Vocational Mentoring Exchange
Vocational Mentor Exchange

This unique resource for the inner north of Melbourne brings together a pool of volunteers with diverse and wide-ranging working lives and lived experience to support young people's (16-25 yrs) transition to further education, training or employment. In the current climate, an opportunity to directly connect young people with local industry is invaluable.

Vocational mentoring is a key support in career exploration and job-seeking for socially and economically disadvantaged young people. Vocational mentoring can help young people with limited social capital learn about the workplace, clarify their aspirations, extend their networks, and help find work opportunities.

Mentors gain a wealth of experience, skills and confidence from the experience - strengthened leadership, problem-solving, listening and interpersonal skills; wider professional networks; and a fabulous sense of achievement in having helped a young person on their vocational journey.

The Exchange was established in 2020 and has been developed over two phases, the first of which encompassed two school-based streams - VME Mentoring Matters and the Youth Enterprise Hub's Micro-Enterprise Project. The second phase in late 2021 activated the Community Partnerships stream, enabling four community partners to access Exchange mentors to support their vocational programs, plus the development of the VME Northern Youth Mentoring Network. Now in its fourth year, the Exchange has over 80 incredible volunteer mentors who will support four school and community-based mentoring streams, including a new Creative Industries program.

While an initiative of the Inner Northern Youth Employment Taskforce (INYET), the Exchange is being developed in collaboration with a cross-sectoral Steering Committee.

 

2022 Mentoring Applications Now Open!

The VME will be supporting 20+ in-school/community based mentoring programs across Melbourne’s north in 2022. We welcome applications from enthusiastic and caring volunteers aged 18+ with Australian work experience to join this group of incredibly diverse mentors. 

While face-to-face sessions are preferred, virtual sessions will be the COVID back up. Comprehensive free training and ongoing support are provided for these vitally important roles.

APPLY NOW http://bttr.im/w1ib9

New Network for Melbourne’s North – Register now for 20 Oct meeting!

The VME, with support from the Northern Metropolitan Partnership and Community Bank Clifton Hill/North Fitzroy, is excited to announce a new professional network that aims to strengthen and promote youth mentoring across Melbourne’s North.

Now recruiting for 2023 Mentoring Roles!

 

VME mentors will support a wide range of school and community-based vocational mentoring programs for young people aged 16-25 across Melbourne's inner north in 2023. A mix of face-to-face and blended mentoring options in secondary school or community settings are available.

We welcome applications from enthusiastic and caring volunteers aged 18+ with Australian work experience in trades, creative industries, and other professional and/or entrepreneurial roles. To join this group of incredibly diverse mentors you will also need a current Working With Children's Check.

No need to have mentored before as comprehensive free training, resources and ongoing support will be provided for these richly rewarding roles.

The VME uses Better Impact as their volunteer management platform. To complete the application form you will ideally need to have to hand:

A copy of your current resume / or a list of your work experience

A copy of your Working With Children Check card (WWCC) if you have one

 

APPLY NOW

Vocational Mentoring Roles

 

The VME has a range of school or community-based volunteer mentoring opportunities available from April 2023. Free training will be provided in March to prepare for these roles.

Overview

Mentoring Program Location Day Roles Skills/Experience Commencing Program Duration Number & Frequency of Sessions Commitment incl. induction, training & evaluation School/ Community-based Face to face / Blended / Online
VME Mentoring Matters (MM)
  • 1. Glenroy
  • 2. Richmond
  • 3. Reservoir
  • Mon
  • Tues
  • Thurs
  • 6
  • 3
  • 6
  • Trades
  • HR
  • Other Professional
  • 11 July
  • 12 July
  • 14 July
 10 weeks
    • 10 Weekly
    • 1.5-2 hour sessions
 24 - 29 hours School Face to face
Youth Enterprise Hub (YEH)
  • 4. Fitzroy Nth
  • 5. Preston
  • 6. Brunswick
  • Wed
  • Mon
  • Tues
  • 4
  • 4
  • 3
  • Entrepreneurial
  • Social enterprise
  • 20 July
  • 18 July
  • 19 July
 3 – 6 months
    • 5-10 Fortnightly
    • 30-90mins sessions
 15 - 24 hours School Face to Face / Blended
Community Partnerships (CP)
  • 7. Preston
  • 8. Heidelberg West
  • 9. Brunswick
  • Tues
  • Flexible
  • Thurs
  • 3-3
  • 5
  • 5
  • LGBTQIA+
  • Community Development
  • Construction Management/Builder
  • Screen & Media
  • Creative Industries
  • 2 August
  • Late June
  • August
 3 months
    • Up to 10 Weekly/Fortnightly
    • 1-1.5 hour sessions
 18 - 22 hours Community Face to Face / Blended /
Online

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Mentoring Matters

School-based Vocational Mentoring

A 10 week face-to-face vocational mentoring program that brings volunteers into the VCAL/VCE Vocational Major classroom once a week for up to two hours to work closely with a small group of up to 3 students. Through a range of activities and an excursion into industry, mentors will draw on their own life/work experience in Australia to support the students to complete their Career Action Plan, improve their transferable skills and work readiness.

