Your NNC: April 2026 Newsletter

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Peer Bridge Program
April 2026

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Building bridges, one step at a time. 

“The ‘bridge’ isn’t just about moving from one school to another, it’s about moving from being a stranger to being part of a community.” – Emma, Year 9 mentor

Starting high school can feel like stepping into an entirely new world. But through Newtown Neighbourhood Centre’s Peer Bridge program, that leap is becoming a little less daunting  thanks to the power of friendship, mentoring and a simple ‘hello’.
For many students, the move from primary school to high school is one of the first big transitions of their young lives. New classrooms, bigger campuses, unfamiliar faces and the pressure of finding your place can all feel overwhelming.
That’s why NNC created Peer Bridge: a community-based mentoring program designed to help students feel more confident, connected and supported as they navigate the jump to Year 7.
Developed and pilot tested in 2024–25, the program pairs older students with younger peers preparing to start high school. What began as a small pilot has already grown into a powerful model of connection, one that we hope can eventually be adapted by neighbourhood centres and schools across Australia.
This year, the program expanded to include two school streams: Newtown High School of the Performing Arts and Sydney Secondary College Leichhardt Campus. In total, 134 students took part, with mentees supported by mentors across dozens of workshops, school sessions and activities. 

Creating Support Systems

At its heart, Peer Bridge is about making sure no student feels they have to navigate high school alone. As Year 9 mentor Emma told the crowd at this year’s graduation: “The Peer Bridge Program taught me the significance of guiding others, from helping them find the right room to being a friendly face they can rely on.”
For Emma, the experience was about far more than helping younger students find their classrooms. “It showed me that the ‘bridge’ isn’t just about moving from one school to another, it’s about moving from being a stranger to being part of a community,” she says.
That sense of belonging is central to the program’s success. Across four workshops, delivered in partnership with Headspace and Co.As.It, students took part in activities designed to build trust, confidence and practical skills. With support from Officeworks, 68 students also received school packs with essential supplies, while 15 refurbished laptops were distributed to help ease financial pressure for families.
Beyond practical help, the presence of a dedicated youth worker also helped fill a gap often felt by families moving from the more personalised world of primary school into the larger, more independent high school environment. 

Small gestures, big impact

Sometimes, the biggest difference comes from the smallest moments. For mentor Monty, one of the biggest lessons was learning just how much a simple interaction can matter.
“I’ve learned that making people smile is actually one of the most important skills you can have,” he said in his graduation speech. “It’s not just about being funny; it’s about making others feel at ease.”
Monty even set himself a goal to say hello to a Year 7 student every day. “Whether it’s a quick smile or, ‘Hi, how’s it going?’ when I walk past Year 7 in the corridor, those small moments make people feel wanted and welcome.”
For the Year 7 students themselves, that support made all the difference. “We thought we ruled the playground, and then high school happened and suddenly we were the smallest again,” one Year 7 student shared at the graduation. “The bag feels like it weighs a ton. There are way more students and it takes forever to find your next class.”
But thanks to Peer Bridge, those nerves eased slowly but surely. “That’s why we loved being part of the Peer Bridge Program,” the students said. “It really helped us feel more confident. Starting high school can be scary at first, but knowing there’s support makes it way easier.” 

Growing confidence on both sides

One of the program’s greatest strengths is that it doesn’t just support younger students, it helps mentors grow too. For Year 9 mentor Olivia, stepping into a leadership role brought unexpected rewards.
“Acting as a ‘bridge’ for them actually helped me just as much as it helped them,” she said. “I felt my own self-confidence and public speaking skills improve with every session we finished.”
By the final workshop, Olivia said the change in the Year 7 students was impossible to miss. “They weren’t the same shy students who walked in; they were laughing, participating and supporting one another.”
That transformation is exactly what Peer Bridge is designed to achieve: helping young people feel seen, supported and capable during what can otherwise be an unsettling time.
As Emma says: “The Peer Bridge Program is the glue of our school’s transition process. It takes the fear out of the unknown and replaces it with a familiar face in the corridor. We aren’t just students in the same building anymore; thanks to this program, we are a support system.”
Following the continued success of the program, NNC is now planning to deliver Peer Bridge again next year with both school partners. 

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