Ocean Mind

Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders: Junior Mentor Programme

Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders: Junior Mentor Programme

Ocean Mind operates a comprehensive 3-phase model designed to support young people through various stages of personal growth and development. The journey begins with the Six-Week Surf Therapy Programme, where participants learn to surf while receiving therapeutic support. This programme helps them build resilience, improve their mental health, and develop social connections. After completing this ...

GOAL

$15,000

Australia > VIC > Metro and Regional
11/01/2024 > 31/10/2025

Field of Interest

  • Education/training and employment
  • Health/wellbeing and medical research

Target Population

  • Young people (6-25)
  • People with a disability, illness or disease
Ocean Mind Ocean Mind

Ocean Mind is a surf therapy charity dedicated to improving the mental health, social skills, and overall well-being of young people through the transformative power of the ocean. We provide free surf therapy sessions, mentoring, and social engagement activities to young people facing mental health challenges, social isolation, or disabilities.

Our mission is to empower these young individuals to thrive through innovative, evidence-based programmes that harness the therapeutic benefits of surfing.

Project Summary

Ocean Mind operates a comprehensive 3-phase model designed to support young people through various stages of personal growth and development. The journey begins with the Six-Week Surf Therapy Programme, where participants learn to surf while receiving therapeutic support. This programme helps them build resilience, improve their mental health, and develop social connections. After completing this initial phase, participants can transition into the OM Surf Club, which provides long-term support and a sense of community, allowing them to continue their personal development and maintain the benefits gained from the surf therapy sessions.

Once participants turn 16 years old, they become eligible to join the Junior Mentor Programme, the third phase of our model. This phase is crucial in helping young people build self-esteem, change their internal narrative from being someone in need of help to someone capable of helping others, and discover their leadership capabilities. The Junior Mentor Programme empowers these young individuals by providing them with the skills and confidence to mentor others, fostering a sense of purpose and contributing to their long-term personal growth.

The current project aims to redevelop the Junior Mentor Programme to better meet the needs of our young participants. By developing a training programme specifically tailored to their learning levels and involving current junior mentors in the design process, we ensure that the programme remains youth-led and impactful. This redevelopment will enhance the opportunities available to junior mentors, making the programme more accessible, engaging, and effective in helping them become confident leaders within their communities.

Project Outcomes

Through this redevelopment, we aim to:
- Increase the number of junior mentors participating in the programme.
- Improve the leadership and mentoring skills of participants.
- Boost participants' confidence and self-esteem by reinforcing their ability to help others.
- Ensure the programme is responsive to the needs of young people by incorporating their input into its design and delivery.
- Success will be measured by the number of new junior mentors recruited, the feedback from participants regarding their personal growth, and the overall impact on the community, as observed through increased social engagement and positive behavioural changes among the participants.

Budget Breakdown

TOTAL BUDGET: $20,000
FUNDING
Funding source Amount
Allocated fund from organisation (confirmed) $5,000
Funding gap (unconfirmed) $15,000
EXPENSES
Expense item Amount
Volunteer manager wages $15,000
Design Workshop $1,000
Training Material $1,500
Equipment and Supplies $800
Refreshments and Meals $1,200
Travel and Transport $500

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Contact Us
Level 6, 126 Wellington Parade, East Melbourne VIC 3002

We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we live, learn and work. We pay our respects to Elders past and present.

Australian Communities Foundation is a proudly inclusive organisation and an ally of LGBTQIA+ communities and the movement toward equality.