Young male students on the Central Coast will have access to more social education and mentoring support to help manage challenges and become “top blokes”, thanks to Newcastle Permanent.
The Top Blokes Foundation has received $15,000 from Newcastle Permanent staff to run its weekly in-school program at Erina and Gorokan high schools, as well as two schools in the Hunter region.
The Foundation’s Hunter and Central Coast regional coordinator, Dan Allars, said the funding will help it to support more young males to be their best selves and lead healthy and safe lives.
Allars said the high school program runs over 18 weeks across two school terms.
In the first term, participants look at topics such as positive mental health, drugs and alcohol – including vaping, risk taking, and anger management.
In the second term, more challenging topics such as sexual health, consent and domestic violence, racism, sexuality, privilege, and leadership are covered.
“Our holistic, evidence-based programs help young males to think critically about the issues impacting them and develop strategies to minimise risk for themselves and others,” Allars said.
“We challenge them and help foster good decision-making skills.
“Our group mentoring sessions facilitate discussions between the young males rather than lecturing them, and we don’t tell them how to behave.
“The big issues impacting young males such as suicide, drug and alcohol addiction, violence and incarceration can all be prevented.
“Our programs are targeted to give young men awareness and skills to navigate these issues, which benefits them and the community.”
He said Top Blokes plans to work with around 312 young males across 26 Central Coast schools this year and has a wait list for its programs.
Jai Menser did the program as a Year 10 student at Erina High School.
Now 20, Menser said he didn’t expect to get much from the program but it had a big impact on him then, which has stayed with him.
He said the program’s practical nature and the way the Top Blokes facilitator treated students with respect and got to know each of them made it appealing.
“Top Blokes was so good and changed me as a young man,” Menser said.
“One seemingly little thing was that we shook hands with the facilitator and looked each other in the eye at the beginning and end of every session.
“I have taken this into my work now as a football coach and parents and other people are noticing and complimenting me on the approach.”
Menser said the program showed him the benefits of goals and gave him strategies to be resilient.
This year he has set himself the goal of completing a 100km ultra marathon in the Blue Mountains in May to raise money for Top Blokes.
“The program taught me if you are disciplined, committed and consistent, you do so much more than you think you are capable of doing,” he said.
Under their CommunityAssist Program, Newcastle Permanent employees donate $60,000 a year to charities.
Each year staff vote on the four charities to receive support.
Newcastle Permanent also provides two days paid volunteering leave to support charities or community groups.
A Newcastle Permanent financial advisor for the Central Coast and Hunter, Megan Usher, nominated Top Blokes for funding support.
The mum of two said she knew little of Top Blokes until a family friend started to work with the organisation.
“Some of the topics covered can be difficult for parents to discuss with their sons and vice versa,” she said.
“As a parent, resilience and positive mental health is an important area, so programs that help boys and young men manage the pressures they are facing is a great thing for them and the broader community.”
For more information about accessing its programs or donating to support the expansion of its work visit topblokes.org.au.
Source:
Media release, Feb 22
Newcastle Permanent