JUNIOR TOP BLOKES MENTORING PROGRAM

Transcription

1 JUNIOR TOP BLOKES MENTORING PROGRAM

2 Designed By Arsalan Khatri

3 ABOUT THE TOP BLOKES FOUNDATION? The Top Blokes Foundation is dedicated to improving the mental health and social well-being of Australian boys aged years. Our mentoring and community engagement programs foster inclusion, build resilience and empower young men to realise and reach their potential. As a result, the Top Blokes Foundation directly addresses the issues of anti-social, risk-taking behaviours as well as community disconnection of young men. We provide a positive platform for young men to increase their social education and become positive role models to their peers. The Top Blokes Foundation outreaches and delivers programs in high schools, community centres, universities, TAFE s, employment agencies and other community service settings. Each year, thousands of marginalised young men are positively impacted which in turn strengthens their families, schools and communities. The programs delivered are evidence-based and reviewed continuously to ensure it aligns with the latest research and best practice guidelines as well as remain relevant to young men. The Top Blokes Foundation is affiliated with the following organisations: 2

4 WHY IS THE PROGRAM NEEDED? 82.6% 3.5% The percentage of articles about young men which are negative The average age when a young man will watch porn The increased risk of death from accidents for young men as compared to young women Lives taken by one punch assaults between % 75% 3:1 The average age when a young man will start to drink alcohol Teenagers have been victim of an unwanted sexual encounter Of all poor mental health emerges before the age of 25 The ratio of suicides of young men as compared to young women 3

5 ABOUT THE PROGRAM The Junior Top Blokes Mentoring Program is a direct response to the current trends of anti-social behaviour, community isolation and higher incidences of mental health issues among males aged This program has a peer-led mentoring framework and is targeted at male high school students aged Harbouring an early intervention focus, participants of the program explore various social trends that affect young men s health and well-being. HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS The Junior Top Blokes Mentoring Program is delivered in a school on a weekly basis for one school period, 16 weeks consecutively (across two school terms). Top Blokes Foundation assists schools to select groups of up to 15 young males in grades 9 or 10 and each week, two Top Blokes youth workers deliver the workshop sessions. Workshop topics can be found on pages 9 and 10. PROGRAM FACILITATORS All Top Blokes Foundation youth workers hold a tertiary qualification in Youth Work, Social Welfare or Psychology and have experience in facilitating mentoring programs for young people. Each carry current Working with Children and National Police Checks. Youth workers receive ongoing training and development in key knowledge areas such as youth mental health, suicide prevention and intervention, trauma in youth and cultural awareness training with latest best practice and standards. All Top Blokes Foundation staff are mandatory reporters and will work alongside schools and community organisations in the event that a mandatory report is required. PROGRAM BEST PRACTICE The Junior Top Blokes Mentoring Program adheres to all of the National Mentoring Benchmarks as set by the Australian Youth Mentoring Network. All workshop content has been assessed by a clinical psychologist and educators within the NSW Education Department and the program content is continually updated in line with latest research. This program has a stringent evaluation framework to measure program impact, in particular, degree of improved mental well-being, changes in behaviours and attitudes, increase in knowledge and skill-sets. 4

6 16 WEEK PROGRAM EMPOWERING AND CHANGING BEHAVIOURS The 16 week Junior Top Blokes Mentoring program is an intensive delivery method aimed at creating tangible outcomes and changes in the behaviour of participants. The program is designed to encourage participants to build personal resilience and informed decision making skills. This program comprises of workshops delivered during a single class period on a weekly basis for 16 weeks. The group may range in size from 6 to 15 participants and is targeted at male students in years 9 or 10 who may exhibit challenging behaviours, are not living up to their true potential or who could benefit from this social education mentoring program. All program topics on pages 9 and 10 are delivered as part of this program and work together to build participants knowledge, skills and self-efficacy. This program has a stringent evaluation framework to measure program impact on the individual participants with a particular focus on the degree of improved mental health, lifestyle behaviours, attitudes, knowledge and skill-sets. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Who is the program best suited for? The program works well with those in year 9 and 10 who identify as young men. The program is best targeted at young men who could benefit from a positive mentoring relationship to inspire them to live up to their full potential. How many students can participate in the 16 week program? Groups can range in size from 6 participants to 15. We recommend smaller group sizes if members of the group present with challenging behaviours. Are teachers required to attend? We do not require teachers to attend the program sessions unless participants exhibit extremely challenging behaviours. We do require a nominated teacher to become the program s key contact for our youth workers. What resources do you need from the school? The school should provide: A list of participants including any health conditions, diagnosed mental health issues and any behavioural issues that our youth workers should be aware of. A key contact within the school to help with organising program logistics. A room (with a whiteboard) that is available at the same time each week for the full program duration. What is the best location within a school? This varies depending on the group size, but for most groups a class room is ideal. Cost of the program For a tailored quote, please contact our Program Manager. All costs are inclusive of youth workers and program resources. 5

