NSW Opposition Leader Peter Debnam and Shadow Minister for Ageing Andrew Constance today announced a policy to encourage older Australians to mentor young people in our public schools as part of a broader policy package providing recognition for the contribution of older Australians in NSW. 

“Life experience is an asset that should be cherished. We all have something to learn from each other. Older Australians are important custodians of Australian values,” Mr Debnam said.

 “Older Australians have a wealth of knowledge and experience that can be of significant benefit to younger people in our community,” he said.

 “At the same time, many school-aged children are looking to explore a range of hobbies and interests, but don’t know where to find someone to help them learn. 

 “Some young people don’t have the family environment that helps them to develop constructive interests or have access to positive mentors.

 “We want to bridge the generation gap to connect younger and older Australians in NSW by creating a ‘Mentors in Schools’ program to link the two.”  

 The ‘Mentors in Schools’ program will develop a network of volunteer community mentors across NSW prepared to make a regular commitment to high school students who wish to learn about a particular subject or hobby:

• Mentors will be encouraged to offer guidance and support in hobby activities, cultural interests, and special academic subjects;

• A small co-ordinating team will be established within existing resources in the Department of Education to establish the necessary database and manage information and promotion; and,

• The database will bring together interested ‘mentors’ and the subjects and hobbies they wish to share – with a register of schools and students who want to be involved.

“$280,000 will be allocated to promotional materials such as brochures, a website, and information to volunteer community groups, hobby associations and university alumni.

Mr Constance said school communities will establish their own locally preferred timetables for mentor-related activities – perhaps including lunchtime, after-school and weekend arrangements with accredited mentors.

“The program will build on formal and informal arrangements already operating in some communities and schools, including current successful programs offered by the YWCA, welfare and church groups. 

 “The program will be purely of discretionary interest to students, and not designed to satisfy any course requirements, and will not add to curriculum or teacher loads.  

“Tele-mentoring could be used to connect mentors and students in remote locations.

“The co-ordinating team will establish necessary child-protection measures with relevant agencies,” he said.

Mr Debnam said this initiative is part of a larger NSW Liberal/Nationals package that recognises and values the contribution of older Australians in our community.

“Our package for older Australians will reduce the cost of living with special allowances and discounts, as well as reducing taxes and the abolition of the Countrylink booking tax for pensioners,” Mr Debnam said.

“We will provide older Australians with peace of mind through our commitments to improve our hospitals as well as making our community safer with more police, especially on public transport.

“And our package will support the Australian values that they have demonstrated all their lives with new national symbols legislation and more focus on values education in schools.