A new opportunity of being offered by the Hunter-based Mentor Support Network (MSN) for people wishing to train as mentors to help the youth of the region.
MSN Course Facilitator, Matt Linnert, said mentor training courses in past years had been very successful and that he expected interest in the first opportunity for 2022 to be high.
“MSN provides a number of training courses throughout the year with our aim being to provide mentors and potential mentors with the knowledge and skills required for youth mentoring,” said Matt.
“Mentor Support Network has been providing training, professional development and networking for mentors for nearly 20 years and our training course later this month is a continuation of that service in the Hunter Region.”
Details of the training day are:
Date: Thursday 24 March 2022
Time: 9.30am to 4pm
Venue: Soul Café (above Westpac Bank),
Cnr Hunter & Watt Streets, Newcastle
Catering: Morning Tea and Lunch provided.
Fee: $20 per person for MSN members; $60 per person for non-members which includes 12-month MSN membership
Click here to register for the training course.
Matt said more than 300 people have participated in one of MSN’s mentor training courses which aim to empower and enable individuals to develop skills and confidence in their mentoring capabilities.
He said feedback from those attending previous courses had been encouraging. There had already been a number of inquiries this year about the first course.
“Being a mentor can be a wonderfully fulfilling experience. As a mentor, you share your knowledge, skills and life experience with young people, supporting them to learn, grow and reach their potential,” said Matt.
“Mentors help young people better cope with the challenges of school, work experience, career choices, and may direct them to support for personal and family issues.”
The March training course is being offered over one day with some of the topics including: What is ‘mentoring’, the aim or goal of mentoring, motivation for being a mentor, roles and responsibilities of a mentor, the phases of a mentoring relationship, self-care, support and development for mentors and pathways for mentors – where and who to mentor.
Matt, who has been mentoring for more than 18 years, knows first-hand how beneficial mentoring can be to both mentors and mentees and is looking forward to supporting his fellow mentors to develop their skills, connections and confidence.
“MSN is offering a great training course for a worthwhile cause and I’m looking forward to facilitating what should be a great day,” said Matt.
He said MSN was fortunate that the training course was possible because of the generous support of Port Waratah Coal Services which also sponsored courses in 2021.