For the first time ever, Big Brothers Big Sisters has located one of its mentoring staff at a police station in the rural township of Wangaratta in Victoria’s north-east. This partnership with Victoria Police ensures that young people have the best opportunity to access mentoring services in a timely manner.

Initially funded through the Attorney-General’s Department National Community Crime Prevention Program, this unique partnership between a youth mentoring program and Victoria Police attracted great interest across the community sector.

As the initial program was coming to a close in 2010, The Calvert Jones Foundation recognised the success and value of the program and have provided a further 3 years of funding towards the program.

The program also sees the appointment of a new worker Catherine Warnock who joins the team with a wealth of experience in the community sector as well a deatiled understanding of the Wangaratta region and surrounding areas.

The program aims to connect young people by matching them on a one-to-one basis with a carefully screened adult mentor for a minimum of 12 months. However, the experience of Big Brothers Big Sisters would suggest that these matches will last several years.

Each mentoring friendship aims to be long term and life changing to both the young person and the volunteer mentor!
For further information:

(w) 5721 8638
catherine.warnock@bbbs.org.au