Some of Stawell and Ararat’s largest employers are being encouraged to support local students by signing up as Community Champions for Central Grampians LLEN’s MATES Mentoring Program.
The MATES program matches nominated students from participating primary and secondary schools with volunteer mentors from the community. They meet for one hour each fortnight during school hours.
Central Grampians LLEN Executive Officer, Jane Moriarty said a rapid expansion of the program has been the catalyst for the MATES Community Champions Model, an idea inspired by Wimmera Southern Mallee LLEN’s program.
“We first introduced MATES in 2021 as a pilot at three schools in the Northern Grampians Shire. Since then, the program has expanded to 10 schools across the Central Grampians region, with several more on the waiting list,” she said.
“Our goal in the future is to be able to offer MATES to all the schools in our region, however, to achieve this, we need a much bigger pool of volunteer mentors. This is where the MATES Community Champions Model comes in.”
Ms Moriarty said CGLLEN was currently recruiting major employers to become Community Champions and provide their staff with flexible working arrangements that would allow them to mentor a student in the MATES Program during business hours.
“We have already had a couple of businesses approach us about this model, and over the coming weeks we will be sending MATES Community Champion information packs to some of the larger organisations in Ararat Rural City and Northern Grampians Shire as a pilot,” she said.
“There are two ways that an organisation can manage staff volunteering for MATES; either by donating staff hours to the program or allowing staff to make up the time they spend volunteering.”
Since it was first introduced, CGLLEN’S MATES Program has provided 62 students with an additional source of support outside of their home and school lives.
Stawell West Primary School Principal, Anthony Cain said MATES had become an important addition to the school’s wellbeing program over the past two and a half years.
“The students that participate in the MATES Program get so much out of having a positive mentor take an interest in their lives. They get to take part in a range of fun activities with their mentors and they really look forward to seeing them every fortnight. One hour might only be a small amount of time, but it makes a big difference in the lives of these students,” Mr Cain said.
“We would encourage local businesses to strongly consider signing on as Community Champions to help ensure we have enough mentors to support all of the students who would benefit from this important program.”
While CGLLEN’S initial delivery of MATES Community Champions information packs will target larger organisations, Ms Moriarty said more businesses would be approached in the coming months.
“If you are a business owner and you would like more information on our Community Champions Model, please get in touch with us and we will send a pack out to you,” Ms Moriarty said.
Employers can request an information pack by phoning CGLLEN Project Officer, Penny Walton-Bourke on 0418 535 478 or email penny@cgllen.org.au.
For further information please contact:
Jessie Newton on 03 5352 3266 or email media@cgllen.org.au.
PHOTO: Central Grampians LLEN is encouraging local employers to support their staff to mentor a young person in the MATES Program. L-R CGLLEN Project Officer, Penny Walton-Bourke, Executive Officer, Jane Moriarty and Board Chair, Janine Adams promote the MATES Community Champions Model.