If you can spare 10-29 hours in April - June OR July - September, have a trades or other professional background, we have a range of roles available in Merri-bek (Moreland), Darebin and Yarra secondary schools.

For more information on Mentoring Matters & Roles

Youth Enterprise Hub

School-based Entrepreneurial Mentoring

A face-to-face entrepreneurial mentoring program in the second half of the year that brings volunteers into the VCAL/VCE Vocational Major classroom fortnightly for up to 90mins to work closely with a small group of 3-5 students.  Through a range of activities, prototyping and an excursion into industry, mentors will draw on their own entrepreneurial experience to support the students to develop their micro-enterprise projects. Volunteer mentors will work in collaboration with teachers and students in partner secondary schools.

If you can spare 15-24 hours in June/July - October/November and have an entrepreneurial background, we will have a range of roles available in Merri-bek (Moreland), Darebin and Yarra secondary schools.

2023 Mentoring Roles available soon.

For more information on the YEH initiative

Creative Industries

School-based Vocational Mentoring

A face-to-face school-based vocational mentoring program that brings practising musicians into the classroom to support music students in Year 12 or studying a Cert IV in Sound Production and Music. Two hour fortnightly mentoring sessions will be overseen by the teacher but led by students as they prepare portfolios and gain a better understanding of music production and technical musicianship. Volunteer mentors will work in collaboration with teachers and students at this secondary school.

If you can spare 16-20 hours in April/May - July/August, have a background as a musician, sound producer or similar, we will have a range of roles available in Preston, Darebin at the Northern College of Arts & Technology (NCAT).

More details about mentoring roles available soon

For more information on the Creative Industries Initiative

CP Logo

Community Partnerships

Community-based Vocational Mentoring

A face-to-face/blended community-based mentoring program. Mentoring sessions will vary in frequency over a period of up to four months. Based in the north of Melbourne and working 1:1 with a young person aged 18-25, mentors will support a young person's successful transition to employment.

If you can spare 18-22 hours in June - November, we will have a range of rewarding roles available.

2023 Mentoring Roles available soon.

For more information on Community Partnerships

mentoring

Mentoring Matters

School-based Vocational Mentoring

A 10 week face-to-face vocational mentoring program that brings volunteers into the VCAL/VCE Vocational Major classroom once a week for up to two hours to work closely with a small group of up to 3 students. Through a range of activities and an excursion into industry, mentors will draw on their own life/work experience in Australia to support the students to complete their Career Action Plan, improve their transferable skills and work readiness.

If you can spare 10-29 hours in April - June OR July - September, have a trades or other professional background, we have a range of roles available in Merri-bek (Moreland), Darebin and Yarra secondary schools.

For more information on Mentoring Matters @ Roles

Youth Enterprise Hub

School-based Entrepreneurial Mentoring

A face-to-face entrepreneurial mentoring program in the second half of the year that brings volunteers into the VCAL/VCE Vocational Major classroom fortnightly for up to 90mins to work closely with a small group of 3-5 students.  Through a range of activities, prototyping and an excursion into industry, mentors will draw on their own entrepreneurial experience to support the students to develop their micro-enterprise projects. Volunteer mentors will work in collaboration with teachers and students in partner secondary schools.

If you can spare 15-24 hours in June/July – October/November and have an entrepreneurial background, we will have a range of roles available in Merri-bek (Moreland), Darebin and Yarra secondary schools.

2023 Mentoring Roles available soon.

For more information on the YEH initiative

CP Logo

Community Partnerships

Community-based Vocational Mentoring

A face-to-face/blended community-based mentoring program. Mentoring sessions will vary in frequency over a period of up to four months.  Based in the north of Melbourne and working 1:1 with a young person aged 18-25, mentors will support a young person's successful transition to employment.

If you can spare 18-22 hours in June - November, we will have a range of rewarding roles available.

2023 Mentoring Roles available soon.

For more information on Community Partnerships

CP Logo

Creative Industries

School-based Vocational Mentoring

A face-to-face school-based vocational mentoring program that brings practising musicians into the classroom to support music students in Year 12 or studying a Cert IV in Sound Production and Music. Two hour fortnightly mentoring sessions will be overseen by the teacher but led by students as they prepare portfolios and gain a better understanding of music production and technical musicianship. Volunteer mentors will work in collaboration with teachers and students at this secondary school.

