What is a peer mentor program?
Why a mature age peer mentor program?
Who are the mentors?
What do mentors get out of the program?
Who are the mentees?
What do mentees get out of the program?
How does the program run?

What is a peer mentor program?

A peer mentor program involves experienced students passing on their tips, knowledge and ideas to new students.

Why a mature age peer mentor program?

New students face exciting new experiences when they start University. As well as this we realise students also face some challenges e.g. what's a tutorial, how do I get to the Mathews building, how do I write an essay?

All new students will experience similar challenges in their first weeks of university. Our work with mature age students and current research suggests mature age students may face a set of challenges which are slightly different to school leavers in regard to: balancing home, work and uni, learning how to learn again, unfamiliarity with information technology etc.

Therefore, who better to help support a new mature age student than a more experienced mature age student who has been through it before?

Who are the mentors?

The mentors are experienced mature age students from a range of faculties who have survived first year! Mentors volunteer for the program and have a genuine interest in supporting and guiding first year students. The mentors attend a one day training program where they learn a wide variety of skills to assist them in their role as mentors and which can benefit them in many areas of their life. The mentors are provided with supervision from a member of staff at the counselling service to support them in their role.

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What do mentors get out of the program?

Comments from past mentors include:

Who are the mentees?

Mentees are first year mature age students from a variety of faculties who chose to be involved in the program.

What do mentees get out of the program?

Comments from past mentees include:

How does the program run?

A mentor is assigned to a group of approximately 6-10 mentees. The groups meet in Orientation week and then again in Weeks 1, 3 and 5. This means the mentees not only get the support of their mentor but get to meet other first year mature age students as well.

If you interested in being involved in the program as a mentor or mentee or want more information please click here for more information or email the Peer Mentoring Coordinator or phone +61 2 9385 5418.

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