Nathan Kelton, who has just joined the Assessment, Support and Protective Intervention Team at DCP’s Blair Athol office, has been volunteering as a community mentor with the Sammy D Foundation for the past three years.

Most of that time was while Nathan completed his Masters in Social Work and sought a career with DCP.

“We both really love cars,” Nathan said of the now 17-year-old Josh.

“We go to car show yards around town and go out car spotting.

“It allows me to talk to him about issues that are affecting him.

“My job is to be accepting and I hope the three hours I spend with him each week give him something positive.”

Nathan said the pair often visit the local Ferrari and McLaren dealerships, and a Japanese car importer at Mt Barker.

Last year they won a hot lap with a Mustang at The Bend through the Sammy D Foundation.

But their favourite spot is the Richmond’s classic car dealership in Richmond.

‘We’re always there,” Nathan said. “They’re great – they say ‘oh, you guys again’.

“We’re always having a chat to the sales worker to see when the next shipment is due.”

Nathan, 27, came relatively late to social work, and DCP.

He started his working life at Ikea in HR while he studied psychology. Then it was logistics at a furniture company, and then on the hardship team at a bank.

It was there Nathan decided to shift focus.

He started his masters and received university placements with DCP, most recently last August in the call centre with the Crisis Response Unit.

He joined the ASPI team in December.

“I just really, really enjoyed helping people” he said of his move into social work.

“I identified I wanted to give power back to people who were struggling and felt limited where I was.

“I wanted to come to the department and help the people who are some of the most disadvantaged in the community.

“It’s still really early and I’m still learning the ropes but I feel like I’m extremely well supported and what I do is right in line with what I wanted to do with my life.

“I have the resources here and I’m able to support these families and find the strengths within them.”

In the meantime, Nathan wants to continue volunteering with the Sammy D Foundation until Josh turns 18, and hopes keep helping as long as the teenager wants.

And there’s always that dream of one day owning his own exotic car.

“I drive a Honda Accord now,” he said. “So I’m more of a window shopper.”

And if you would like to become a volunteer mentor like Nathan, the Sammy D Foundation would love to hear from you.

Reach out at https://www.sammydfoundation.org.au/mentoring/community-mentoring-1