I feel honoured to have been accepted as a mentor for the incredible Geelong Youth Engagement (GYE) Kokoda Program.

GYE is a remarkable organisation that transforms the lives of young people in the local Geelong, Bellarine and Surf Coast communities by empowering them to achieve their full potential. Each year, GYE organises for up to 24 young people to undertake the 96km Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea. Students are accompanied on the trek by mentors from various organisations in the local community, and Melbourne city. These relationships, together with the experience of the trek itself, have the power to change these young people’s lives.

The young people selected for the Kokoda Program may be experiencing disconnection from education or facing other challenges, which can include mental health struggles, homelessness, drug or alcohol dependency, anti-social behaviour and family issues.

The program focuses on personal development, fitness, health, diet and, most importantly, positive role modelling through stable and genuine support. My role will include weekly training with the students and fellow mentors for 20 weeks, as well as providing ongoing support during the trek itself and after our trek in Papua New Guinea. 

The program costs a total of $8,000 per person. This covers transfers, airfares, food, accommodation and the track itself. My workplace, Nicholes Family Lawyers, is very generously covering one third of the cost for a student participant, a 16-17 year old young person I will be supporting through the Raise Foundation mentoring program. I am fully self funding my own participation in the September 2026 program as a mentor, and I am hoping to meet the remaining costs for a student participant by raising $5,000 through this GoFundMe page. 

Please help me support and empower a local young person to achieve their full potential. Any donation, big or small, has the ability to change their life.

Thank you in advance for your contribution to a cause that means so much to me.