7 PROGRAM EVALUATION RESULTS 74% of participants indicated that they learnt new techniques for conflict resolution and anger management. 21% The percentage of participants whose mental wellbeing increased significantly. The largest increase in mental wellbeing came from those individuals, who pre-program, were in the lower percentiles. 84% of participants indicated that they have significantly changed their opinions about alcohol and other drug use as a result of the program. 92% of participants indicated they learnt how to look after their own mental health. 46% The percentage of participants who showed a decrease in the propensity to judge others based on their gender or sexual identity. 86% of participants indicated that the program had increased their overall self-confidence. 6

8 CROSSROADS PROGRAM This crossroads program can be covered over one or WORKSHOP CURRICULUM two days and include the following topics: OUTCOMES Alcohol and Drugs Mental Health Increased acceptance and understanding of the Anger Management differences between individuals and show a decrease Sexuality in the stigmatisation of those different to them. Social Media & Sexting Sexual Health Masculinity Healthy Relationships The Junior Top Blokes Crossroads Facilitators work with thousands of male students and know how to engage boy's on the topics of personal identity, mental heath and well-being, relationships, sexuality, sexual health, drugs and alcohol. All sessions combine educational, interactive and experiential learning to generate strong outcomes for all male participants. This program builds the skills and self-efficacy of participants through it s focus on strength-based, harm minimisation and innovative delivery methods. ONE DAY JUNIOR TOP BLOKES PROGRAM: EDUCATING AND ENLIGHTENING This program is suitable for male students in years 9 to 11. This program delivery method enables a school to choose up to six workshops to be addressed over the duration of the day. This is best delivered in a round robin set up but can also be delivered in a larger session depending on the school s needs. Enhanced ability to think critically and creatively towards binge drinking, drug experimentation, risk-taking, online behaviours and their role in positively impacting these social issues among their peer groups. Improved positive values and attitudes towards developing respectful relationships by building a thorough understanding of sexual consent, sexual health and implications of sexting. Increased confidence to apply personal skills and strengths to make better choices when related to mental health and positive life choices. We can, on request, run this program for male and female students, however please note topics may need to be altered to meet the needs of the female participants. For a tailored quote, please contact the Top Blokes Foundation s Program Manager. All prices are inclusive of presenters (up to 4) and all resources required to deliver the one day program. 7

9 TEACHER TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT The Top Blokes Foundation is committed to raising awareness of the issues faced by young men in todays fast paced society and how these can be addressed within their communities. These development workshops and presentations are all tailored for the specific needs of the audience and utilise current research, Top Blokes Foundation experiences, evaluations and case studies to educate and empower the audience through engaging and interactive workshops. We offer workshops for teachers and educators across a range of topics. Whether it is to equip staff with a wider understanding of mental health in boys and young men; dealing with and preventing problems, issues and behaviour; identifying problems and help-seeking strategies or even supporting your own staff wellbeing. Workshops can begin from an hour to a full day. We can custom-design and tailor the workshops to your needs, be it One or Two Hours, Half or Full Day workshops. Topics for the program include, but not limited to: Boys Mental Health: trends, problems, issues & solutions Evolving masculinity & how it is changing young men Building Healthy Relationships Educating and Engaging Parents Teacher & Staff Wellbeing Or you can choose any of the topics in the Junior Top Blokes Program: Video Gaming Porn, Cyber Bullying & Sexting Risk Taking & Peer Pressure Alcohol & Drugs Power & Privilege Relationships Sexual Health Sexuality Masculinity Racism Leadership & Teamwork Improving the teacher student relationship The cost of these workshops varies depending on the workshop duration and location. Please contact the Program Manager to discuss your training needs. 8

