Take a deep dive into our Annual Impact Report for 2025. You can see the impact our mentoring programs made; find out about partners, schools, mentors and people that made it all possible and read all about the insights and findings from our rigorous evaluation. Audited 2025 Financials to follow.
Annual Impact Report 2025 Connection matters
raise.org.au
Raise Foundation | Annual Impact Report 2025
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Contents Letter from the CEO and Chair Purpose, mission, vision, values
5 6 8
Youth involvement
Issues facing young people today
10 14 17
Our outcomes framework
2025 in numbers
2025 mentee outcomes 2025 school outcomes 2025 mentor outcomes
25 29 35
Our partners and supporters 41 Board, Leadership and Advisory Councils 43 Employee experience 44 2025 financials 45 The future 48
We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we mentor. We pay our respects to Elders past and present. We recognise their long-held traditions of mentoring and nurturing the next generation through story, connection, and shared wisdom. We honour that legacy by creating spaces where learning flows both ways and every voice is valued. Raise acknowledges and honours the fundamental value and dignity of all individuals. We pledge to create and maintain an environment that celebrates diversity and equality and is inclusive for all.
To protect the privacy of our mentees, photos featured throughout this document do not feature real mentees. The quotes used on the images are not related to the person(s) pictured.
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“Raise mentoring should be shared worldwide because it helps young people particularly with their communication skills, opening up, learn to trust others, helping others, being confident and positive.” – Raise mentee
Raise Foundation | Annual Impact Report 2025
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The power of showing up | raise.org.au Connection matters
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We can’t strengthen community connection alone, and it is so needed right now. It takes a village to raise a child, and it takes the whole Raise Village to improve youth wellbeing in our country. We know we can make a huge impact together, and your continued support is invaluable and appreciated. Over the past 17 years Raise has grown and evolved just like the young people we support, and, like them, we’re making another significant transition this year. Since we started in 2008, with just 58 young people across 3 school programs, we’ve been developing and refining our mentoring programs to ensure that, year after year, we see the same consistently significant, positive impacts for young people. We have total confidence that mentoring works, with independent research confirming what we’ve seen in our evaluations every year. With the commencement of an exciting longitudinal study this year, we are excited to speak with Raise graduates over time to further prove the difference that mentoring makes. In 2025 alone, we’ve provided our proven program to a record 2,753 young people across 189 school programs, which we are very proud of. Alongside this, 2025 has marked a significant change for us. Delivering our programs through schools has been the core foundation on which we’ve grown, and we’ll continue to deliver our flagship program this way. However, to reach more young people across Australia who would benefit from a trained and trusted mentor, we are thinking differently and embracing the opportunities our digital world presents to provide our life changing programs in a more flexible and sustainable way. Letter from the CEO and Chair
Since piloting in 2024, we have been developing and building our online mentoring service, Raise Digital. This new program builds on what we know, to deliver our proven programs in a new way. In 2025 we have supported 117 young people through this service, and we plan to expand significantly over the coming years to support young people who aren’t currently able to access our programs. We aim to reach 5,000 young people every year by 2030 with half of them accessing our programs online. This will not only help us support more young people when they need us, anywhere and anytime, but it will also enable us to deliver more effectively and efficiently, reducing costs and increasing impact. It’s fair to say that this year has proved financially challenging for us. Whilst we’ve continued to build and deepen relationships with our village of generous funders and donors, we have faced more challenges than we anticipated in growing our income at the rate needed to scale our impact. We’ve had to look at every aspect of how we run our organisation to identify and realise efficiencies. With the unwavering support of our Board, this included a restructure which saw us rationalise our teams. Whilst this was a difficult time for everyone at Raise, we are now in a stronger position to move forward, with a clear strategic focus. Thank you for the vital role you play in supporting young people. With your help we will achieve our vision of providing a trained and trusted mentor to every young person in Australia who needs one. The sooner the better.
Vicki Condon AM Founder and CEO
Leon Condon Chair
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Building a brighter future for Australia Purpose Raise significantly improves youth wellbeing
by connecting trained and trusted mentors with every young person in Australia who needs one. Young people can survive and thrive in adolescence, believe in themselves and others, and are equipped with tools for life.
Mission Vision Impact
“I could talk about almost anything, serious or casual, and we could make jokes.
He felt like the older brother I never had.” – Raise mentee
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Who we are
We put young people first By actively listening and understanding, we support and empower young people to navigate challenges with resilience, both now and in the future. We are youth mentoring experts As an early intervention and prevention solution, we provide industry-leading mentor training to deliver best-practice programs that meet or exceed industry benchmarks. We are trusted, safe and reliable Providing a safe space, supervised by a qualified professional, for young people to connect with a trusted, independent adult who shows up for them, every week.
