Our community based, Inspire, programs work with a diverse group of young people from across Australia, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous.  All are at risk of becoming disengaged from school and facing stark challenges such as geographical or social isolation, lack of positive role-models , exclusion, low-incomes, poor family life and low motivation.

Inspire programs reconnect young people who are at real risk of becoming detached from school and from community life using mentors and role models to build relationships and deliver long-term engagement activities based in sport, film-making, music or caring for the environment.

Mentors are usually recruited from the local community, so there is already an understanding of the challenges and a solid base to start the mentor relationship.  Role models are respected by the young people and recruited from each program discipline.  We have professional sports-people, musicians, film producers and our environmental programs are run in partnership with Conservation Volunteers Australia.

Stride coaches, trains and works with the mentors and role models, schools and community organisations to deliver long-term programs keeping young people in school and learning essential life skills such as goal setting, communications, leadership, teamwork and how to make the right decisions with regards to high risk situations.

It has always been difficult being a teenager, but today the issues can be far more life-threatening and life-changing.  The world today is about instant information and instant access, young people are bombarded with images of perceived perfection and pressure to have the latest of everything.

Cyber-bullying, teen pregnancy, youth violence, eating disorders and drug abuse are all issues facing young people today.

Stride’s Achieve team work with young people in a school setting  to deliver tailored workshops which address serious common issues such as bullying, cyber bullying, anger management, depression and self-harm.  The workshop programs look to develop a sense of responsibility in the young people for the wellbeing on themselves and others and equip them with the tools and strategies to be able to cope and thrive.

Stride also works direct with teachers responsible for the wellbeing of students and school health and wellbeing professionals in group workshops to provide them with the knowledge and resources to be able to reinforce program principles that foster positive and supportive class and school cultures to build a safe school environment.

 

Stride Workshops touched the lives of over 30,000 young people Australia-wide teaching them essential lessons and skills in leadership, communication,anger management, cyber safety and peer support Inspire programs expanded in to six new communities and 9 new schools, extending the reach and impact of our mentoring programs We achieved 92% retention rate on our Mentoring through Music programs, working with students who had previously been in serious danger of becoming disengaged from school Delivery of our Inspire programs increased by 31% on the previous year with 30 schools engaged, 50 role models and mentors and 695 young people taking part