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What's NEW on the site? |
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We are now 3!
 The Youth Mentoring Network turned 3 on 9th March 2009. During our last 3 years, over 170 programs have registered on our website, we've had over 321,500 website visitors, there have been over 34,000 downloaded resources from the website and over 1,120 people have subscribed to this newsletter.
Thank you to everyone who have supported us and for your continued support.
Australian Youth Mentoring Week
Get involved and participate in Australian Youth Mentoring Week. Australian Youth Mentoring Week will be held from 25th to 31st October 2009! Ensure you put this date in your diary today and join hundreds of programs across Australia in celebrating the positive impact of youth mentoring. If you are planning an event or have a great idea for an event click here and let us know! Keep an eye on our website for events held during Australian Youth Mentoring Week.
New Guide to Mentoring
A new guide, created by The Youth Mentoring Trust, a New Zealand organisation, is now available on our website. This publication, called Guide to Effective Practice in Youth Mentoring New Zealand provides an introduction to Youth Mentoring and describes New Zealand's youth mentoring sector, as well as noting the particular contribution made by Maori leaders in the field. The Guide also deals with characteristics that distinguish effective youth mentoring relationships and approaches to establishing and running a youth mentoring program.
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In The Loop |
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Where have all the programs gone?
 You will notice under "New Programs" that we have had a significant increase in the number of programs to join the Network this past month. This is thanks to a number of campaigns including you our dedicated readers who have encouraged unlisted programs that you are working with to register. Please keep letting people know that it is important to register their programs so that we can make better referrals and place volunteers!
You will also notice that a significant number of programs have been removed from the database. Some of these are programs have had their main source of funding cease and could no longer source additional funding. Others have decided not to continue to provide mentoring as part of their services. But some may still be active but were removed from the database because they have not contacted us to update their details during our last database update over Summer. To ensure the integrity of the data on the database we need all programs to update their details at least once every six months. If your program has been removed and it is still in operation contact us today and we will reinstate your listing.
Thank you to everyone who has helped us to build the number of registered programs and we look forward to many more postings. |
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Employment Opportunity |
Are you looking for a change? Do you want to support  youth mentoring while expanding your skills in networking, facilitation and community development? The Victorian Youth Mentoring Alliance (VYMA) in partnership with Marybyrnong Moonee Valley Local Learning and Employment Network (M&MVLLEN) is seeking an enthusiastic program coordinator with an interest in youth mentoring. The successful applicant will coordinate the Melbourne Metropolitan Youth Mentoring Implementation and Coordination (MMYMIC) program which aims to build greater coordination and linkages within communities and across mentoring projects in Metropolitan Melbourne.
Hurry, applications close 20 March 2009. |
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Funding Issues! |
 Are you running out of funding? Do you need to boost to the funds you currently have? Listed below are current funding opportunities which exist that may assist youth mentoring programs. Click on the links for more information about each grant.
Keep an eye on the Funding page on our website for monthly funding updates. We will be listing new grants and other funding opportunities for youth mentoring programs each month. |
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New Research |
Are Youth Mentoring Programs Value-for-Money?
 A new Australian research paper, by Marjory Moodie and Jane Fisher has been released. This paper called "Are Youth Mentoring Programs Good Value-for-money? An Evaluation of the Big Brothers Big Sisters Melbourne Program" looks at whether the long-term cost savings due to youth mentoring is of greater value than the costs of delivering the mentor program.
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New Programs |
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New Programs Listed on the Youth Mentoring National Database!
Twelve fantastic youth mentoring programs were listed on our website during February 2009! Unfortunately, we also had to say goodbye to ten mentoring programs, including ACCEPTANCE Mentoring Young People 'At Risk', Classroom Connections, Connect Mentor, Festival of Dreams Youth Leadership, Mentoring to Mobilise, Mission Exchange, SCEEC Mentor Booth, Slingshot Youth Self-employment Program, Tablelands Youth Mentoring Program and The Aunty Program.
We would like to welcome the following programs to the National Database:
Click on their names above to learn more about these programs.
Remember, there is no cost involved in the program registration. By registering your program details on our online database, you will also be adding your voice to the growing number of youth mentoring programs demanding that funding bodies take a more serious look at mentoring. If we all work together, we can achieve a more knowledgeable mentoring environment and provide better support for your program, which will lead to more support and guidance for the youth of Australia.
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Events
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Youth Mentoring Forum Series
NSW Regional Forum - 30 April 2009
The Youth Mentoring Network, in partnership with the Hunter Youth Mentor Collaborative, will be holding the NSW Regional Forum in Newcastle on Thursday, 30th April 2009. Details of the topic will be announced soon.
Keep an eye on our website for further details of the following upcoming forums:
June 18 - Melbourne
Mid year - Adelaide
September 25 - Vic Regional - Bendigo
December - Bunbury WA If you missed one of our forums or would like to access information used in the presentations, click here to visit our Past Forums page to download PowerPoint presentations or forum notes.
Forum Series 2009 - Co-hosts Needed
The Youth Mentoring Network is still looking for co-hosts for our NSW Metro forum. If you are interested in being a partner organisation for a forum, download a MOU to see what is involved in the process or email info@youthmentoring.org.au.
Youth Mentoring Mentor Summit
The YMN Mentor Summits are professional development opportunities for volunteer mentors in recognition of their great work and invaluable contribution they make to youth mentoring. The Summits are an additional resource to enhance the skills of volunteer mentors.
Noosa Summit - 21 March 2009
The Youth Mentoring Network, in partnership with United Synergies, will be holding the Noosa Mentor Summit on Saturday, 21st March 2009. The topic for this forum will be "Understanding and Communicating with Gen Y". The speaker at this Summit will be Andrew Fuller, an acclaimed author and clinical psychologist.
Other Conferences and events
National Youth Week 2009 - Make a Move
National Youth Week will be held from 28 March to 5 April 2009. The overall theme for National Youth Week 2009 is to celebrate and recognise the value of all young Australians to their communities.
What's Food Got To Do With It? Insights into Young People with Eating Disorders
Organised by the Centre for Adolescent Health, Royal Children's Hospital and held in Melbourne on 2 April 2009
Connecting Up 2009 - The Online Future of Nonprofits - Are We There Yet?
Organised by Connecting Up Australia and held in Sydney on 11-12 May 2009
2009 Symposium - Working Together: Advancing Child Protection In The Workplace
Organised by the NSW Ombudsman Child Protection Division and held in Sydney on 25 - 26 May 2009
If you have an event or meeting that would interest youth mentoring practitioners, funding groups or mentors themselves, then you can add these events to the E-newsletter and YMN website.
Simply send an email to info@youthmentoring.org.au containing all the event details and we will be happy to help with your promotion. | |
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Sincerely,
Kathleen Vella
Youth Mentoring Network Australia
Visit the website at http://www.youthmentoring.org.au | |
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