What does being a Live-In Youth Mentor involve?

Live-In Youth Mentors are hired through Anglicare Victoria’s StepOut Lead Tenant program. They live as part of a household with up to two young people aged 16 – 18 years who are ready to begin the process of living independently. Being a Lead Tenant involves becoming a member of the household and acting as a responsible role model to the young people.

StepOut places an emphasis on the house as being a shared environment. However Live-In Youth Mentors still have roles and responsibilities to the program. Youth mentors also have rights that are expected to be met.

Important roles of a positive Live-In Youth Mentor may involve:

  • Showing interest in the young person.
  • Displaying positive and proactive listening.
  • Sharing household duties.
  • Demonstrating self-regard and respect for the young person.
  • Being open to expressing one’s values, thoughts and feelings, without judgment.

The responsibilities of a Live-In Youth Mentor include:

  • Attending and taking an active part in monthly household meetings.
  • Monitoring the safety and wellbeing of young people.
  • Supporting a young person to build their independent living skills.
  • Notifying staff of any program breaches.
  • Notifying staff of the young person’s whereabouts.
  • Informing staff of any illegal activity by the young poeple.
  • Notifying staff if the Live-In Youth Mentor intends to stay away from the house.
  • Use of the honorarium to support the home and engage in activities with young people wherever appropriate.

Every Live-In Youth Mentor has the right to:

  • The safety of their person and possessions.
  • Support and assistance from the StepOut program staff.
  • Knowledge and understanding of the relevant issues affecting the young people in the house.
  • Access to a 24 hour on-call system.
  • Privacy of their personal information.
  • Appeal decisions affecting their accommodation via a grievance procedure.

Common skills of Live-In Youth 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.

Roles and responsibilities of the young people include:

  • Attending a day program (school, training or employment)
  • Engaging with their support workers and Lead Tenants.
  • Attending monthly house meetings.
  • Keeping the Youth mentor support workers informed of their whereabouts.
  • Informing the support worker and household of any visitors (once approved).
  • Paying rent fortnightly.
  • Respecting the personal space and personal property of others.
  • Helping out with household chores.
  • Working towards a shared household.
  • Working with staff in developing their independent living skills.
  • Adhering to the rules and expectations set forth by the program.

Becoming a youth mentor involves an assessment process whereby Anglicare Victoria can determine the best type of house placement for you. Anglicare Victoria is extremely careful in their matching procedures, minimising risk to any Live-In Youth Mentor or young person.

As a Live-In Youth Mentor you will be required to undergo a Victorian police check process and must have a valid working with children check.