1. Youth Mentoring Conference NZ
Building Partnerships for Mentoring: Understanding participant perspectives
Judith MacCallum
Murdoch University
Youth Mentoring Conference NZ
25 May 2007

2. Introductions
Judy
Participants

3. Overview A mix of activities and brief presentation What is mentoring?
Who is involved in a mentoring program?
Does everyone come with the same expectations and concerns?
What factors are important for successful programs?

4. What is Mentoring? Activity - Think-Pair-Share
Consider your own experiences of mentoring or mentoring-like experiences -
when someone has provided you with a learning experience that allowed you to move forward on a significant issue or changed your thinking in a way that really helped you…
when you helped someone uncover an aspect or ability that prior to this, had lain dormant…
What were the elements of that experience for you?

5. Elements from group feedback
Affirming each other
Importance of one moment or sentence
Good feeling
Helping others - came from within
Providing clarity
Being met where you are
Safety of others
Readiness to develop
Authenticity
Looking at the situation, to make informed decisions
Being present, being available.

6. Development of partnerships
A formal mentoring program creates opportunities for the building of many relationships, such as mentor - young person, coordinator - mentor, and young person – young person, ….., and provides a context in which each participant learns from each other, about each other and about themselves. (MacCallum, 2001)

7. What factors are important?
Activity - Group activity
Perspectives of:
Coordinator
Mentor
Young person
Board/Funding body
Parent/family member
Question - What do you think are the most important factors that need to be taken into account in developing a mentoring program? Expectations? Concerns?

8. Findings Coordinator perspective
Expectations:
Positive relationship, time and finances, support form communities, finding mentors, establishing networks etc, mentors influential, frequent meetings, mentors attend training, effective training, evaluation of processes and outcomes.
Concerns:
Control of gov or funding about goals, lack of commitment for different participants.

9. Mentor perspective Expectations:
Commitment?, am I good enough?, will I be liked?, accept me, fit?, support and training?, what happens if doesn’t work?, boundaries? Future expectations form program? What involve? Confidentiality, trust system, program, yp?, can I be myself? 24 hrs?
Concerns:
Trust, what are the commitments?

10. Young Person perspective
Expectations:
Fun, not too intense, try new things and activities, goals program - passing courses, consistency, someone to listen not lecture.
Concerns:
What will my friends think? Will you tell my parents what I say?

11. Board/Funding body perspective
Expectations:
Criteria followed, funding application, reports from program, outcomes, progress, audited and legitimate.
Concerns:
Cultural awareness, community participation.

12. Parent/family member perspective
Expectations:
Confidentiality, my child’s needs met, mentor not undermine my values, trusting organisation, safety for child, mentor committed and trust, credibility, know systems in place for concerns and communication.
Concerns:
Am I a bad parents? Is someone taking over my role?

13. From the group discussion:
Different participants have different expectations and concerns
Importance of including all perspectives in planning
People with multiple participant roles need to be clear which perspective they are representing.

14. Sustaining partnerships
Planning with involvement of all stakeholders
Clearly articulated and shared goals
Cultural awareness
Ongoing communication with all stakeholders and support where necessary
Mechanisms for feedback from all participants and opportunities to contribute to evaluation

15. References and sources
Beltman, S. & MacCallum, J. (2006) Mentoring and the development of resilience. International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, 8(1),
MacCallum, J. (2001) Creating partnerships through mentoring. Invited presentation at the 2001 Education Foundation Summit, Melbourne, October 2001.
MacCallum, J., & Beltman, S. (1999) Mentoring in schools by members of the community: A report of the Quality Outcomes Programme International Year of Older Persons Mentoring Research Project. Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia. Available

16. Contact
Judy MacCallum -