This week is National Volunteer’s Week and Marathon Health, in partnership with Save the Children Australia, is encouraging community members to volunteer as mentors for the recently launched 2018 Youth Frontiers program.

Youth Frontiers focuses on young people aged 12-16 who are under-engaged in school or local community life and have had limited opportunities. The mentor program will help young people develop team work, leadership and decision-making skills through mentorship.

Marathon Health Youth Frontiers Project Officer Cindy Neilson said the program was a perfect way for community members to be involved in shaping positive experiences for Dubbo and Broken Hill youth.

“Volunteering is an amazing chance to do something meaningful for your community,” Ms Neilson said.

“The theme for National Volunteer’s Week 2018 is ‘Give a little. Change a lot’ which ties in well with the role of Youth Frontier’s mentors, who will have the chance to help young people achieve a brighter future.”

The program gives mentees and mentors an opportunity to build life skills, self-confidence and achieve recognition for the contribution their project makes to the community.

Ms Neilson said Youth Frontiers is a unique and fulfilling program.

“We really encourage anyone who is looking to be more involved in the community to sign up as a mentor. You’ll have the potential to change a young person’s life through knowledge and support,” she said.

Youth Frontiers operates from the headspace Dubbo centre to best serve and engage with young people in the community.

“This program provides a chance for people to become role models and help young people live their best lives,” Ms Nielson said.

The Youth Frontiers Mentoring Program is an initiative of the NSW Government that has delivered mentoring to almost 1,200 young people across NSW each year since it began in 2015.

Earlier this year the NSW Government committed funding for the delivery of the Youth Frontiers program for a further three-year period from 2018 to 2020.

For more information about the Youth Frontiers program or to sign up as a mentor:

- Please call Cindy Neilson on 5852 1900 or Sophie Weathersbee on 0447 568 704.

- Or drop into the headspace Dubbo centre at 23 Church Street, Dubbo.