www.bigbrothersbigsisters.org.au
start something
MEN PRO TORIN GR A G M We believe in the value and values of mentoring Mentoring is built on caring, respect and the willingness to listen. Studies show that mentoring helps young people stay in school and have the confidence to develop positive pathways into the future.
Changing young lives can build strong communities
helps give vulnerable young people access to a mentor, no matter where they are.
Building relationships between young people and caring adults is a good foundation for building strong communities. Young people feel connected and want to give back – everybody benefits.
Start something today Volunteering is one way. A gift of money is another. Either way, supporting the work of Big Brothers Big Sisters in your community could be the start of something big. Find out more at www.bigbrothersbigsisters.org.au OurSpace is proudly supported by The Walt Disney Company Australia and New Zealand
What if every young person unlocked their potential?
imagine what that could start! Helping young people unlock their potential A Big Brothers Big Sisters match is a one-to-one mentoring relationship between a young person (Little) and a trained adult volunteer mentor (Big). Interacting with each other for around an hour a week, they engage in conversation and activities. Bigs provide Littles with friendship, guidance and support.
Connecting Bigs and Littles everywhere Many young people were missing out on participating in programs due to factors such as geographic location or disability. OurSpace addresses this need by providing a safe and monitored online platform where Bigs and Littles can interact.
A place to grow, learn and share Together they can video chat, play games and get to know each other just like they would in our face-toface mentoring programs.
A safe and secure environment OurSpace is a safe and secure digital platform incorporating world leading innovative technology that allows Big Brothers Big Sisters to moderate, record and archive each mentoring match in real time.
Questions? Email support@bbbsau.org or call (03) 9526 8409.
How to apply to be a mentor Go to our website www.bigbrothersbigsisters.org.au
Frequently asked questions: What equipment do you need for OurSpace? You don’t need the latest-and-greatest to use OurSpace. Any modern computer less than five years old will work. A webcam and microphone are needed for the video chat (most laptops have these built in).
What age should the young person be? OurSpace is open to young people aged 10 to 17 years old.
Who are Big Brothers Big Sisters mentors? The Mentors (or ‘Bigs’) are positive adult role models who provide friendship, guidance, and support to a young person. Every Big completes a rigorous screening and training process to ensure they are suitable. Each young person is matched to a compatible mentor who shares their interests, and each match is supervised by a Big Brothers Big Sisters Mentoring Coordinator.
How long does the program go for? The minimum length of each match is 12 months, but thanks to a carefully considered matching process, many matches continue after this period, Bigs and Littles often becoming lifelong friends.
Who are Big Brothers Big Sisters? Big Brothers Big Sisters is a charity organisation operating for over 110 years internationally, and over 30 years in Australia. We aim to change the lives of vulnerable young people, by matching them with a volunteer mentor who provides guidance, friendship and support.