A Live-In Youth Mentor (Lead Tenant) is a volunteer who helps create a supportive home environment for young people. Each residence has two Live-In Youth Mentors who share the home with two young people – aged 16-18 years, who were previously in foster or residential care. Live-In Youth Mentors teach the young people independent living skills, provide emotional support and help keep them connected to friends, family and the community.
The aim of the Live-In Youth Mentor Program is to give vulnerable young people the opportunity to gain life experiences and learn independent living skills in a safe, stable home environment. By becoming a Live-In Youth Mentor, you are able to create a positive impact on these young people and reduce their risk of homelessness once they turn 18.
Benefits of being a mentor:
- Live rent free in a fully furnished share house
- Receive a small honorarium payment of $75-$150 per week
- Create positive impact on the lives of young people
- Easily combine with your existing work or study commitments
Current Vacancies:
What does being a Live-In Youth Mentor involve?
Live-In Youth Mentors share a house provided by Anglicare Victoria, together with another youth mentor and two young people. Live-In Youth Mentors oversee the day to day running of the household and liaise with our caseworkers to provide support and assistance to the young people. On some days you might teach the young people how to cook, how to clean, how to prepare themselves for school in the morning or encourage them to find part-time work. On other days you may need to help them get to school or sporting activities and be a strong shoulder for them to lean on.
Our highly qualified caseworkers, educational experts, and child welfare workers are on hand to provide ongoing support. They will work with you to help the young people get ready for their next journey – full independence.
This volunteer position is perfect for someone who has an interest in supporting young people, or who is training to be a youth worker or studying social work. The role is very flexible and can be easily combined with your existing study or work commitments. Just like any teenager living at home, you are mainly needed overnight and in the evenings to provide informal supervision, safety and support to the young people living in the house.
All applicants are required to undergo a Working with Children Check and Criminal History Check. You will receive ongoing training and access to specialised support services.
Expression of interest form
Live-In Youth Mentor FAQs
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A Live-In Mentor is a mature adult that lives in a share house with another Live-In Mentor, as well as two young people from state care. Live-In Mentors teach the young people independent living skills, provide emotional support and help keep them connected to friends, family and the community. Live-In Mentors also oversee the day to day running of the household and liaise with the caseworkers who provide support and assistance to residents. These volunteers make a real difference in the lives of young people.
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The young people living with you in the house are typically aged 16-18. Many young people have lived in foster care, kinship care or residential care prior to entering the program. Most young people exit the program and accommodation once they have turned 18.
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The aim of the program is to give vulnerable young people the opportunity to gain life experiences and learn independent living skills in a safe, stable home environment. By becoming a Live-In Mentor, you are able to create a positive impact on these young people and reduce their risk of homelessness once they turn 18.
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Yes you can work and study and be a Live-In Youth Mentor. We actively encourage our volunteers to be engaged in some form of employment or study as it demonstrates to the young people in the program how to live a responsible and balanced lifestyle. The role is very flexible and is easily combined with your casual, part-time or full-time work or study. Just like any teenager living at home, you are mainly needed overnight and in the evenings, to provide safety and support to the young people in the house.
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Our highly qualified case workers, educational experts and child welfare workers are on hand to provide ongoing support and will work with you to help the young people to help them get ready for their next journey – full independence. We also provide you with a small honorarium payment of at least $75 per week.
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Unfortunately, partners are not allowed to stay overnight with you at the property. Likewise, Live-In Youth Mentor opportunities are not suitable for individuals who care for their own children or have pets.
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Many of the young people in the program have had a lot of instability and/or trauma in their lives which occasionally makes living in a Live-In Mentor house quite difficult at times. Anglicare Victoria’s highly qualified case workers, educational experts and child welfare workers are always on hand to provide ongoing support.
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As you live in the house with another Live-In Mentor there is the opportunity for you to take breaks from time to time. This is something you would organise with the other Live-In Mentors living at the house. Occasionally we can organise for one of our casual Live-In Mentors to provide one or two nights of supervision and support.
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Many of our Live-In Mentors do come from a background of having previously worked with or supporting children and young people in some capacity, whether it be community services, youth work, social work, teaching or health. However, this is not compulsory. All applicants are welcome to apply.
Some common skills that have worked well for past Live-In Mentors include honesty, openness, being friendly, respectful, non judgmental, a good listener (using active listening), having appropriate boundaries, being consistent, laughing with – not at – people, and using praise.
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The process to becoming a Live-In Mentor can appear lengthy and invasive. This is to ensure we find the most suitable people who can sustain and support some of the most vulnerable young people across Victoria.
If you are interested, we will send out an information pack including an application and self-assessment. Following this we will invite you for an interview where you can meet the StepOut staff and we will ask some questions to determine suitability of becoming a Live-In Mentor.
This is very a very rewarding opportunity. The benefits outweigh the challenges when you are to play an integral part in the growth and development of a young person.
To find out more and apply please contact us:
- Southern Metro & Gippsland Region – 9293 8500
- Eastern Metro Region – 1300 889 335
- North West Metro Region – 8470 9999
Live-In Mentor vacancies are listed on our Volunteer Vacancies page