We deliver programs that work Rigorously monitoring and evaluating our programs, we prove and improve our significant impact in young people’s ability to seek help, be resilient, engage with education, and build hope for the future. We bring everyone together Forging connections with schools, donors, business and government to foster thriving communities by equipping everyone with approaches, exciting initiatives and innovative ways to efficiently provide a mentor for every young person who needs one. We are people people Priding ourselves on listening, caring and working openly with everyone, we proactively build strong relationships and successful partnerships. essential youth mentoring skills. We find better ways Collaborating and developing new
Our values Show heart – we are kind, passionate, sincere, empathetic Give respect – we believe in acceptance, equity, inclusivity Deliver excellence – we are evidence-based, responsive, consistent, experts in our industry Bring vitality – we are positive, fun, energetic, inspiring Practice integrity – we operate with authenticity, accountability, transparency Be courageous – we are imaginative, driven, progressive, confident
Show heart
Be courageous
Give respect
Practise integrity
Deliver excellence
Bring vitality
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Young people at the heart of everything we do
We don’t believe in doing our work for young people, we believe in working together with young people to design and deliver programs which meet them where they are. Young people are embedded throughout the organisation in shaping how we work, what we do and what we say. Raise Youth Advisory Councils The YACs meet regularly across the year to provide insights from the youth perspective, advocate for the young voice and collaborate on projects with teams across the organisation. We are grateful to have so many highly skilled and ambitious young people aged 14-24 who are passionate about improving the wellbeing of other young people through mentoring. We would like to thank our 2025 YAC members: Ava Anselme, Ashwak Ahmed, Juilian Stavrou, Zali Fisher, Michael Humpryson, Jess Stone, Dillon Harris, Darcy Oates, Julia Lander, Henry Gray, Theodora Koutzoumis, Skye Harman, Rebecca Le, Tilly Groves, Sania Gabba and Zoya Zoya.
We also extend our thanks to all our YAC members from our partner schools; Ren, Chloe, Cherry, Mercy, Tanya, Viv, Tiffany, Madailein, Addison, Lily, Annasia, Chloe, Emily and Luke. Their energy and involvement were essential in piloting the participation of our younger YAC members. Some of the projects our YACs have been involved in: • M arketing and messaging approaches for mentee recruitment in Raise Digital • Mentor recruitment • Fundraising campaigns • S peaking at Raise events, including our evaluation webinar and milestone events such as the QLD 10- year celebration • S haring insights with Raise on issues impacting young people, such as social media ban, mental health, gaming, loneliness and AI • Developing video content • Involvement in Youth Mentoring benchmarks • Consultation of longitudinal studies • Curriculum revisions
Below, left: Amanda Thomas – Head of Youth Engagement at Raise and the YAC participating in our fundraiser Step by Step ; and right: YAC members Tilly and Zoya share their experience of Raise mentoring at Raise HQ.
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2025 Youth Summits – Sydney CBD and Southern Highlands, NSW In 2025 we had the pleasure of hosting two, one day Youth Summits. In Sydney, we co-hosted with Braze. We’d like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Braze, Mittagong RSL and Berrima Buslines and our Southern Highland supporters, without whose generosity and involvement we wouldn’t be able to continue to engage with young people through these valuable events. The Raise Youth Summits provide another opportunity to capture insight and feedback from young people which is used to continue to evolve our programs and ensure the youth voice is firmly embedded in our organisation. This year, our Summits were powered by the voices of Raise Graduates, bringing the true lived experience of our program into every decision we made. Their collective wisdom and passion ensure that our work remains deeply connected to the realities faced by young people today, driving programs that are not only relevant but transformative. Across the two events, 45 young people joined us from grades 9, 10 and 11 from our school partners: Randwick High, Parramatta High, Bowral High and Moss Vale High. Alongside providing valuable developmental feedback for us, the Summits create a unique space for young people to come together, share ideas, be part of advocacy work and build new connections.
They also offer the chance for young people to engage with and experience our co-hosting organisations, gaining insights into future pathways and opportunities for their careers. Raise graduate mentees Again, we have been moved by the powerful stories shared with us by our graduate mentees. We would like to thank everyone who has shared their experiences with us. These stories allow us to share the real, life-changing power of mentoring with funders, mentors, young people, parents and schools, helping us to continue supporting more young people in Australia who would benefit from our programs. Youth engagement in 2026 and beyond Our focus over 2026 will be on further expansion of the Junior YAC and embedding and enhancing our youth engagement activities, ensuring that we provide value- adding opportunities for our young supporters and advocates and build mutually beneficial relationships.
