Mentoring
In today’s world, the word mentor has come to mean someone who shares their knowledge, skills and life experience to help a young person develop their ideas and positive attributes.
In Greek mythology, Odysseus entrusted his son Telemachus to the care and support of his friend Mentor while he (Odysseus) was away fighting the Trojan War, and the name has been adopted as a term meaning a wise and trusted counsellor; an influential senior sponsor or supporter.
Mentoring is a two-way relationship which involves a more experienced person helping a less experienced person to work out and achieve their goals. It is a win-win partnership in which not only does a young person gain from the relationship but mentors also benefit by increasing their own confidence and knowledge, along with gaining a sense of genuine fulfilment and contribution to their community through helping to guide a young person along their way.
Share your experiences. Help a young person.Being a mentor is about sharing your life lessons and experiences with a young person. Mentors help young people to better cope with the many challenges of school, work experience and career choices, personal and family issues. It is a great way to contribute to the community and there are many young people in our region who could greatly benefit from a mentoring relationship. In the Hunter Region there are a number of HYMC member groups providing mentor programs: all need volunteers and mentors to keep programs running.
Listed below are some organisations who employ volunteers to mentor young people. Contact the program directly to enquire about mentor vacancies and training. HYMC Members with mentoring programs
Career Links assists young people in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie to make a smooth transition from school to further education and work.
Celebral Palsy Alliance - the Ignition Mentoring Program helps to build self-confident and resilient 14-16 year olds with cerebral palsy and related disabilities.
DALE (St Philip's Christian Education Foundation) caters for students with emotional and behavioural disorders and intellectual disabilities. It also runs a Young Mothers' Program which helps pregnant teenagers and young mothers to cntinue their education in an alternative learning environment.
Eva House Mayumarri assists young women who have been impacted by abuse to heal and to learn life skills.
Josephite Refugee Support Network operates Penola House, a place of welcome and friendship for refugees and their families.
Plan-it Youth Hunter Central Coast is a mentoring program for young people enrolled in NSW Department of Education Schools Years 9 and 10, to assist them with education, training and work options.
Rush Youth Mentoring works with the school, student and community to place a significant role model in a young person's life.
The Smith Family supports disadvantaged students by linking them with volunteer mentors, both through the Teriatry Mentoring Program and iTrack, on online mentoring program for school-aged children.
