Welcome to the Inaugural Edition of
Big Brothers Big Sisters E-News!
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Pura Milk and Cameron Ling join forces to launch new Big Brothers Big Sisters of Geelong commercial
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Footy fans at the Cat's home games have been casting
their eyes upon a new commercial produced with Pura Milk, Cameron Ling (Patron) and Big Brothers
Big Sisters of Geelong, which is being shown
on the big screen at Skilled Stadium.
Big Brothers Big Sisters
of Geelong,
auspiced by Barwon Youth, recently launched a local campaign showcasing
the new commercial during National Volunteer Week in May. The launch,
attended by approximately 80
people, celebrated the achievements of the program, mentors and young
people. It was also an opportunity for the local community and business
to learn more about mentoring.
The commercial, and the partnership between Pura Milk and Big Brothers
Big Sisters will be showcased at an upcoming Office for Youth
Mentoring and Capacity Building Initiative Business Breakfast.
Left to right: Kelvin McAlpine, Manager Sponsorships and
Communications, National Foods; Shannon Luttrell, Promotion and Development, Big
Brothers Big Sisters of Geelong; Helen Dimopoulos, Manager Youth Support, Barwon Youth and Shane Murphy, Chief Executive Officer, Barwon Youth
View commercial
Left to right: Ebony, Cameron Ling (Patron) and Rahnee
(the stars of the new commercial) |
Continued growth for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Adelaide
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The
YWCA of Adelaide's Big Brothers Big Sisters team has continued to expand since its commencement
in 2003. This is largely due to three
recent successful applications for Australian government funding namely: two
rounds of FACHSIA (Stronger Families and Communities, Local Answers
funding) and Attorney- General's Department (National Community Crime
Prevention Program) funding.
The team now comprises: Jo
Case Program Manager and Project Officers Amy Bruce, Amy Delahunty and
Caroline Screen, with a Team Leader and additional Project Officer soon
to be appointed. Contact Jo Case on 8227 0155 to enquire about these vacancies.
Left to right: Sarah, Amy B, Jo, Caroline and Amy D
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Big Brothers Big Sisters of Melbourne extends its reach to young refugees from Burma
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The first mentoring matches targeting young
people from Burma have been
established in the Young Refugee Mentoring Project delivered through Big Brothers Big Sisters in Melbourne. 18 young people (aged 15-24) from the Karen
community have been matched to 9 trained mentors.
With the support of their mentors over the past
three months, young people have participated in a wide variety of activities building
their language skills and overall confidence.
Mentoring Coordinator Katherine Fell says the
initiative will extend to the Chin and Burmese communities in the upcoming
years. "The model itself will be evaluated with the
aim that it can be delivered to other cultural groups, particularly newly
arrived refugees".
The initiative has been funded by The Scanlon
Foundation for a three year period. An official launch of the Young Refugee
Mentoring Project will be held in Melbourne
in October 2008.
Left to right: May Kay La, Nee Lar Win and Tania (Mentor) |
Another first for Big Brothers Big Sisters
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Following Big Brothers Big Sisters' successful application to secure HOMES (Hull Outcome Monitoring and Evaluation System) in Australia, the
national roll-out of the database is gaining momentum!
HOMES is under license from
the Canadian Outcomes Research Institute (CORI) and is widely used
by the community/social sector across Canada and 110 Member Agencies of
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada.
HOMES
provides Big Brothers Big Sisters with the capacity to monitor program and match outcomes; a first for the National
Network and the Youth Mentoring sector.
The National Office is
currently delivering HOMES training to its
Members. |
'Run Melbourne' raises $7,500
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A team of eleven volunteers and staff from Big Brothers Big Sisters in Melbourne took to
the city streets on 22nd June to raise money at the annual Run Melbourne event. Despite the rain, the team put their 'best feet'
forward to raise $7,500.
A
special congratulations to David White, Executive Director of Big
Brothers Big Sisters of Australia, who completed the 21km run to help
raise funds for the Melbourne team.
A great effort was also
achieved by Nett Bailey and Rebecca Wolstenholme from Big Brothers Big
Sisters of Outer South East Melbourne who participated in the 7.5km
walk.
Left to right: Darren Toth (Mentor), Nett Bailey (Coordinator), Rebecca
Wolstenholme (Program Director) and Susan Cramer (Volunteer Supporter) from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Outer South East Melbourne |
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Australia is proudly supported by
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Perth to Paradise - Jack Sinclair makes the front page!
In
September 2008, 15 year old Jack Sinclair and his dad Brendon will
cycle 4,500 kms across Australia (from Perth to Surfers Paradise) in
just 30 days. The ride will help raise funds for Big Brothers Big
Sisters of Australia.
On July 4, Jack's amazing story made the front page of the Gold Coast Mail!
Please give Jack a helping hand and support his remarkable endeavour.
Make a donationJack with Patron Robbie McEwan (a veteran of the Tour De France)
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Big Brothers Big Sisters of Melbourne launches its new DVD - Think Big
Big
Brothers Big Sisters Melbourne recently launched its new DVD - Think
Big - showcasing three of its mentoring matches. See and hear first
hand from these wonderful Bigs and Littles.View Think Big |
Big Brothers Big Sisters accredited by ACCYO
Congratulations
to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Adelaide, Melbourne, Geelong and Sydney
for their successful completion of the Safeguarding Children
Accreditation with
the
Australian Council of Children and Youth Organisations (ACCYO). Through
the provision of advice, training and accreditation, ACCYO assists
organisations to protect children and young people in their care from
child abuse.A sincere thank you to Linda Franco at ACCYO. |
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Jewish Care Sydney joins the National Network
Big
Brothers Big Sisters of Australia is pleased to announce its newest
Member - Jewish Care Sydney. The organisation has been a long-term
provider of Big Brothers Big Sisters to the Jewish community in Sydney.
Welcome to the National
Network!
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Big Brothers Big Sisters of Outer South East Melbourne launches its new website!
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National Board Update...
The
Board of Big Brothers Big Sisters Australia wishes to farewell and
thank Ron Mell, CEO YMCA of Perth and Jocelyn Murphy, former CEO YWCA
NSW, following their resignation from the Board. Thank you to both Ron
and Jocelyn for their contribution and commitment over the years.
The
Board also welcomes Damien Mowlam CEO TRY Youth & Community
Services and Kate Frost who was recently appointed CEO YWCA NSW.
On
June 13, the Board met to develop its 2008 - 2010 strategic plan with
representatives from the Network including Paul Mathewson from
Brothers Big Sisters of Melbourne and Gail Jackson, CEO YWCA of
Adelaide.
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Events
YWCA
NSW's annual 'Mother of all Balls' will be held on 18 October 2008.
The event is the major fundraiser for the YWCA's Mentoring Programs including Big Brothers Big Sisters.
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Other News
Congratulations to Eileen McKenzie from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Perth who recently gave birth to her third son, Ned.
Congratulations also to Jo Case from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Adelaide and her
husband Jon who are expecting their first baby in December.
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