“The YAC has been incredibly rewarding. Working with a broader team with a common goal, having the autonomy to make suggestions, and to see those suggestions taken on board is hugely beneficial.” – Michael
“Being on the YAC has empowered me to advocate for young people with more confidence and clarity.” – Theodora
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Young people across Australia are facing increasing challenges Suicide remains one of the leading causes of death for young people, with 1 in 2 young people 1 being impacted by suicide. The ripple effect from both attempts and deaths by suicide cause deep and lasting trauma for young people, their families and friends, and that effect ripples out through schools and whole communities. We need to act early to give young people the tools and skills they need, so suicide never feels like the solution. Young people across Australia are struggling, and our 2025 mentees were some of the hardest hit, experiencing these issues to an even greater degree:
1 in 5 young people would find it hard to turn to friends and family if they needed help 2
41% of Raise mentees were able to ask for help only sometimes or almost never at the start of mentoring
1 in 6 young people feel lonely all or most of the time 3
64% of Raise mentees have experienced loneliness before joining the program
1 in 9 young people feel negative or very negative about the future 4
46% of Raise mentees scored low in hope for the future at the start of mentoring
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2 in 3 young people identify cost of living as a concern 7
31% of Raise mentees have actual experience of financial hardship
1 in 5 young people are experiencing high psychological distress 6
45% of Raise mentees have experienced depression
72% of Raise mentees have experienced anxiety
1 in 4 young people reported being bullied every few weeks or more often 5
35% of Raise mentees have experienced discrimination
58% of Raise mentees have experienced bullying
16% of Raise mentees were not confident about their ability to finish school at the start of mentoring
8% of Raise mentees were not confident about their ability to get a job in the future at the start of mentoring
1 in 12 young people are disengaged from education and work 8
References available on page 51
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What mentees wanted from mentoring:
72% want a space to be able to talk openly and be listened to 56% want help to get through school 56% want advice and guidance from their mentor 47% want help with their future 45% want help with their mental health 44% want help with friendships and other relationships 40% want help identifying their strengths
They want to develop their skills in: 59% Confidence
57% Communication and social skills
49% Coping with challenges/ stress
42% Self-care
42% Getting a job
40% Help seeking
33% Goal setting
And are most concerned about:
Safety and crime 43%
Mental health 50%
Economy / cost of living 48%
Alcohol and Drugs 38%
Housing / homelessness 35%
Animal welfare 31%
Environment 35%
Discrimination 34%
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Raise Theory of Change We deliver our evidence-based program through: 1 Comprehensively trained volunteer mentors in schools and online. 2 Sessions are supervised by qualified, professional counsellors, youth workers and psychologists.
Improvements in these four outcomes enable young people to thrive through ad olescence, believe in themselves and others and be equipped with tools for life. Alongside this, positive impacts are felt by mentors, schools, young supporters and advocates, and parents and caregivers.
3 The program is continually evaluated and evolved through ongoing consultation and engagement with young people to ensure that it continues to deliver statistically significant improvements in the four key outcome areas: asking for help, resilience, hope for the future and engagement with education.
You can find our full Theory of Change at raise.org.au/theoryofchange
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Our outcomes framework – focusing on four key outcome areas
Hope for future
Asking for help
Mental health support Through mentoring, young people have more capability to ask for help and a stronger likelihood of accepting it. They develop trust in adults, improve communication skills and can find support and resources.
Social and emotional wellbeing With higher levels of hope, young people improve socially and academically. They are able to set and achieve goals and develop a growth mindset with mentor support. Hope is a buffer against stress, anxiety and suicide ideation.
Outcome 1: Finding trusted adults who can help Outcome 2: Knowledge of resources
Outcome 1: Awareness of capabilities Outcome 2: Ability to set goals Outcome 3: Ability to achieve goals Curriculum modules: Full program Identity – who am I? Stand up – assertive rights, my skills
Curriculum modules: Full program Help – where, who and how to get there Support – my support map Risk – my choices Flip – my turn Ask – reaching out Skills program Challenges and barriers to help-seeking
Future – looking ahead Reflect – my progress Hope – my future Skills program I am amazing Future
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Our outcomes framework – focusing on four key outcome areas
School belonging
Resilience
Social and emotional wellbeing Mentoring improves a young person’s ability to bounce back after stress and enhances recovery. Mentors help young people to increase confidence, adapt to new situations, develop coping skills to deal with adversity and overcome challenges.
