ABCN

Anyone who lives in Victoria knows that Frankston is a long way from the Melbourne CBD. So for the cohort of students from Western Port Secondary College in Hastings, who all had to make their own way to Frankston Station before school started and then travel on a train for over 90 minutes, participating in a Future Thinkers program with a team of mentors from WSP in Australia was a big effort and a big deal! But we also loved the feedback from the mentors, who when asked “What would you say to colleagues who are thinking about participating in an ABCN Program?” responded: "Get involved. As a professional it is an amazing opportunity to be able to engage with young people and learn to understand their thinking styles. " "Give it a go. It's a worthwhile thing to do for what is really a very small time commitment." "Do it! It’s incredibly fulfilling to see those lightbulb moments but also the student who quietly take the information in." Credit to Cameron Williams, Diane Riley, Doug Williamson, Hemadri Saha, Kylie Hailes (Bradley), Rowan Huggins, Simin Mizani, Simon Clarke, Faruq Mahmood, Cynthia T., James Blake, Leanne W., Fiona Sheppard and thanks Laura Higgins, Catherine Morris and Ulrike Reinholdt. #mentoringmatters #skilledvolunteering #mentoring

🌟 What an incredible session! 🌟 Creativity sparks flew when talented students from Braybrook College met a bunch of inspiring mentors from IAG and dove into some challenging problems and emerged with innovative solutions in a recent Future Thinkers program. From a wearable app for pets that allows communication to a helmet device that helps users navigate space and time for boosting confidence in situations like job interviews, the ingenuity on display was off the charts! The energy was palpable—laughter and discussions filled the room as students engaged deeply with the design thinking process. Many students shared that they now feel equipped to "understand a situation" and embrace the "problem-solving process." They learned the value of being "open-minded" and that "anything can be something." It was heartwarming to see students' confidence blossom throughout the day. Mentors noted the transformation, with quieter participants becoming more vocal and assertive in sharing their ideas and even sharing a quick game of pool post program in IAG’s fun lunch space. Credit to Sally Adams, Phoebe Martin, Melissa Scollo, Renae Trimnell, and James K Lo for making this experience so enriching and enjoyable! Let’s keep pushing the boundaries of creativity and collaboration! Thanks kate craigie, Susan Short, Catherine Morris #skilledvolunteering #mentoringmatters #mentoring

💯 💯 💯 Talk about ending on a high! Our final program for 2024 with the awesome Optus team in Victoria certainly garnered some heartwarming feedback and stunning post-program data from students Dandenong High School. Following the Interview 2 Impress session a number of students enquired about opportunities for internships – and one summed up by simply saying “Thank you so much, legends!” and another added “Thanks for being engaging and talking to me like I am a friend, rather than a stranger”. Terrific work by Syed Muhammad Saqib, Mac Harris, Veronica Forster, Melissa Darcey, Tanya Rogers, Deanna Mizzi, Kimberley Wheeler, Eva Tse, Miranda Winn and Corri Byrne. Thanks to Vanessa Aitken and Catherine Morris. #mentoringmatters #skilledvolunteering #mentoring #optuslife

Double the fun! What a mammoth session with Macquarie Group, with almost 80 people attending, including 23 awesome mentors from the Macquarie design team. Students from CHESTER HILL HIGH SCHOOL and LEUMEAH HIGH SCHOOL had an amazing experience, taking part in a sketch noting session run by Macquarie, followed by ABCN’s Future Thinkers Program. This program involves small groups of students working with their mentors in teams to create solutions to a problem using the design thinking methodology and presenting their results.  At the conclusion of this program, 100% of the students said that they now understand the principles of design thinking and are able to develop creative solutions to problems 🙌 Kudos to Lauren Tuck, Yasmin Gupta, Lucy Zhao, Harry Kellick, Bridgette Lee, Taryn du Plooy, Holly Milling, Sabrina Singh, Kristine Souksamrane, Kylie Bray, Oshadhi (Oshi) Paranavitane, Mily Rong, Jane Wang, Jennifer Murphy, Sarah Jeremiah, Ewan Hall, Steve Packham, Liam O'Kane, Bella Bain, Sean Alderman Ben Waitsman, Martina Hudaly, Kelly Liang, Auguste Greiciute and Denise Jin. Well done Claire Dyson and Einat Piper! #skilledvolunteering #mentoringmatters #mentoring

