camps and unexpected events.

Families on Family Tax Benefit A and or B or experiencing extenuating circumstances can apply for a scholarship.

Yes, the mentors are qualified counsellors, however, their role is as a mentor. In addition to their counselling training, all the Community Mentors have completed Raise’s industry-certified evidence-based mentor training. They also have Working with Children and Police Checks relevant to their state.

The program is 17 sessions, one on one, at a set time each week. If you can’t make a session, you can let us know (with a minimum 24-hour notice) and we can make up a session at a later date. Please note, all 17 sessions, must be completed within 20 weeks (excluding school holidays).

This is up to you, however, we found in our pilot program, that most families preferred to keep the mentoring sessions within school term dates.

Yes, please check the box in the application/consent form and we will be in contact about payment options.

Yes, you will receive an activity booklet that we will send to you in the mail. This is a great resource during the program and after you finish so you can reflect on the topics or discussions.

No, at Raise, our programs are for a fixed amount of time. No contact details are to be shared, this includes social media and there is no contact after the program finishes.

Everyone is different and the young person would be the focus and the lead in the conversation. But generally, you will log onto Zoom, and have a catch-up with your mentor. Sessions are tailored around what the young person wants to discuss and the framework is our evidence-based youth mentoring program.

Every match Is different. If you find that you are not enjoying your time in the program, don’t quit. Please reach out to either your parent/guardian/case worker, our program manager or email communitymentoring@raise.org.au and we will contact you to discuss the situation. Sometimes it is as easy as resetting the match expectations and goals and sometimes a rematch may need to occur. But let's chat, that's always the best place to start.

If you are going to be away on holidays or have exams coming up, or maybe a school camp, you can reschedule your session, as long as we have at least 24 hours' notice. If you cancel within the 24 hours, you will forfeit the session.

Find our Raise Community Terms and Conditions here.