And the work the program has been doing is now set to be highlighted across the state. 

The LARF (Life skills, Activities, Relationships and Fun) program is designed support the needs of children and youth in the Ballarat area who have experienced homelessness, family violence or trauma. 

The program works to match trained 16 –25 year old volunteer mentors with children aged 8 –16.  

One of LARF’s recent activities was to convert The Salvation Army’s Code of Conduct into posters highlighting the voice of children so it was relatable and engaging to children.

Principal Commissioner from the Commission for Children and Young People Liana Buchanan said organisations often did not understand how best to relate to children. 

“All organisations now have to meet seven child-safe standards,” Ms Buchanan said. 

“One of the standards is about having strategies in place to empower kids and to me that is a really important one. You can have all the policies in place, but if kids don’t feel they can speak up, then all of those policies mean nothing.”

Ms Buchanan said a lot of organisations don’t understand what it is to empower kids.

“Part of the reason I loved these posters is it’s kids saying in their words what it means to feel safe and what adults have to do to make them feel safe. I’m really impressed with the project.” 

The posters are now being sent throughout Victoria to be displayed.

The LARF program has been running since 2002 with many children from the early days now becoming mentors.

Mentor Joseph Gulay said the program offered something different to children who may not get to experience what their peers do.

“We go out and do a lot of activities with the kids, from something like bowling, we even took them to see Wicked, which they absolutely loved,” he said.  

“The other thing we do is a lot of projects, just like this one that gives them a chance to have their voice heard.”