Mentoring Matters is a key initiative of the Vocational Mentoring Exchange. This 10 week program is delivered in an education setting and contributes towards a students’ VCAL (Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning) or VCE Vocational Major. Volunteer mentors draw from their own career/life experience and networks to guide in-class career discussions and simple activities, overseen by the VCAL/VCE VM Teacher.
Vocational mentoring is a key support in career exploration and job seeking for all young people but is especially valuable for those who are less socially/economically advantaged. 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 and finally implemented in 2021, 13 teacher led programs have seen 60+ volunteer mentors support 185 young people in 7 secondary settings. Although unable to implement in 2020 due to COVID restrictions, our incredible school partners pivoted between face-to-face and online/hybrid delivery modes in 2021/2022.
The Program continues to grow in 2023 with our 5 partner schools delivering 7 programs in Terms 2 & 3. 100 VCAL/VCE VM students will have inspiring and informative conversations with 30+ volunteer mentors. For more information about joining our fabulous group of volunteers, keep scrolling...
For information about becoming a school partner in 2024, please contact the INLLEN.
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
Tool Box Activities
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 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.
- Glenroy College, Glenroy (Yr 12)
Tuesday's 12:35 - 1:35pm
Term 2 Programs |
Term 3 Programs |
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| Mentor Interviews | From 30 January 2023 onwards | |
| Mentor Training | 20 - 31 March | 5 - 16 June |
| School Induction for Mentors | 3 - 6 April | 19 - 23 June |
| Mentoring Programs | 24 April - 23 June | 10 July - 15 September |
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Tuesday’s 12:35 – 1:35pm | |
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Thursday's 8:50 - 10:32am | |
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Thursday’s 1:20 - 3:00pm | |
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| Mentor Focus Groups | 10 - 14 July | 2 - 6 October |
What's involved?
Through 10 weekly 1-2 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
When?
The following dates are indicative, with exact days and times to be confirmed.
"It was very humbling at the end, seeing how grateful the students were. I took a lot of life lessons out of it, and it was wonderful meeting and working with the other mentors."
Mentor
"MM legitimises the curriculum and is reinforced by normal people sharing a perspective normally got on the job."
Teacher
"Our mentor helped us discover pathways, think about our future and taught us a lot from their own experience."
Mentee
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
2023 Project Partners
2020 – 2022 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