GR8 MATES MENTORING PROGRAM
St Paul’s School Mentor Training Outline
Thank you for your interest in becoming a St Paul’s School GR8 MATES mentor. Mentoring
is an incredibly rewarding life experience. It requires a commitment of up to 12 months
during school terms and a willingness to befriend a Year 10 St Paul’s student during a
significant time in their lives. Your mentee has much potential, which you can nurture during
the mentoring journey, appreciating at the same time that a mentoring program alone will
never be equipped to address the needs of all young people, nor can it be expected to change
the adolescent’s life as a stand-alone program. It also allows time for the mentors to get to
know one another and share their life experiences, thus further enhancing the mentoring
experience.
The 12-hour GR8 MATES Mentor Training Program, held over four weeks, meets all the
criteria of international youth mentoring research, which highlights one key point: the more
thorough the training, the more effective will be the mentoring journey. Additional training
will occur online during the training period. Where formal mentors receive at least 16 hours
of training, they are much more likely to talk frequently with their mentees about personal
issues. The training also follows internationally credible effective practice procedures.
Requirements: In addition to forms completed on application for the program, all
prospective GR8 MATES mentors must meet the following requirements, which are
compatible with all credible youth mentoring programs world-wide:
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Complete the 12-hour Mentor Training Program
On completion of the Mentor Training Program, attend a one-on-one interview with a
member of the GR8 MATES mentoring program staff to review the Mentor Training and
discuss aspects of the mentor journey
Complete a non-threatening on-line Mentor Profiler after the training and again at the end
of the mentoring journey (where applicable)
Aim of the Mentor Training Program: To prepare and equip potential mentors with the
knowledge and some of the key skills required if they wish to embark on a mentoring
relationship with an adolescent as part of the GR8 MATES youth mentoring program.
Key outcomes of the Training Program: This is an experiential program with the following
outcomes:
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An understanding of the qualities and expectations of a GR8 MATES mentor - 80% of
this course is applicable to any mentoring experience
Development of key mentoring skills:
 qualities of a mentor as a person of influence
 identifying high risk and antisocial behaviour issues and all that is involved in
encouraging such young people to reach their potential
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Mentor Training Outline Sample cont.
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goal setting, goal getting and assessing
assisting an adolescent develop a positive self-image
identifying and encouraging the development of resiliency qualities
building relationships with peers, family, teachers and other adults
conflict resolution skills
effective communication techniques
An opportunity for personal reflection in some key areas of life’s journey
Understanding some of the issues and experiences facing Australian young people as
they transition through school to further study and the workplace
Understanding the St Paul’s Child Protection Policies and other school policies relevant
for the mentoring experience
The Training Program might include some or all of the following:
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lectures
icebreakers/energisers
reflective tasks
stories
large group/ small group/ triads/ pairs discussion
role play
General
This is an intensive training program, as a great deal of ground must be covered in a
relatively short time. It is impossible to do justice to these topics in the time at the Trainer’s
disposal, but, by the end of the program, mentors should be well equipped to take on the role
of mentoring adolescents in the GR8 MATES youth mentoring program. Please bear in mind,
throughout the training, that the development of relationship-building and leadership skills
(being a positive person of influence), as well as issues to consider when young people
transition from school to further study and the workplace, are intertwined in the topics
covered.
Light refreshments will be served during the training. You are encouraged to arrive ten
minutes prior to the training beginning, during which time tea, coffee and light snacks
will be available.
Further information on all modules covered during the training program will be found in the
resource book, The Spirit of Mentoring – a Manual for volunteer adults, which will be given
to you at the first training session. Throughout the book there are numerous mentoring tips to
facilitate the mentor/mentee relationship which lies at the heart of the mentoring journey.
There is also an extensive Bibliography for those interested in reading more material on
mentoring. This Manual, which has been used by over 1,000 volunteer adult mentors, is
particularly aimed at supporting you when you embark on the mentoring journey.
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Mentor Training Outline Sample cont.
The core modules being covered are:
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Module: Becoming a Mentor at St Paul’s
Module: Goal Getting
Module: Resiliency - self-concept, adolescent issues and assertive behaviour
Module: Resolving Conflicts and Communication
Once you begin the mentoring journey, you will also be given a Student Journal which
contains a number of helpful activities to create an effective and worthwhile mentoring
experience for you and your mentee.
For more general information on mentoring, please refer to the Youth Empowerment
Seminars YES! Website www.yess.co.nz YES! are one of the partners involved in the
development of the GR8 MATES youth mentoring program.
I look forward to welcoming you to the GR8 MATES Mentor Training Program. You will
meet some wonderful people who share your passion to make a difference in the local and
wider community.
Robin Cox
Executive Director of Faith and Community/Trainer
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