Panyappi Indigenous Youth Mentoring Program Evaluation

Panyappi Indigenous Youth Mentoring Program Evaluation
member about their relief to see their young person make a u-turn and become
motivated to do other things: “One parent said to me, ‘I’ve had a really bad experience
within the Department (ie Family and Youth Services) and I thought you would jus t be
like the rest of the workers we’ve had, but you have really made a difference’ and
thanked me” (Panyappi staff).
Schools commented and appreciated the family-focused and supportive approach of
Panyappi, as it often created a link between home and school that they were not always
able to establish:
When the mentor was tuned into the child they became an extra staff member
for me. Not that they were doing things I wanted, [but] they were supporting
the child in the link between us and home. The mentor could provide the link in
special ways if the person was an Aboriginal person particularly, so then we could
be doing that home school link and society link that is harder for us to establish.
(Program collaborator)
They also valued sharing the family support role with an outside group, particularly when
they perceived that other services had not met their obligations to provide support:
I think the other side of the mentor program is the Coordinator’s relationship
with [the young person’s carer]. She at times gets to her wits end with him and I
think [her] relationship with the Coordinator is very important. [The carer]
knows she has someone other than me to contact. I’ve got to say I think FAYS’
role with supporting [the young person] has been pretty ordinary. We are trying
to kick that into gear a bit. I think they really need to be giving [the carer]
heaps more support. (Program collaborator)
Panyappi staff were aware that their work was limited without engagement with families,
even though many problems seemed entrenched and difficult to change:
We can’t just make decisions for this young person without their family. The
information does tend to filter through the family. So I think this is a very
important part of the project. I would like to see Panyappi develop this more.
We would like to start taking the families away with us on camps. We are doi ng
the genealogy program, which is built around the family, and so everybody gets
to know ‘this is who you are.’ Even the art program we have told families that
they are very welcome to join. Unless you’re going to make changes in the family
home there is no point working with the young person. We need to understand
what is going on in their li fe . We need to support the famili es so that changes
can be made. (Panyappi Coordinator)
When they are here with Panyappi they are trying to make a difference and they
are going out. They are making the effort and they are such a changed young
person, but when you see them in the community with their friends or family
they are a totally different person. You can only do so much and what needs to
change is the home. (Panyappi staff).
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