10 WORKSHOPS POWER AND PRIVILEGE This session explores the concepts of power and privilege as it relates to participants, their peers and their wider community to help young men to empathise with and better understand the lives of other people. The concepts explored in this session are revisited throughout the program and lay the ground work for discussions on gender and healthy relationships, racism, masculinity and sexuality. ALCOHOL AND DRUGS As 15 is the average age a young person will begin consuming alcohol, this workshop challenges young men s relationship to alcohol and drugs and how it relates to mental health and sense of masculinity. This workshops uses harm minimisation principles and upskills participants to make safer choices. The workshop also demystifies common misconceptions about alcohol and drugs, provides latest research on it s effects on young people s bodies and skills to negate high peer pressured situations.. ANGER MANAGEMENT This workshop demonstrates to participants the instigators of anger and introduces basic psychological concepts in trying to manage such instigators. This session also explores conflict resolution and self-soothing techniques to assist in reducing anger and anxiety in participants. 9 HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS This workshop discusses various relationship elements including consent in sexual relationships, personal responsibility, communication skills and strategies to build positive relationships with others. SEXUAL HEALTH In this workshop, participants gain an understanding of the transmission of Sexually Transmitted Infections and how quickly infections spread within their peer groups through an interactive activity developed by Sydney Sexual Health Center. MENTAL HEALTH With 1 in 4 young people experiencing mental health issues before the age of 25 and the barriers men face in seeking help for their mental health, this workshop raises awareness of mental health with a focus on normalisation of poor mental health and help seeking. It also builds peer-based protective community networks for young people and builds emotional awareness to up-skill participants with strategies to create a positive lifestyle MASCULINITY Masculinity plays a key role in shaping a male s identity and behaviours. This workshop explores how gender is constructed and assists participants to build a healthier version of masculinity, reshaping their personal understandings of masculine behaviours.

11 SEXUALITY s are assisted to understand and celebrate all gender and sexual identities. Through education, participants build a knowledge that breaks down barriers associated with homophobia and transphobia. LEADERSHIP & TEAMWORK This highly practical and interactive workshop will have participants on their feet practising leadership skills through a series of group challenges. s will understand basic leadership principles and their application in real life. CYBER BULLYING AND SEXTING This workshop discusses the personal, social and legal ramifications of online bullying and sexting, both to themselves and others. s are assisted to identify strategies to reduce online bullying within their peer groups. REALITIES OF PORNOGRAPHY With boys as young as nine now exposed to online porn, this workshop explores the unrealistic portrayal of sexual relationships and how porn consumption can affect young men s physiological and mental well-being as well as their personal relationships. R ACISM This workshop explores how racism is generated in a culture and how participants can take an active approach to breaking down racial stereotypes and reducing racism within their circle of friends and family. VIDEO GAMING This workshop explores the industry of video game creation, how it targets young people, the risks of addiction and understanding how to self-regulate participants game play. PEER PRESSURE AND RISK TAKING This session challenges young men to re-think their current risk taking behaviours and identify situations in which negative influences and peer pressure affect their independent thinking. This session builds skills in critical thinking, independent judgement and ability to understand future consequences of actions taken. HUMANISING TEACHERS This workshop shows how participants can initiate positive and communicative relationships with their teachers and understand their personal role in building respect, trust and honesty while at school. 10

12 GRADUATES BECOME TOP BLOKES YOUTH AMBASSADORS The Top Blokes Foundation is committed to providing further leadership and development opportunities to young men who complete the Junior Top Blokes Mentoring Program. Youth Ambassadors are selected to represent the Top Blokes Foundation at various events and media including most recently ABC Radio National, Daily Telegraph and WIN News. KEATON JAMES Keaton James is a graduate of Corrimal High School and has been a Top Blokes Foundation Youth Ambassador since Keaton was one of the first graduates of the Junior Top Blokes Mentoring Program in Keaton is a passionate advocate for changing the conversation around young men s health and promoting the benefits of social education. Keaton has successfully gained employment as a youth worker in the Top Blokes Foundation and is currently studying youth work. When not with Top Blokes, Keaton is a professional wrestler known as Captain Keato. I am living proof of what happens when people give boy s a go. I got so much out of the Junior Top Blokes program, they helped me to make smarter choices especially when I was out with friends. I m now studying youth work and want to help other boys become Top Blokes ELVIR CATOVIC Elvir is one of the newest Youth Ambassadors for the Top Blokes Foundation. He is currently in year 11 at Endeavour Sports High School and completed the Junior Top Blokes Program in late Elvir is passionate about helping other young men to access programs to build their confidence and motivation for them to succeed in the future. When not with Top Blokes Elvir can be found on the soccer field where he plays on multiple teams including being a founding member of his soccer team, Heski s Hero s. There are situations that I got into where if I hadn t done the Junior Top Blokes Program, I wouldn t have known what to do, like how to resolve issues with mates. Usually I don t like programs but I was really getting into Junior Top Blokes because it opened my mind to what other people were doing and helped me learn how to how to resolve issues with mates and help my friends not get into fights. I was waking up every Thursday eager to get out of bed knowing that Top Blokes was coming to the school that day 11 BRADLEY HODGES Currently in Year 11 at Illawarra Sports High School, Brad joined the Top Blokes Foundation as a Youth Ambassador in 2016, after completing the Junior Top Blokes Mentoring Program in Brad gained a lot of new skills through the program, including how to communicate more effectively and how to set goals for his future. He has a passion for food and is currently working hard at school with hopes to gain an apprenticeship in hospitality. Brad has represented the Top Blokes Foundation at the 2016 National Boy s Health Forum as well as presented at the Collaborative Care Forum: Student Attendance and Engagement. I wanted to be a Youth Ambassador to help other boys make the best of their lives. The best thing about the Junior Top Blokes Program was that it was a place where we can express ourselves and trust the youth workers with everything. The one message I would give to adults is that young men have the ability to help change the world for the better

