The Inspire Foundation, ActNow Program

ActNow is an informational, educational and interactive website targeted at young people aged 16 – 25 years. It aims to foster active and meaningful individual participation within the community in order to promote mental health and wellbeing among youth. Membership is free. Young people can use the website to get acquainted with social, political, environmental, lifestyle and topical issues. It serves as an empowering outlet for young people to participate in issues they are passionate about. ActNow website content is contributed by its youth membership. Submissions can take various popular media formats, including blogs, videos or commentary. The website also enables young people to connect with over 200 organisations catering to youth volunteers.

Volunteer opportunities for young people

Young people aged 18 to 25 can become part of an advisory board, called the Incubator. Two times a year, fifteen young people between the ages of 18 and 25 are selected to participate in a 12-week online feedback forum. Half-way through they're flown to Sydney for a three-day inspiration fest! No previous volunteering experience is required.

ActNow also runs an internship program open to anyone aged between 16 and 25 years, who is able to travel to our office in Sydney two days per week, for a minimum of eight weeks. We have three internship intakes each year—Semester 1 (commencing in March), Semester 2 (commencing in July) and Summer (commencing in December).

Benefits of involving young people as volunteer in The Inspire Foundation

Promotes mental health and well-being; Social networking; provides a positive forum and guidance to tackle issues concerning youth; provides a bridge to working life experiences

SCIP speakers for The Inspire Foundation, ActNow Program

Jessica Bell

ActNow Project Manager

Jessica Bell began working for ActNow in March 2007, as a result of her "passion for breaking down barriers to taking social action". She has a background in communications, and prior experience working for non-government organisations.

Jessica believes that The Inspire Foundation programs (which include ActNow, BeanBag and ReachOut!) are "fantastic…in that they provide opportunities for young people to change their world and participate in meaningful ways".