If you can spare 16-20 hours in April/May – July/August, have a background as a musician, sound producer or similar, we will have a range of roles available in Preston, Darebin at the Northern College of Arts & Technology (NCAT).

More details about mentoring roles available soon

For more information on the Creative Industries Initiative

Community Partnerships

 

Funding support from the Northern Metropolitan Partnership (Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions) enabled the Community Partnerships stream to be activated in late 2021.

This stream encompasses partnerships with key community agencies offering vocational programs for young people as well as a new regional network, the Northern Youth Mentoring Network.

Community Agency Partnerships

In 2021, the VME partnered with four key community agencies from across the north of Melbourne to enable 14 fabulous VME mentors to support 16 diverse young people in their transition to employment.  Although challenged by virtual mentoring sessions, there were some fabulous outcomes for mentees over the 3 month period.

Three of these partnerships have been consolidated in 2022, enabling 14 mentors to work collaboratively Bridge Darebin (Preston), Himilo Community Connect (West Heidelberg) and Youthworx (Brunswick).

 

  • VME mentors support young people aged 18-25 years accessing community agency-based vocational programs.
  • Based in the north of Melbourne and working 1:1 with a young person, mentors support their successful transition to employment.
  • Mentoring programs are either face-to-face or blended and vary in frequency over a period of up to four months between August and December.
  • Mentoring sessions are flexible in nature to best support the goals of the young person.
  • Goals may include building specific skills and confidence, preparing for employment, and better understanding a specific industry or role.

Northern Youth Mentoring Network

The Northern Youth Mentoring Network is a partnership between members drawn from employment services providers, community agencies, local government and education providers committed to promoting and strengthening youth mentoring across the north of Melbourne.

The aim is to build and develop a regional Vocational Mentoring Network in the north that will:

  • provide a platform to share good practice, potential and opportunity in youth mentoring
  • promote the benefits of youth mentoring across the northern region
  • promote further development of youth mentoring in the region
  • build capability and capacity of people who work in youth mentoring in the region

 

Membership is free and open to all those working in youth mentoring across the North of Melbourne, or keen to know more about getting started.

Three meetings are planned for 2023:

  • Tuesday, 16 May - Oxygen Youth Space (9:30 arrival for 10 am start and 12noon finish)
  • 22 August
  • 21 November

"I found it incredibly helpful to learn from my mentor’s past experience and hear another person's perspective when I came up against problems I didn't know how to approach. Prior to starting the mentor meetings, I was having trouble choosing between two directions within my sector to start a career from. Being able to talk through the pros and cons, as well as receive useful resources/recommendations for info to look into, helped me identify and clarify what I actually wanted to do. It was also very helpful to hear choosing one doesn't rule out the other, which also gave me a lot of confidence going forwards".

Bridge Darebin Mentee 2021

"As a mentor I found the program gave me the opportunity to share my skills and experience whilst also giving me an opportunity to learn from my mentee. It's empowering to know you can be there to enable someone to continue to grow in their chosen career. My experience has been truly rewarding and I have learnt so much about my mentee and myself. Volunteering doesn't mean you know it all or are better than someone, it's about building a connection and being part of the growth journey."

Frances, Salvatore, Himilo Community Connect Mentor 2021

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Why Vocational Mentoring?

A Vocational Mentor works with a small group of students to clarify and support their career aspirations.

Vocational mentoring is a key support in career exploration and job seeking for socially and economically disadvantaged young people. Vocational mentoring can help young people with limited social capital learn about the workplace, clarify their aspirations, extend their networks, and help find work opportunities. Read More

Background

Background

The Vocational Mentoring Exchange was conceived in 2014 through the work of the Inner Northern Youth Employment Taskforce (INYET) and Inner North Community Foundation (INCF).

The INCF 2016 Research Report, Inner North Mentoring Exchange: A Regional Mentoring Resource, identified that “available mentoring programs were predominantly of small scale...Read More

2023 Project Partners

2020 – 2022 Project Partners

Contact Us

For general enquiries about the VME or Mentoring Matters project contact:

For more information on VME, please contact

Rochelle Darby

INLLEN Manager School to Work Program

E: rdarby@inllen.org.au

M:  0408 036 602

 

For more information on becoming a mentor or joining the NYMN, please contact

Yu-Wen Chien

INLLEN Manager Industry Partnerships

E: ychien@inllen.org.au

M: 0401 858 392

 

To keep up to date with the development of the Vocational Mentoring Exchange, please complete the following: