What Is COACH?
COACH is a community strengthening program that aims to empower disadvantaged young people and families, and build resilience in individuals through one-to-one mentoring. COACH stands for Creating Opportunities And Casting Hope, and was developed by Mission Australia and Crossway Lifecare.
COACH has a proven track record of bringing about transformation and aims to break the cycle of generational poverty and family breakdown. It also works well with young people, children and ex-offenders.
A COACH mentor is a friend with purpose, offering practical help and mentoring towards life goals. These goals include education, employment, training, improved mental health, reduction in addictive habits, financial management, housing, family cohesion, decrease in social isolation, and improved physical and emotional wellbeing. Mentoring is a way to bring out the best in people and help them make use of their own resources. Mentorees can be referred through local church ministries, welfare agencies and schools. However, not everyone referred will be suitable.
How does it work?
COACH is delivered to the community by volunteer mentors supported by COACH coordinators typically based in a church community. The mentor meets weekly to fortnightly with the mentoree to support, encourage, and to help set simple goals. COACH has been developed with the safety of volunteers and participants in mind. This is underpinned by a simple but robust policy and procedural framework that includes risk management strategies, a thorough selection and matching process, and fourteen hours of mentor training with ongoing training and
troubleshooting. Screening includes: Application form and structured screening interview, Safeguarding or Working With Children Check, Police check, three reference checks, additional checks for Youth COACH. COACH has been externally evaluated on two occasions by Monash University.
To find out more
If you would like to know more about becoming a coach or to be mentored, please contact Helen Mairinger, 0431 355 725 or email, coach@allsaintsnowra.org.au