School engagement Through mentoring, young people improve their relationship with peers and teachers. Mentees attend school more, resulting in increased grades, higher school completion rates, stronger academic confidence and better economic outcomes.
Outcome 1: Confidence Outcome 2: Coping strategies
Outcome 1: Better relationships Outcome 2: Academic confidence Outcome 3: Improved attendance
Curriculum modules: Full program Me – my strengths Self-talk – my thoughts Courage – building resilience Connect – catching up Friend – relationship skills Managing stress - looking after myself Skills program Overcoming barriers
Curriculum modules: Full program Community – my place School – my learning
Support Practice Building you Fill your bucket
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Working upstream in early intervention Mentee journey outcomes with Raise
Path with a mentor Improved confidence Positive relationships
Goal setting Help seeking Hope for the Future Resilience Improved school attendance
School belonging School completion Employment L ong term health and wellbeing
Path without a mentor Loneliness and poor relationships Disengagement from education Poor mental health Un or under-employment Poor overall health and social engagement
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2025 in numbers
2,753 in-school mentees 117 Raise Digital mentees
2,870 total young people supported
189 mentoring programs delivered
170 school partners supported
2,224 total mentors volunteered
1,351 new mentors screened, trained, matched
873
487 university student mentors
experienced mentors volunteered with us again
Since we started
11,443 mentors trained
19,114 young people mentored
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Raise Foundation organisational goals Blue Deliver a high-quality program that has a positive impact Orange Expand that impact to more young people Green Ensure we do it sustainably KPI Target 2025 Actual 2024 Actual Summary KPI results 2021 to 2025
2023 Actual
2022 Actual
2021 Actual
Number of digital mentoring matches
Increase yoy 117
–
–
–
–
In school KPIs Number of mentoring matches Number of programs (schools)
Increase yoy 2,753 Increase yoy 189
2,546 2,744 2,088 2,124
189
210
180
155
Match retention rate (within program) Mentees enjoyed the program Mentees would recommend Raise
>90% >90% >90%
75% 98% 95% Yes Yes Yes Yes 99% 98% 97% 99% 47% 99%
86% 86% 88% 74%
97% 97% 99% 98% 94% 93% 96% 94%
Statistically significant impact on help-seeking skills Yes
Yes Yes Yes Yes
Yes Yes Yes Yes
Yes Yes Yes
Yes*
Statistically significant impact on resilience
Yes
Yes
Statistically significant impact on hope for the future Yes
Yes* Yes*
Statistically significant impact on school belonging
Yes
Yes*
Mentors enjoyed the program
>90%
98% 97% 98% N/A
Mentor likelihood of referring Raise to a friend
8/10
98% 97% 98% 9/10 98% 100% 93% 99% 99% 98% 100% 100%
Mentor training rated favourably School satisfaction with the program
>90% >90%
Mentor retention rate (yoy)
50%
46% 32% 51% 92% 96% 91%
52%
Staff team engagement with vision and purpose
>90%
97%
* For mentees who started with a low score in the outcome at the start of the program.
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Raise mentees
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Meet the 2025 Raise in-school mentees
Raise mentees come from a range of backgrounds and experiences and we work hard to make our mentoring program inclusive and suitable for all young people. In 2025 we…
7 8 9 10 11 12
Average age 14
Mentored 2,753 young people
Majority were in years 8 and 9 at high school
53% female 41% male 6% another option including non-binary
speak a language other than English at home
29%
7%
6%
11%
identify as disabled
were born outside of Australia
identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people
45% have caring responsibilities for a family member or friend 37% identify as neurodivergent
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In-school program and match summary 2025
YP Supported/ program Raise Online Raise Group Raise Skills Program
ACT
NSW QLD
VIC
SA
WA
TAS
Total
43
0 0
29 172
0
14
0 0
0
0
372
28
65
87
20
52
0
23
0
29
0
0
0
Raise Full Program
2,286
28
1,079
241
520
222
127
69
Total
28
1,303
269
628
222
214
89
2,753
Raise Full Program
Programs -Raise Group
Programs - Raise Online
Raise Skills Program
School Partners
NSW ACT
76
69
14
2 0
2 0 2 0 0 0 0 4
2
2
0 5 2 0 2 6
VIC QLD
39
34
1
18 15
17 15
0 0 0 0 3
SA
TAS WA
8
7 9
12
Total
170
153
29
Raise Foundation | Annual Impact Report 2025
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Statistically significant impacts across all four key outcome areas Our evaluations have consistently shown statistically significant outcomes in our programs year-on-year and 2025 was no exception. This year’s outcomes build on evidence from the last 16 years and the independent evaluation in 2024 which proved our findings. Percentage of mentees that improved in each of the four key outcomes by the end of the program.
