CEO'S REPORT

“Mentoring is not about fine phrases and inspiring words - it is about reality; giving young Australians in need, a caring shoulder to lean on for a sustained period”

These wise words formed part of a speech delivered at a Rotary International Centenary Celebration Breakfast a few years ago in Canberra by our National Patron His Excellency Major-General Michael Jeffery Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia.

These words continue to apply today and particularly here in Western Australia where we are experiencing a huge resource boom. Whilst this boom is benefiting the communities of WA economically; it is having some negative impacts on our young people socially both in rural and metropolitan areas of WA. Many adults are working away from home for considerable periods of time so as to help their families financially but this often leaves children and young people without regular contact with that certain adult/adults in their life. Our SVP volunteer mentors have been helping to address this need.

Due to the ongoing efforts of many community volunteers and the dedicated staff of the SVP, our program continues to prove that early intervention mentoring is a key element in assisting the community to develop our young people. The program has grown to a stage where we now have approximately 1800 active volunteers operating in any one year within WA schools in years K – 12.

It was very rewarding to see an increase in the wide range of volunteers joining our program as mentors over the past twelve months. In particular the inclusion of corporate volunteers whose employers so willingly allow them time off to mentor a young person in a local school for one hour per week during work hours. Landgate and The Good Guys are two such corporates, with 25 Landgate employees mentoring in schools in the Midland area and 21 Good Guys staff going to schools close to where their stores are located throughout Western Australia. The Good Guys also supported us during 2007 with some financial sponsorship which was greatly appreciated and it is hoped that this partnership will continue over the next few years.

Our national patron continues to support the idea of SVP Inc. being established as an early intervention school mentoring program in each state and territory throughout Australia and a funding proposal has been put forward to the Federal Minister for Education to allow this to eventuate in 2008. The program continues to grow in the ACT with their program increasing to 20 schools with over 60 volunteers involved as mentors.

Many exciting things happened for SVP over the last twelve months. We celebrated our 10th Anniversary with Ailsa Rice launching the book she had written on the history of SVP called “Through the School Gate”. This book covers the period from the first meeting of volunteers at Mt Lawley SHS to the 10th Anniversary on the 27th October 2006. We also had the honour of being judged as the Western Australian state winners and overall national winners in the 2006 National Bank Volunteer Awards in the category of Education and Youth Development. A fantastic effort from all involved with the SVP.

In conclusion I would once again like to sincerely thank our Patron Mrs Ruth Reid A.M., our Board of Directors, my hardworking co-workers, other supporting organisations and networks, the schools and most of all to the fantastic SVP volunteer mentors who willingly give up their time to mentor the many children who require assistance in our schools.

Christine Gray
Chief Executive Officer

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CEO'S REPORT