




Mentoring Matters is a key initiative of the Vocational Mentoring Exchange. The 10 week program is delivered in an education setting and contributes towards a students’ VCAL (Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning). Volunteer mentors draw from their own career/life experience and networks to guide in-class career discussions and simple activities, overseen by the VCAL Teacher.
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.
Piloted successfully in 2017, this three year program (2020-2022) will support up to 240 young people in 6-7 secondary settings. Although unable to implement in 2020 due to COVID restrictions, 5 school partners implemented six mentoring programs in Terms 2&3, 2021.
For 2022, only 2 school partner opportunities remain so please contact INLLEN for more information.
Mentoring Matters Program Resources
Program Framework
The Program Framework is aligned to the VCAL Curriculum and has been developed collaboratively with school partners. As a framework it is intended to be adapted by the VCAL Teacher to best meet the needs of their students. View Program Framework PDF
This collection of activities is intended to support the mentoring sessions. Like the Framework, they can be adapted to meet the needs of students or augmented with existing school or mentor resources. View Tool Box Activities PDF
Help change a life and become a Volunteer Vocational Mentor
INLLEN is working in partnership with EdConnect Australia to recruit, screen and train volunteer mentors from the community. No special qualifications are needed, just a desire to inspire, guide and build the confidence of a small group of young people. Comprehensive free mentor training is provided and while this is ideally a 10 week face-to-face mentoring program, virtual sessions will be implemented should COVID-19 limit access to schools.
What's involved?
Through 10 weekly two hour sessions in April – June or July - September, mentors support individuals and small groups of up to 3 senior secondary students (16-18yrs) to:
- consider their career options,
- develop/update their career action plan and resume,
- strengthen their interview skills,
- participate in workplace tours in a career area of interest to them, and
- extend their network of contacts in diverse industries and occupations.
The total time commitment is approximately 31 hours from the initial interview and training through to final evaluation.
How to apply
The VME uses Better Impact as their volunteer management platform. To complete the application form you will 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
Note that to become a VME volunteer mentor you will also need to be up to date with your COVID vaccinations (3 doses)
When?
The following dates are indicative, with exact days and times to be confirmed.
Term 2 Programs |
Term 3 Programs |
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---|---|---|
Mentor Interviews | From 24 January onwards | |
Mentor Training |
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School Induction for Mentors |
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Mentoring Programs (9 Weeks) | 26 April – 23 June | 11 July – 16 September |
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Tuesday’s 9:00 – 11:00 am | Monday's, 9:15 - 11:00 am |
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Tuesday’s 1:30 – 3:10 pm | |
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Thursday’s 9:24 – 10:32 am | |
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Thursday’s 1:00 – 3:00pm | |
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Tuesday's, 1:20 - 3:00 pm | |
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Thursday's, 11:15 - 1:15pm | |
Mentor Focus Groups | Mid July | Early October |





"I really enjoyed working with the students on the mentoring pilot and found it very rewarding. Debriefing and problem solving with other mentors was an unexpected bonus. I would highly recommend the experience to anyone who is interested in listening, guiding and learning."
Christopher Baker, Pilot Mentor
"The significant shift came when the mentee grasped their own capacity to navigate the myriad of vocational resources on offer. Subtle shifts in confidence assist in progressing programs like this, [and] can never be underestimated"
Pilot Mentor
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
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
Project Partners
Contact Us
For all enquiries about the VME or Mentoring Matters project contact:
For general enquiries about the VME or Mentoring Matters project contact:
Rochelle Darby
INLLEN Manager School to Work Program
M: 0408 036 602
For all mentor enquiries contact:
Yu-Wen Chien
INLLEN Manager Industry Partnerships
M: 0401 858 392