Asking for help 45%
School belonging 57%
Hope for the future 55%
Resilience 61%
88% improved
69% improved
44% improved
18% improved
in at least 1 outcome area Compared to 85% in 2024
in at least 2 outcome areas Compared to 64% in 2024
in at least 3 outcome areas Compared to 43% in 2024
in all 4 outcome areas Compared to 19% in 2024
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Areas of improvement for mentees
96% identified improvement due to the program, which might look like…
54%feel more confident 56%communication skills improved
45%feel better about the future 44%feel better about myself 43%feel able to make better choices 38% feel better about school 36% feel less lonely 35% mental health has improved 34% are more likely to help others
78% of mentees said the program helped with their personal issues
“We always found something interesting to talk about, and felt safe sharing personal stuff about our lives, and whenever I was upset my mentor would always listen and give me advice.” – Raise mentee
57%
97%
set a goal
partly or fully achieved that goal
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The mentee experience
78% said mentoring helped them with mental health or personal issues
98% of mentees enjoyed the program
95% of mentees would recommend to a friend
91% of mentees liked the group activities
82% of mentees liked the handbook activities
98% of mentees felt safe talking to their mentor
86% of mentees felt safe in their mentoring group
91% of mentees rated their connection with their mentor excellent or very good
96% of mentees felt supported by their Raise Program Counsellor
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Mentee outcomes One of the key milestones of the Raise mentoring program is Graduation. This marks a significant moment with an event
invited the young people in our programs to creatively express their personal journey through our Raise ReImagined competition, every year we are blown away by the creativity demonstrated.
which celebrates their journey and achievements. At graduation we ask mentees to reflect on their personal journeys. It not only recognises their commitment to the program but also acts as a springboard to future success. As part of this, for the second year, we
Below: Raise Reimagined winning entry.
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What others saw
Asking for help
Hope for the future
School belonging
Resilience
student attendance 72% student behaviour 69% 100% of schools identified improvement in the cohort – including:
communication 79% hope for the future 78% 96% of mentors saw an improvement – including: ability to ask for help 77%
confidence 51% feeling happier 46% 77% of parents saw an improvement in their child – including: better relationship with others 42%
“I used to be really nervous talking to adults but I can do it a lot easier now.” – Raise mentee
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Raise Digital mentee outcomes This was a transformative year for us as we moved out of piloting and into full delivery of Raise Digital. We proved through those pilots that our programs (both Full and Skills based programs) continued to deliver the same positive outcomes for young people when delivered through a digital channel. Pilot outcomes for Raise Digital mentees
92% of mentees enjoyed the program
83% of mentees would recommend to a friend
75% of mentees feel like things are different for them because of the program
90% of mentees who identified personal issues feel the program has helped them cope
92% of mentees said that mentoring helped them in at least one area
92% of mentees rated their connection with their mentor as excellent or very good
We supported 117 young people through Raise Digital in 2025 As the number of mentees we support each year grows, we will continue to evaluate in line with our school programs to ensure our programs continue to deliver positive impacts for young people wherever and however they access them.
School experiences
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Collaborating with schools across Australia
This year we partnered with 170 schools across New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory to deliver in-school mentoring programs.
“Just a big thank you to the Raise team for another
QLD 19 ACT 2
incredible year. The impact on our students is always noticeable, along with the professionalism, care, and consistency from everyone involved make the partnership such a pleasure. We’re genuinely grateful to have Raise as part of our school community, it’s become one of our most valued and trusted wellbeing supports.” – Raise school partner
SA 15
WA 15
NSW 87
VIC 42
TAS 9
Total number of schools 189
97% felt the program improved student relationships and belonging
98% of schools would recommend the program to another school
99% rated the program as excellent or very good
83% recognised the program helped build individual and collective wellbeing at the school
91% of schools rated the Raise Program Counsellors as 5 stars!
71% felt the program supported the wellbeing team at school
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School partner feedback
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Raise Digital through schools
“The Raise Digital mentoring program has really thrived at Cheltenham Girls’ High because it feels genuine, supportive, and easy for the girls to engage with. The one-to-one chats give students space to open up, build confidence, and get advice from someone who truly listens, and the online format makes it simple to fit mentoring into busy school days. It’s also been incredibly well organised; the communication between Raise and the school has been smooth, clear, and consistent, which has made the whole process run effortlessly. The digital Raise program is a fantastic standalone opportunity that gives students a positive, flexible way to experience the benefits of mentoring, making mentoring feel familiar and accessible.” - Maria Abram, Cheltenham Girls School
Mentor experiences
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Thank you to our 2025 Raise volunteer mentors
Raise mentors come from a wide range of backgrounds, bringing a depth of expertise and experience to the role.
2,224 volunteers mentored a young person in 2025
Ranged from 20 to 80+ years old 60 30 70 80 + 40 10 50 20
35%
Average age 45
were born outside of Australia
72% female 27% male 1% another option including non-binary
speak a language other than English at home
23%
12% identify as neurodivergent
9% identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community
3% identify as disabled
1% identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
Mentor through 67% Community 26% University or registered training organisation 6% Workplace
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Youth mentor training Raise is the youth mentoring organisation in Australia that provides the most comprehensive mentor training, including online mini-modules and a full day of group training, all supported by a rigorous screening process. This year we introduced mentor training for Raise Digital mentors. This is additional training which enables qualified mentors to translate their skills into an online mentoring space.
98% felt their confidence to mentor significantly increased
97% of mentors rated the training they received as excellent or very good
98% felt knowledge and skills had increased
1,351 mentors trained
94% of mentors said the training had prepared them for their role 96% learnt skills they could apply in personal relationships 93% felt their Program counsellor provided them with useful advice
Youth safety remains a core part of our screening and training. All mentors undergo mandatory Working with Children Checks and National Crime checks specific to their state.
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81% to give back to the community 91% to make a difference in a young person's life Mentors volunteer for Raise for a variety of reasons: 60% to feel a sense of purpose The impact for mentors Outcomes for all mentors
99% felt a sense of contribution to their community
97% felt a sense of purpose
95% have improved their listening and communication skills 95% are more likely to volunteer in the future 97% felt they made a difference in young person’s life
91% felt more connected with their community
91% have more empathy for others
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Mentoring benefits staff and business
96% feel a sense of pride in their employer for partnering with Raise Organisations who partner with Raise benefit from a decrease in employee turnover and an increase in employee engagement and commitment. Outcomes for corporate mentors include: 6% of mentors volunteer with Raise through their workplaces, who partner with Raise as part of their CSR or ESG strategy.
91% are able to confidently support wellbeing in the workplace
90% are more confident in creating a safe and inclusive environment
85% are able to apply mentoring skills in their workplace 80% have improved their leadership skills 71% are more likely to stay with their current employer 53% have increased networks in their organisation
“I was a little worried about connecting with my mentee and feeling confident to guide the conversation if needed. I found all mentee’s to be easy to talk to and interested in the mentoring process. The workbook is a great support, so my concerns did not come true. I felt comfortable with the mentoring process. More importantly I really enjoyed getting to know my mentee. I would definitely do it again.” – Raise mentor
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How Raise is equipping Australia’s workforce of the future
26% of mentors volunteer with Raise as part of a student placement for their university or training course:
65% to improve their listening and communication skills
74% to learn skills to help them in the workplace
56% to improve their mental health knowledge
And after mentoring they tell us that they:
99%
99%
98%
applied their studies in the real world
learnt skills relevant to degree
gained confidence in supporting young people
92%
92%
feel more equipped to gain employment in their chosen field
have more motivation to continue their studies
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Strong investment
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It takes a village to raise a child
It takes the Raise Village to support young people when they need it most 2025 has proved a challenging year for fundraising, with long-term partnerships reaching the natural end and many organisations facing their own difficulties. However, throughout 2025 we have continued to build our reach across many of our income streams, deepening relationships, and continuing to provide clear and compelling evidence of the impact that investment in Raise provides.
100% of our corporate partners are satisfied with their partnership with Raise
Raise programs deliver $4.37 per $1 invested in social return on investment.
Monetary investment $1 invested in Raise
Social impact return $4.37 returned
“Hand on heart, I’m a true advocate for the work Raise does. With over 15 years in the NFP space, I’m consistently blown away by the integrity of your programs, the tangible outcomes, and the depth of your research. The professionalism of Raise is something you don’t always find in this sector – and it’s a real standout.” – Hayley Nissam, Head of Social Impact, Schneider Electric
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Key fundraising highlights of the year • Building on the successful launch of the Raise Ripples giving circle in Sydney in 2024 and expanding membership with a new Raise Ripples giving circle in Melbourne. • Launching the Step by Step Challenge peer-to-peer fundraising campaign, with over 900 participants signing up to fundraise for us. • Launching new community running events in Victoria and Western Australia with the addition of Run Melbourne and HBF Run for a Reason, both of which saw growth in our community fundraising income stream. • Building our pool of Regular Givers through our EOY and EOFY appeals. • Securing new multi-year partnership extensions with two of our transformational and principal partners. • Securing a new transformational partner providing funding for Raise Digital online mentoring. • Funding achieved for the launch of our First Nations pilot program in 2026. • The Raise in-school mentoring program being supported by the Victorian Government for the first time in 2025.
• Expanding funding to Western Australia through Channel 7 Telethon Trust and Stan Perron Charitable Foundation. • Some incredible efforts from our volunteer mentors who have not only given their time but raise vital funds as well.
Below: Rotary supporting Raise by hosting a Bunnings sausage sizzle.
Expanded Raise Ripples Giving Circle to Melbourne
Introduced our Step by Step fundraiser
Funding achieved for our First Nations pilot program
Volunteers continued to donate their time and raise funds
Expanded funding to WA
WA
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Thank you to our partners
Our work would not be possible without our valued supporters. You make a world of difference, and you mean the world to us.
Transformational and Principal Partners
Philanthropists Boyer Family Crookes Family Foundation
Farrell Family Foundation Graf Family Foundation Chris Vaughan Tim and Stacey Bishop Birch Family Thelma and Paul Constantinou Foundation Aidan Allen George Family Michael McNamara Rachel Rose Shemara Wikramanayake and Ed Gilmartin David Thodey Tim Reed David Griffiths
Moller Family Foundation Stephen Shaul Justin Liberman Simon and Mel Wright Todd Family Foundation Jonathan Maister Siobhan Dcosta Veronica and Matthew Latham Ilana Atlas Rob Hanmer and Isabel De Meur Mervyn Levin David Knowles Elena Lovu Anonymous x5
Fuchs Family David and Juliet Walker Gray Family Harlyn Foundation
Peter and Elizabeth Moore Foundation Su and Morrice Cordiner The Petersen Family Foundation
Andy and Rosie Wade Stuart and Emma Fox Nanquette Family Bruce Fink OAM Garry Browne AM Jaclyn and David Gazal
Ripples members Su Cordiner (Patron NSW) Anita Pahor (Patron VIC & QLD)
Karen Cooper Lianne Graf Nicole Graf
Helen Kirby Veronica Latham Rachael McLennan
Sally McLennan Jenny Pridham Sarah Robb
Cathy Sertori Cate White Electra Wiggs
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Major Partners $100K +
Partners $40K +
Partners $10K + Steadfast Foundation Bupa Australia Pty Ltd People First Bank Foundation
Arrotex Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd Hearts & Minds Investments Commonwealth Bank Foundation
One Zero CrowdStrike Google Employee Giving
Trusts and Foundations
In Kind Partners
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Board, Leadership and Advisory Councils
Board of Directors: • Andrew Birch • Tim Bishop • Leon Condon • Vicki Condon AM • Jun Bei Liu • Joost de Kock • Dr Matthew Miles Executive Team: • Vicki Condon AM • Emily Dale • Paul Kitchin • Tamara Salamacha • Lucy Snowball • Adelaide Thompson • Kathleen Vella Patron’s Advisory Council: • David Gonski AC ( Chair) • Ilana Atlas AO • Chris Bond • Leslie Loble AM • Rachael McLennon • Lisa Paul PSO AO • Rob Tassie Research Advisory Council: • P rofessor Lucas Walsh (Chair)
Youth Advisory Council: • Ava Anselme • Ashwak Ahmed • Zali Fisher • Sania Gabba • Henry Gray • Tilly Groves • Skye Harman • Dillon Harris • Julia Lander • Rebecca Le • Darcy Oates • Juilian Stavrou • Jess Stone • Zoya Zoya • Michael Humpryson • Theodora Koutzoumis
School Advisory Council: • Catherine Alderman • Brendan Barlow • Lance Berry • Fiona Bird • Maggie Butler • Helen Conidaris • Edwina Ricci • Aaron Smith Marketing Advisory Council: • Emma Flowers (Chair) • Anne Hyland
Ambassadors: • Mark Beretta OAM • Ali Brahe-Daddo • Chloe Dalton OAM • Ryan “Fitzy” Fitzgerald • Billi FitzSimons • Georgie Gardner • Ellia Green OAM • Tommy Herschell • Jean Kittson AM • Cathrine Mahoney • Pat McCutcheon • Hugh Sheridan
• Erik Thomson • Jacinta Tynan
• Robbie Lawson • Susan Massasso • Nick Nichles • Jessica Ridley • Kylie Smith • Mikey Taylor • Charlotte Valente • Matt Williams
Junior YAC • Addison • Annasia • Cherry • Chloe • Chloe • Emily • Lily • Luke • Madailein • Mercy • Ren
• Rachel Christie • Carolyn Curtis • Penny Daikin • Anne Hampshire • Suzie Riddell • Michael Carmody
• Tanya • Tiffany • Viv
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Meaningful work
Our staff are the backbone of Raise. They work tirelessly ensuring that young people are supported with best practice youth mentoring, Raise mentors are trained and supported, and our organisation runs efficiently and effectively, both now and in the future.
96% believe Raise is committed to best practice in our industry 96% believe Raise has a vision which is inspiring
Purpose 99% are engaged with the vision and purpose 99% are proud of the work they do for Raise
Management 99% believe their direct manager consistently demonstrates Raise values 93% believe the Raise Leadership Team are good role models
Impact 99% believe the work they do is meaningful
Wellbeing 97% are happy working for Raise 91% would recommend Raise as a great place to work
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Strategic Impact Plan 2026-2030
Purpose Mission Vision
Raise significantly improves youth wellbeing by connecting trained and trusted mentors with every young person in Australia who needs one
Young people survive and thrive through adolescence, believe in themselves and others, and are equipped with tools for life
Impact
Mental health support – Help seeking
Social and emotional wellbeing – Resilience
Social and emotional wellbeing – Hope
School engagement – School belonging
1 Deliver mentoring and training programs that have a significant impact
2 Expand that impact to more young people, organisations and communities
3 Ensure we do it sustainably
Goals
Fundraising and Marketing
People and Culture
Strategic Operations
Data and Youth Insights
Teams
Programs
Raise Youth Mentoring Early intervention youth mentoring programs delivered in secondary schools nationally
Raise Digital Same evidence-based youth mentoring program delivered online, anywhere and anytime
Services
Projects
Fundraising predictability
Raise Digital
Organisational efficiencies
Values
Deliver excellence
Show heart
Be courageous
Practise integrity
Bring vitality
Give respect
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Strategic Impact Plan Projects and priorities
The coming year will be about sustaining impact and enhancing our ability to give a mentor to every young person who needs one by:
• Scaling and enhancing Raise Digital while tracking outcomes compared to in-school • Strengthening our fundraising model for long term sustainability and predictability • Building our capability to recruit mentees and mentors at scale • Completing phase 1 and source funding for phase 2 and 3 of our Longitudinal Study • Embedding our Junior YAC more deeply into program design • Continuing to develop Raise Learning through our social enterprise initiative • Launching the new Australian Youth Mentoring Benchmarks in collaboration
Projections
2026 2,002
2027 2,100
2028 2,200 1,200 3,400 3,400
2029 2,350 1,800 4,150 4,150
2030 2,500 2,500 5,000 5,000
Mentees - School Mentees - Online
300
600
Total Mentees
2,302 2,302
2,700 2,700
Mentors
School Programs Income ($'000) Expenses ($'000)
143
150
157
168
179
7,700 7,000 3,041
8,700 7,700 2,852
10,500 8,600 2,529 27,399
11,900 9,800 2,361 31,549
13,600 11,100 2,220 36,549
Avg Cost per mentee
Overall Mentees
21,299
23,999
“It was such comfortable and non-stressful environment that really encouraged me to open up.” – Raise Digital mentee
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References 1. Suicide Prevention Australia 2. Mission Australia Youth Survey 2025 3. Mission Australia Youth Survey 2025 4. Mission Australia Youth Survey 2025 5. Bullying No Way
6. Mission Australia Youth Survey 2025 7. Mission Australia Youth Survey 2025 8. Education and Work Australia 2025, ABS Join the Raise Village We rely on your support to continue our life-changing work.
Make a donation Online at raise.org.au/donate , or Via EFT Account: Westpac Bank BSB: 032 097 Account number: 278 223 Payment reference: Your Full Name / Your organisation name To receive a receipt for donations via bank transfer, please email donations@raise.org.au with your contact details and quote the payment reference.
By scanning the QR code
Talk to us about a corporate partnership Email us at hello@raise.org.au
Volunteer to mentor Find out more and apply at raise.org.au/mentor
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– 2025 Raise Reimagined entry
raise.org.au
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