About Us
Empowering young people through transformative mentoring relationships.
Our guiding principles
Specialised mentoring. Recreational support. Opportunities for health and wellbeing.
At Kickstart, we provide all of this for young people (aged 13-28) who are either part of the NDIS or subject to DFFH Child Protection Orders.
Our aim is to create a supportive environment for young people experiencing disadvantages and vulnerability.
We understand the complex needs of each of our clients and we work in collaboration with professional support, child protection and community systems to identify the needs of every young person we see.
The entire Kickstart approach is evidence-based, and our central commitment is towards improving young people’s lives. Diverse needs are the name of the game, and we empower those in our care to lead full lives as equal members of the community.
We work tirelessly towards achieving this for our young people – who are often the most vulnerable in our society. We know we’ve done our job when we see our young people improve their mental health, mood and overall well-being.
01.
Patience
We believe that young people deserve ongoing meaningful connections, and are defined not by their actions, but by their inherent value as human beings.
02.
Dedication
We are committed to seeing a beneficial change in youth, by creating safe relationships that don’t give up when things are tough.
03.
Integrity
We lead young people by example, modelling our own resilience in each mentoring relationship.
04.
Safe
Relationships
Safe Relationships
We prioritize trust and respect, fostering environments of safety and growth.
05.
Resilience
We lead young people by example, modelling our own resilience in each mentoring relationship.
06.
Hope
We create a culture of hope, empowering youth to dream and set goals for the future.
Meet The Team
MARK
Director
MARK
Director
With over a decade of experience as a Youth Mentor, Mark has developed an array of specialised skills. With a focus on building pathways with young people through trust and connection, Mark has an exceptional talent for behaviour modelling and has used this in connecting with the most diverse cohort of young people.
ZEPH
Operations Manager
ZEPH
Operations Manager
I am passionate about connecting with young people through sports, gaming, and the great outdoors. My goal is to create supportive and inclusive spaces where young people can explore their interests, develop essential life skills, and have an incredibly fun time.
I think this is incredibly important in shaping young people’s growth and their overall well-being. Whether we’re shooting hoops, diving into the latest PlayStation game, or heading off on outdoor adventures, my focus is is building lasting memories and life skills along the way. Being a mentor and a positive role model for young people is what I’m all about.
Helene
Business Development
Helene
Business Development
I’m Helene, the French-Aussie on the team and your go-to Business Development girl. I’m all about making things smoother, smarter, and more efficient so life flows with ease… leaving plenty of time for the fun stuff! I have a deep love for all things creative and a passion for helping people unlock their full potential. Mentoring is one of my greatest joys, especially guiding and inspiring the youth to dream bigger, believe in themselves, and create a future they’re excited about. Whether it’s streamlining systems or sparking inspiration, I’m here to make the journey lighter, brighter, and a whole lot more enjoyable.
Lese
Programs Coordinator
Lese
Wellbeing Officer
Kiwi-born Samoan living in Melbourne’s South-East. I empower youth to reach their potential and have been doing it for over a decade, always learning to be a better mentor. As a specialised youth mentor, I make a positive impact and inspire young people. Seeing them achieve their goals is why I love helping them set and smash personal targets. When we’re not doing that, you’ll find me taking them fishing or enjoying the outdoors. Let’s go!
I’m a devoted youth mentor, passionate about encouraging and empowering young people to grow, push past their limits and try new things. Outside of mentoring, I pursue my calling in music as K WAK where I rap and produce. I’ve never broken a bone and I love exploring all kinds of music, with rap and hip hop being my favourites. My biggest joys are creating and composing songs and enjoying comfort food like Greek gyros or Afghan kebabs.
John enjoys helping young people reach their fitness goals and develop valuable life skills such as cooking. He loves seeing young people flourish and become independent after receiving the support they need. Fun fact: No one has ever beaten him at GoldenEye 007 on Nintendo 64. His go-to comfort food is anything with chocolate and salted caramel, he’s into all types of music but especially Hip Hop, and he finds joy in making people laugh and gaming in his spare time.
Hey, I am Georgia. I’m passionate about working with young people and creating inclusive, engaging programs that support their growth and wellbeing. With a background in outdoor education, disability support, and youth mentorship, I specialise in building safe, empowering environments where individuals can thrive. I enjoy leading activities that build confidence and connection, and finding creative ways to make learning and development fun.
Hi, I’m Tim, I’m a Youth mentor here at kickstart. I have been granted with the best opportunity to help support our young people and create awesome experiences through our group programs and camps. With lived experience I am able to relate with the youth and help give them the tools as well support strategies that they may need to meet their needs. I am a firm believer in empowering the youth to be the best that they can be. It inspires me to see our young people grow and gain new skills! It’s not so much about what we can expect from our young people, but for me it is to meet them where they’re at and work from there.
Glenn is passionate about empowering young leaders, helping them grow in both confidence and character. He thrives in the outdoors, camping, fishing, and playing sports, using these activities to build connection, resilience, and leadership skills. Fun fact: Glenn rides a Harley and loves Jesus. His go-to comfort food is Chinese, he enjoys gospel music, and finds joy in fishing and football.
As a youth mentor at Kickstart, I’m passionate about creating connection not only with our clients but also with their families. I firmly believe it takes a village to raise a child and that everyone plays a role in the betterment of the young people we serve. I play footy, love the gym and the outdoors, and have a strong passion for media, creating all of Kickstart’s social media content. Fun fact: I’m Batman. Always down for a chat!
Anthony is a dedicated youth worker passionate about helping today’s young people grow into tomorrow’s leaders. He loves supporting young minds to reach their potential through trust, meaningful interactions, and celebrating every achievement along the way. Outside of KickStart, Anthony channels his creativity into pro wrestling as his alter ego Tommy Hellfire, and enjoys the gym, hiking, meaningful conversations, and of course, chocolate.
Karl brings energy and creativity to Kickstart through his passions in soccer coaching, gaming, fitness, and acting. He’s driven by seeing young people grow—helping them build confidence, overcome challenges, and unlock their potential. Fun fact: Karl has appeared on Netflix. When he’s not mentoring, you’ll find him enjoying coaching, photography, exercising, acting, and gaming. He’s into classic music from the 70s to 00s and loves a quick, elevated curry as his go-to comfort meal.
Hey, I’m Muko! I love walking alongside young people during this exciting stage of life, helping them discover their spark and grow in confidence. For me, it’s about creating space where they feel encouraged, valued, and free to see just how much they have to offer the world. Outside of KickStart, you’ll usually find me on the football pitch or basketball court, out exploring nature, or in the kitchen baking banana bread — my ultimate comfort food.
I’m a Youth Mentor who cares deeply about mental health, prevention and supporting young people in ways that work for them. I’m currently completing my Diploma of Counselling at TAFE and outside of work you’ll often find me at the movies or making music with my band. I love helping build up the next generation and being part of someone’s journey and I’m constantly inspired by the insights young people share. A big passion of mine is songwriting and expressing myself through music but I also enjoy fishing and getting cosy with a good film. Fun fact: I’ve almost watched 100 movies this year!
Who we've worked with
Donations
KickStart was founded to give back to our community. We regularly donate to other organisations doing good in our community and the world.
