' We all need a lighthouse of our own
                                             It gets so dark I can't see which way I'm going
                                                        Lighthouse man I'm all at sea
                                            Shine a little lighthouse light on me'
                                               'The Waifs'
               The Waifs

'We all need a lighthouse of our own.
What is Mentoring?

Where two people talk together and learn from each other.

What does a Mentor do? 

work in a one-to-one relationship with a young person, assisting them to investigate future life directions, training or employment opportunities.

What is the Commitment?

Mentors complete a free ‘mentor training’  day  prior to being matched with a mentee. Time commitments  vary to suit individual people and programs. Key commitment is that of supporting a young person.

Who can be a Mentor

Anyone interested in supporting young people.

What are the benefits?

Helping a young person set goals and work towards achieving them, playing an active role in your local community.

Remember when you where 15? Having to make decisions about the rest of your life? Your dad wanted you to be a dentist and you wanted to be a rock star. Where was that person to give you unbiased advice and direction? It’s a strange journey moving from a youthful existence to formally defining your own path. This transition can be made easier through the support  of  a mentor. A significant adult can have a lasting and positive impact in a young person’s life.

Byron Youth Service’s mentoring program aims to empower young people through connections with  community mentors.  Mentors can refer to their own journeys (and with the hindsight of experience and wisdom), help young people make decisions about their future. It is the vision of this project that mentoring may support young people to build stronger links with peers, family, education and community.

BYS  provides a number of mentoring programs including :

Purpose-built mentoring, linking mentors and mentees on the basis of mutual skills and interests which may be fostered through the relationship.

“Wellbeing through  Leisure” - The aim of this  program  is to help young people build a positive outlook through interacting with mentors in a relaxed/sporting environment. (running each Tuesday from 10am till 1pm commencing 6th May)

RIFF Music Program,  offering  young people  mentoring and tutoring  in musical development, including the RIFF BAND, which offers young musicians aged 12 to 18  the opportunity to play and perform alongside peers, tutors and mentors.

If you know a young person who might benefit from becoming a youth mentee in one of these programs,  or you would like to enquire about mentor volunteering,  please contact Mentoring Coordinator Rosalie Bryant  

Contact Rosalie @
BYS: 1 Gilmore Crescent Byron Bay
phone  6685 7777
email mentoring AT bys.org.au
postal address: PO Box 64 Byron Bay 2481

Mentor Net is funded by the Department of Family & Community Services, through Mentor Marketplace,
an Australian Government youth  initiative.

(@ replaced by AT in email addresses to reduce spam)

'To view or download information about what being a mentor involves click on the following link'