GR8 MATES Youth Mentoring Program

The GR8 MATES school-based youth mentoring program is a program that falls under the Schools Industry Partnership umbrella and operates in schools in the Blue Mountains, Hawkesbury and Penrith. It is built on the Plan-It Youth concepts, though has added an ementoring component and has its own Student Manual and Mentor Training Program.

The GR8 MATES youth mentoring program aims to support students in Year 9 and 10, who might be beginning to disengage from school, to investigate their post school options and to make positive life choices that enable them to reach their potential. The program vision is for young people to experience supportive one-to-one relationships and community support, which in turn allows them to develop into their full potential capable of making informed, responsible decisions as they transition from school to the workplace.

The GR8 MATES program began at Blaxland High School in 2007. It also operates at Cambridge Park High School and Windsor High School. The first Blaxland program is due to be completed at the end of June 2008. These three pilot programs will be completed by the end of October 2008.  The second Blaxland program will begin in August 2008 and will run until June 2009.

11 other high schools have indicated an interest in running the program in their schools, though the expansion of the program will depend on more funding being made available.

Volunteer adult mentors, aged 21 and over, undergo 21 hours of mentor training (one night a week for 7 weeks)which is auspiced to TAFE NSW. All students must volunteer to participate in the program, as well as having their parents' signed permission to participate. Mentors meet with the students for about one hour each week, during term time, at the school.

The first Blaxland High program has been a resounding success. A GR8 MATES Blog Page is updated each week and can be found at: www.yess.co.nz

Further information can be found at www.schoolsindustry.com.au

Some of the Blaxland High Mentors

For further information

Contact	:	Robin Cox
Phone	:	02 4725 0309
Email	:	robin@schoolsindustry.com.au

WWW

:

http://www.schoolsindustry.com.au