OJFC Youth Mentor Program – the story so far...

In April 2018, Connect Health & Community announced an exciting new community partnership with Ormond Junior Football Club (OJFC) and youth and family wellbeing blog and resource A Path to Follow – the OJFC Youth Mentor Program. Click here to learn more about the program itself.

So far, uptake of this peer-to-peer coaching and mentoring program has been incredible, with kids of all ages and their parents really getting behind the program’s core aim: to support the wellbeing of young people through their common passion for footy.

Program leader Kirstie Edwards, who is also the Child, Youth & Family Team Leader at Connect Health & Community, is delighted with commitment to the program so far, which includes:

• 7 older teens/young adults in coaching roles, being mentored by senior coaches.
• 9 U12s players mentoring Auskick and Fair Go Footy kids.
• An U13 player mentoring U9s and an U17 player mentoring U13s.
• An amazing group of young adults leading the Fair Go Footy participants, and including the young mentors.

In addition to parents, coaches and club members attending training and information sessions, Kirstie and her team have also had plenty of support from the local community, with many community members offering to assist with the program. Kirstie is currently planning a suicide information session for parents and their children in July, so watch this space for more details.

On the ground, the smiling faces of both players and mentors are the best evidence that the program really does help kids develop a sense of greater feeling of wellbeing, as well as a stronger connection to team, club and community.

If you would like to find out more about the OJFC Youth Mentor Program, contact Kirstie Edwards on 0478 310 145 or Kirstie.edwards@optusnet.com.au. And don’t forget to check out Connect Health & Community’s dedicated youth social work services.