CareSouth’s Aunties & Uncles Program is a very successful early intervention Program that links community Volunteer Carers with children aged from 3 – 12 years who may be stressed, vulnerable and/or isolated. Volunteer Aunties and Uncles care for and mentor a child who spends at least one weekend a month with them. Volunteer Carers generally develop long-term relationships with these children, providing friendship, mentoring and role modeling.The minimum contact is just one weekend a month – but makes a world of difference to each child.
Who Can Be a Volunteer Aunty or Uncle?
Aunties and Uncles are adults, over 21, from all walks of life including singles, couples, and families. Requirements include previous experience caring for children, and to have a friendly nature and enjoy spending time with children. Volunteer Carers need to consent to police checks and relevant screening including a working with children check.
Children in the Program
Aunties & Uncles aims to assist children aged from 3 – 12 years who are living in families experiencing isolation, stress or may be disadvantaged or vulnerable through lack of support within and/or outside the family. Some of the common issues for families experiencing stress or disadvantage may include mental health, poverty, experiences of domestic violence, and drug and alcohol dependence.
Program referrals can be made by:
- Social workers, psychologists, teachers and counsellors
- Workers within the community service and welfare organisations
- Parents/carers who believe that their child/ren may benefit from the service
- Custodial grandparents
Benefits for the Children
In the 17 years that CareSouth has delivered the Aunties & Uncles Program, we have found that children who have been placed with an Aunty and/or Uncle have improved self-esteem, academic performance, and non-academic skills such as swimming, cooking, surfing, or playing sport. They also have increased ambition, a sense of community, the capacity to trust others, and a sense of hope in life. Research has shown that a preventative Program such as Aunties & Uncles can alleviate the stress many families face, and by linking children with appropriate role models, it contributes to children developing into well adjusted adults.
Becoming a Volunteer Carer
We currently have a list of children eagerly waiting for a Volunteer Carer to become part of their lives. If you reside in the Illawarra, Shoalhaven or Eurobodalla regions and are inspired to change a young child’s life through the Aunties & Uncles Program, please contact CareSouth today!
