The student mentoring program aims to promote school connectedness, engagement and aspirations for disadvantaged children and young people.
Grants
Grants for the program were open to community sector organisations and government schools in Victoria. Grants for 2018 and 2019 have been awarded to:
| Grantee | Program name |
|---|
| Anglicare Victoria | Mentor+ |
| Ardoch Youth Foundation | Police Buddies Student Mentoring Program |
| Carlton Primary School | ‘It takes a Village’ mentoring program |
| Centre for Multicultural Youth | MY Mentoring |
| Cranbourne East Secondary College | Aiming Higher |
| Future Foundations | Future Foundations art program |
| Latrobe University | In2science eMentoring |
| McClelland College | Mentoring through Art |
| Mill Park Secondary College | Mentors as Change makers |
| Monash University | Access Monash |
| Monterey Secondary College | VCAL Connect |
| Newcomb Secondary College | Meet the online Mentor! |
| Newtown Primary School | Learning mentors |
| Parktone Primary School | Kids Hope |
| Ringwood Secondary College | Big Brothers Big Sisters- Big Futures Program |
| South West LLEN | Leaders of the Pack |
| The Bridge Youth Service | Shepparton Youth Mentoring Program |
| The Smith Family | iTrack |
| The Smith Family | Mentoring for Koorie Girls |
| Trafalgar High School | Trafalgar Youth Resource Centre |
| VICSEG New Futures | Refugee Student Engagement and Support Program |
| Windsor Primary School | Passion Projects |
Background
The Victorian Government has provided $1.65 million in grants to organisations and schools to develop new or expand existing mentoring programs for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Through the grants, mentors will work with children and young people to increase their engagement in learning, build self-confidence, set goals and improve understanding of post-school options.
The program increases student engagement in learning, assists them build self-confidence, to set goals and improve their understanding of transitioning and post-school options.
A key focus of the program in 2018 and 2019 will be on supporting Indigenous students, students in out-of-home care, or those from low socio-economic or culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Programs also aim to align with the Framework for Improving Student Outcomes.
The first round of the program in 2016 and 2017 saw over 1000 students supported by more than 500 mentors. Students, mentors and teachers reported improved student attitudes, behaviour and resilience, and built strong pathways to further learning and employment.
Get advice
For further information or queries, email:
student.engagement@edumail.vic.gov.au.