"Having a mentor has given me an edge in life"
Jess – read her story below.

Since the inception of the Chances For Children program in 2000, mentoring support has always been recognised as the ideal partner to the financial support offered through the Chances for Children Fund.

Program Aim: To provide Chances tertiary recipients with complimentary support through mentoring in order to assist them to reach their full potential.

What is Mentoring?

“A mutually beneficial relationship which involves a more experienced person helping a less experienced person to achieve their goals.” (National Mentoring)

• Mentoring relationships;
• Focus on the needs of the student.
• Foster trust, care & support.
• Encourage the student to develop to their fullest potential.
• Support the student to develop his or her own vision for the future.

Who is the Mentoring Program available to?
We offer the opportunity to work with a mentor to young people who are in receipt of financial assistance from the Chances for Children Fund to assist with the costs of pursuing tertiary education. By ‘tertiary education’ we mean any level of education or training undertaken after secondary school study.

Who are the mentors?
All of our mentors are volunteers who have been selected on the basis of their life and professional experience, their capacity to commit to the responsibilities of the role of mentor and to the ideals of Chances.

We have a duty of care to all who participate in the program so before being accepted into the program, all mentors are required to successfully complete an extensive application, screening and training process.

We are very grateful to have the support of 28 mentors who are located in 8 capacity and regional centres across three states.

How can mentoring assist?
Mentoring can assist students in a variety of ways. It can;

• Provide support & assistance with adapting to the tertiary education system with its changed academic requirements and expectations.

• Provide support with the transition to more independent living, particularly for those students who leave the Mallee, their family, friends and other support & social network to further their education.

• Assist with the development of potential employment opportunities, networks and the transition to employment.

• Build bridges with the local community.

Mentoring Partnerships

In 2006 Chances developed a unique partnership with the Melbourne office of Ernst & Young. Ten members from Ernst & Young volunteered to join the Melbourne Program and are now working with students based in Melbourne. Mentors range from senior consultants to partners in the firm and the students are studying a variety of disciplines ranging from Business, Osteopathy to Music at a variety of institutions, some in their first year and others having completed their course of study. The purpose of each mentoring relationship is determined by the needs of the student.

Jess’ experience of working with a mentor.…..

“Exhilarating. Catherine has really challenged my way of thinking & being, encouraging me, for example, to buy the business I was working in rather than complain about it. She has challenged me to think beyond the norm, to think that anything is possible, anything I desire or dream of. Life is possible not impossible.”

Jess and Catherine have been working together since May 2006. Jess has successfully completed a Diploma of Health Science in Medical Massage & Remedial Therapies. She is keen to develop her career and her own business and this has become the focus of the mentoring relationship. When asked for her thoughts about working as a mentor with Jess Catherine responded.

“For me, the main challenge of the relationship has been in deciding when to keep my own counsel, and in realising that the greatest support I can give to Jess is in being a sounding board who primarily listens. Whilst this wasn’t my initial expectation of the relationship, It’s been great role to play, and has certainly allowed me to be open myself to getting to know who Jess is and where she’s planning to go with her life, all of which has been very enriching.”

If you would to know more about our Mentoring Program please contact Ann Timmons – Mentor Program Coordinator
on 5021 7308 or email atimmons@malleefamilycare.com.au