Program Overview
Our eMentor Program provides free one-on-one mentoring to upper-primary school students experiencing disadvantage in rural and remote communities. Over eight weeks students connect to our passionate Perth-based volunteers using an online platform and explore Australian Curriculum mentoring topics selected by their school teacher.
Mentors connect with their students through a virtual classroom which includes a video/audio feed, messaging capabilities and an online whiteboard. In each weekly session, a variety of interactive aids are used to cover one aspect of a selected mentoring topic.
After each session, our volunteer mentors evaluate how the session went and collaboratively develop tailored mentoring strategies for their students. These strategies are then used in the following sessions and improved over the course of the program.
The eMentor Program runs twice a year, normally from the middle of Term 1 to the end of Term 2 and from early Term 3 to the start of Term 4. We recruit high-achieving volunteers who also act as positive role models for their students supporting them to improve their attitudes towards school and achieve their aspirations.
Recruited volunteers attend training days to develop their mentoring skills
eMentors deliver online mentoring support to a matched student
Students develop their emotional intelligence, confidence, resilience, critical thinking and mental wellbeing
Mentoring Topics
The topics mentored are based on the Australian Curriculum General Capability: Personal and Social Capability outcomes. Our partner schools select a combination of any two topics based on what teaching staff prioritise for mentees.
Current topics include:
Success and Goal Setting
Cyber Safety
Positive Relationships
Health and Wellbeing
Ethics and Perspectives
Diversity and World Culture
Leadership
Transitioning to High School
Our Impact on Students
94%
of students look up to their eMentor
80%
of students through talking with a mentor now are thinking about their future
78%
of students believe they are better equipped to be a leader
Our Impact on Volunteers
97%
of our volunteers feel they have improved as a mentor
93%
of our volunteers are more aware of the factors affecting education, how youth develop and challenges faced in low socioeconomic areas
96%
of volunteers developed skills applicable to every day life