13 TESTIMONIALS Today I presented seminars to our boys in Year 9. All the boys who you had worked with were well behaved, respectful and engaged. It was evident that they appeared to have grown in their time with you. I witnessed firsthand how cooperative they can be, even those who do not count me in their top 100 teachers of all time Andrew Horsley, Teacher, Dapto High School Why have we never heard this stuff before? I learnt heaps today 'I can be really honest in Top Blokes and the youth workers are really honest back, you feel like you can tell them what's really going on The program got me to communicate better with more people and just feel better about my life This program has changed my future The young men who have taken part in the Junior Top Blokes Mentoring Program have truly engaged with the Youth Workers who speak to them with respect and understanding. They have learnt how to live a more fulfilling and satisfying life. More and more boys have asked to be part of the program and those that are selected feel special. Several leaders have emerged as a result of the program and all of the young men have come away feeling better about themselves Jane Littrich, Teacher, Corrimal High School. The biggest thing I ve learnt is how to control my anger I don t know why people have never told us this stuff before I am already using the stuff I ve learned n Top Blokes You could talk about stuff guys wouldn t normally talk about I learnt to communicate between with people If I could do it again I would This program has changed my future I can be really honest in Top Blokes and the youth workers are really honest back, you feel like you can tell them what s really going on I learnt how to be more confident in myself 12

14 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Which young men are best suited for the program? All male students will benefit from participating in this mentoring program. More so, this program will particularly benefit those who display disengaged and at-risk behaviours including alcohol or drug usage, lack of interest in education, bullying and other behavioural concerns. This program benefits young men who have personal potential but are in need of positive mentors. Why don t you run these programs for girls? There are a number of widely recognised and funded personal and professional development programs targeted at young women. However, the importance of investing in young men s mental health and well-being is still not widely recognised. To combat this, we choose to specialise in the resilience building and personal development of young men. The Junior Top Blokes Mentoring Program provides the opportunity for young men to reflect on the social trends and negative behaviours that affect young men s health and that are barriers to their personal success. Why do you charge to run this program? Top Blokes Foundation is a non-profit organisation that does not receive government funding. To deliver these programs, we incorporate a fee that will cover the cost of program delivery and all resources. If cost is an issue for your school, the Top Blokes Foundation is able to discuss effective fundraising efforts by other schools and communities. Can I add participants half way through a 16 week program? Unfortunately, we do not allow participants to be added after the third session as it would be difficult to build the rapport with the youth workers and disrupt the dynamics of the program. If an individual who was meant to participate in the program is absent at the start of the program due to illness or suspension, the Top Blokes Team will review their participation on a case by case basis. How long before the program commencement can I change the day/time of the program? In our booking process we aim to confirm a day and time that suits each school. We do not allow changes within the two weeks prior to the commencement of the program however the Top Blokes Foundation will attempt to accommodate changes if availability becomes open. Can I look at the program content before you deliver it? We can provide teachers with session outlines and will take into consideration any concerns. However, we are unable to change large amounts of content. If you are concerned about workshop content, please contact the Top Blokes Foundation s Program Manager to discuss. 13

15 CONTACT US To find out more or to register your school, please contact the Top Blokes Foundation s Program Manager. info@topblokes.org.au Level 11, 65 York Street Sydney NSW 2000 Roger Carter Program Manager roger@topblokes.org.au Level 4, Crown Street Wollongong NSW

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