Interview with Stefan Casadio - JSW Youth Outreach Program Co-ordinator

Question:

Why do you do this job?

Answer:

I am doing this job for the simple reason I can relate to the hardship of the teen years and have a passion to help them through the business of making difficult choices in life which determines their future.

Question:

What makes YOP (Youth Outreach Program) successful?

Answer:

YOP is successful due to the gap it fills left by the absence of role models in family units. Young people are confused about male and female roles, a mentor can be a life saver for many kids at risk.

Question:

What advice would you give a novice mentor?

Answer:

My advice is Let It HAPPEN, results are not automatic, not forcing an agenda or expecting instant success. They (client) appreciate your honesty and ability to admit you were wrong or share weaknesses. Being honest gives them the permission to do the same.

Question:

What are the top 3 issues facing young people on 'our patch'?

Answer:

Top 3 issues:

• No role model (fathers particularly)
• Loneliness
• Drugs

Question:

Who are your heroes and role models?

Answer:

My hero role model is the man Jesus, my father gave me a picture of character and workmanship and perseverence. He displayed patience and tenacity in his marriage and work ethics.

Stuff we like: Inspiring links :)

The Raise Foundation
Raise improves the lives of young people facing profound challenge by providing mentoring programs and personal development workshops
http://www.raisefoundation.com.au/

The Learning Choices website is a connection hub for everyone involved in the diverse range of learning engagement programs across Australia. These programs offer innovative and flexible learning experiences to enable young people to thrive and gain essential skills whatever their abilities, backgrounds or personal circumstances.
http://www.learningchoices.org.au/blog.html

GenerationOne is a not-for-profit organisation that was founded by Andrew and Nicola Forrest as a movement for change. Financial support was provided to create a movement that would show the importance of education, training, mentoring and employment as the best means for ending the disparity between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians
http://generationone.org.au/blog/category/mentoring

The SISTER2sister program takes in up to 50 at risk teenage girls per year per program along with their respective Big Sister mentors. Each of the girls in our program is assigned a Big Sister mentor as a positive female role model to provide support, guidance and advice, where needed, throughout the 12 month program
http://www.lifechangingexperiences.org/

Minding The Match was launched at the Grassroots Festival in Bunbury on Saturday 14th April 2012.

This was a national youthweek event opened by the Hon. Robyn McSweeney MLC, Minister for Child Protection; Community Services; Seniors and Volunteering; Women's Interests; Youth.

JSW hosted a Polite in Public photo booth which was hugely popular and enormous fun as these photos display.

Welcome to the JSW Minding The Match Blog

 

This blog supports the department of communities demonstration mentoring project.

Recording, sharing and keeping in touch with everything mentoring.

Minding The Match is a project to support and sustain great relationships between young people and community mentors in regional centres.

JSW is one of 7 community organisations recently awarded Youth Mentoring Project funding by the Department of Communities. We will develop forms, fact sheets and other useful information to help community organisations and agencies make and keep great matches between mentors and young people.

Our Youth Outreach Program (YOP) funded by the Department of Child Protection is the primary inspiration for this project.

For the best part of two decades, YOP has strengthened and supported 13 regional and remote communities and touched the lives of around 1000 young people and their families. YOP has also created a committed core group of highly skilled community based mentors.