What's NEW on the site?

Youth Mentoring Network Factsheets for Mentors

The Youth Mentoring Network will be producing a series of factsheets to help mentors deal with issues which may come up when speaking with their mentees. The first factsheet is now available on our website!

Factsheet 1 provides information on adolescent issues such as sexual health, suicide and drug and alcohol issues for young people. It also provides mentors with a series of websites where they can find additional information on each of these topics.

Take a look at the factsheet today!

Do you need help with Organisation and Governance of your Youth Mentoring Program?

Take a look at our new Organisation and Governance page on the YMN website. This webpage will assist you in creating policy and procedures, governance structures and management systems. The page will also assist you in developing plans for program sustainability, provide staff development opportunities and provide tips on public relations and marketing.

Click here to view the new Organisation and Governance page

  New Staff at the YMN

To ensure the Youth Mentoring Network can focus on the opportunities mentioned in last months Newsletter, the YMN has employed Sylvia Utami as our new Events and Communications Officer.

Helen Lam will continue as our Administrations Officer and can be contacted via email on helen@youthmentoring.org.au. Helen works for the YMN on Fridays. Both Helen and Sylvia can be reached on 02 9085 7157.

 Journal of Vocational Behaviour - Mentoring Special

The Journal of Vocational Behaviour has released an entire issue dedicated to mentoring. Topics include:
· Mentoring relationships from early adolescence through emerging adulthood: A qualitative analysis
· The role of gender in youth mentoring relationship formation and duration
· Formal mentoring programs: The relationship of program design and support to mentors' perceptions of benefits and costs

The producers of a new observational documentary series called "The Lost Boys" have contacted the Youth Mentoring Network for some assistance. The documentary focuses on 5 fathers and their sons who are currently experiencing some type of difficulty or strain in their relationship due to long working hours, divorce, absence etc.   The program would be taking the fathers and sons away on a cattle drove in Australia for 28 days with the idea being with help and time away together they will hopefully mend problems in their communications and create a new bond between them.

This is a very professional project with backing from relationship councillors and droving experts who regularly host groups of public to take part in a similar experience.    There is definitely no voting, panel of judges or elimination in the format.  It really is about fathers and sons attempting to re-build their relationship with newly acquired skills through a combined experience.

The producers are looking for fathers and sons who may be interested in participating. Sons would have to be minimum age 15- through to 24.

If you can help please contact the producers directly.Kirsty de Vallance on  02 9413 8640/ 0403 182293 or email: Kirsty@acastofthousands.com.au by Friday the 18^th April.