Well that certainly sounds like an impactful program! Students who participated in a mentoring program with American Express were so inspired they wasted no time, asking their teacher on the bus ride back to Granville how they could work there! And the awesome team at American Express promptly shared info on grad schemes and entry level positions 🙌 The students from Granville South Creative & Performing Arts High School were surveyed before and after the session and responses to, "Can you see yourself in a workplace like your mentor's?" jumped from 50% to 83%. Mentor comments included: "It’s a super rewarding experience. The students really value the time and advice that is given." "The students were super engaged with the program, I loved how comfortable they were to ask questions" "I managed to connect with people I don’t often cross paths with and gain experience in mentoring youths." Great work by Hannah Ruis, Daniel Lister, Claire King, James Lombardo, Kimmy Gordon, Natalie Zora and Deepika Lall. #mentoringmatters #skilledvolunteers #mentoring

They say pictures tell a thousand words! And we love these shots, though this is probably not what our wonderful volunteers from Accenture thought their day would involve when they mentored Year 8 students from Keilor Downs College in our STEM program ‘Innovate’. “I can’t believe how many great, creative ideas the students in my group came up with. This is so much fun” – Mentor It was an energetic and creative start - after workshopping global concerns and how STEM can help fix almost everything, students and mentors designed and raced their very own puff mobiles. With limited resources including straws and lollies and strict timelines the groups quickly went into design mode and then built and tested their ideas. Team Brown eventually won the race with an aerodynamic design and a long puff of air. Renewable energy in practice! 🙌 Thanks to all for their engagement and enthusiasm and Accenture for hosting. We are looking forward to our next session on AI in a couple of weeks. Great work by Paullomi Thomas, Catherine Mollica, Anjali S Prakash, Flavio Burattin, Devi K. Kiran Jagannath Rao, Manoj Indulkar, Vinali Ashlyn Naidu, Ryan McQueen, Hannah (Baker) Golabovski, Renata Blanco and Sudeep Palsule. #skilledvolunteering #mentoring #mentors Catherine Morris

If individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds are unable to reach their full potential, society loses access to top talent. This excellent explainer sheds light on the imperative to address inequalities tied to socio-economic status. As Alan Milburn illustrates, "the movement for change is underway” and the business benefits of more diverse workplaces and equitable leadership progression are abundantly clear, with research showing that organisations focusing on social mobility are 1.4x more profitable.

A team from IP Australia recently worked with Year 9 students from EPPING SECONDARY COLLEGE in Melbourne, with two mentors even flying in from interstate for the occasion, demonstrating IP Australia's commitment to D&I and ABCN! The session involved students applying design thinking skills to come up with ideas for fostering greater inclusion in their schools and local communities. Together, they learned about human-centred design, practiced divergent thinking, and really stepped out of their comfort zones as they worked together. A huge thank you to IP Australia for supporting ABCN and our schools. Great work by Zal Hakki, Hanna Ho, Amma Boakye, Tracey Huynh Tara Stevens, Boris Cetinich as well as Catherine Morris, Susan Short and Ulrike Reinholdt. #mentoringmatters, #skilledvolunteering, #mentoring

Years of study are being put to the test as Year 12 students across NSW start their HSC exams today. Exam periods vary across states and territories, but one thing that remains consistent nationally is the significant disparity between schools with varying levels of resources and support. Research shows that a student's social background is a key predictor of their educational outcomes and future success. We’re on track to work with 10,000 students this year and know that education is key for these students to access opportunities and tertiary pathways for long-term meaningful employment and a sustainable income for themselves and their families. Our vision is for all young Australians to reach their potential, regardless of socio-economic status. Will you join us to bridge the education gap? #skilledvolunteering #mentoringmatters #mentoring

For the last three years, Commonwealth Bank has funded My Career Footprints, a careers exposure program connecting students and mentors who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples. The final session of the three-year curriculum saw a group of super committed students from Plumpton High School and Rooty Hill High School mentored by a team from Commonwealth Bank. As it turned out, two of the mentors were Plumpton High School alumni - what a special connection for the students! When asked, “What will you take away from this experience?”, one student commented “I am allowed to be myself!”. Another said, “Don’t let anyone hold you back”. One of the teachers explained the most important thing the students gained from the session was “Understanding that there is a world of opportunity, and young people do not need to put themselves in a box.” Recognising the steps taken by mentors provides a link between classroom learning and the real world of work. Mentors sharing their career journeys, how they faced challenges, and celebrated wins can make an enormous impact as students consider their options for the future. My Career Footprints is part of the Career Mentoring Curriculum for First Nations students which was co-designed by ABCN with Aboriginal Educators and Community Representatives. A huge thanks to Commonwealth Bank for supporting this program. Well done to Michael Mieni, Tamara Taylor, Koorine Trewlynn and Tyler Bailey and Samantha Tan. #FirstNationsEducation #SkilledVolunteers #MentoringMatters