Home → University Services → Student Support → What's involved in being a student mentor?

What's involved in being a student mentor?

Mentors are expected to commit to the following:

Attendance at and participation in the training offered
Learning about services and facilities within the university in order to impart this information to new students
Assistance with specific orientation activities
Welcoming new students with a friendly and helpful manner

Training

There are two parts to the training:

A short two-hour information session which is run at the end of the year, usually November.
A full days training run during February, before semester starts.

Mentors must attend both training sessions in order to be considered part of the program.

Assistance with specific orientation activities

Location

SOS Mentors are expected to assist at one campus only - the one at which they spend most of their time.

Orientation (Beginning of the Year)

SOS Mentors are expected to assist at the main Faculty/Program Welcome sessions for the Faculty in which they are studying, as well as to participate in at least one other activity in the Orientation week at the commencement of the year. Student mentors can choose from the following:

Attendance at the Official Commencement Ceremony and assisting students as required
Participation in other Faculty specific sessions
Participation in generic sessions and tours such as:
Assisting in sessions that target specific groups of students e.g.
- Back to Studies - a session for mature aged students
- Information session for Rural and Out-of-area students
- Uni-What's it all about? - a session for school leavers S
- Sessions for International students

Mid-year Orientation:

SOS mentors are also invited to volunteer for mid-year orientation - this is not an expectation of the program but rather up to individual mentors. Due to the lower numbers of students commencing in mid-year, SOS Mentors are expected to participate in all activities planned on the day of the Mid-year orientation at their respective campus, as listed below:

- Attend the morning welcome session

- Participate in Faculty sessions on the day

- Campus / Library Tours

- SOS Mentor Help desk

On-going Activities

The mentors are encouraged to be available to new students for on-going assistance and advice over approximately the first 6 weeks of semester - usually until the Easter vacation in first semester and until the end of August in second semester. They are also encouraged to provide a contact email address (studentmail) to facilitate this process. As a guide, it is expected that the time commitment for this should not take up more than a maximum of one hour per week spread over the 6 week period.

Student mentors' studentmail addresses are posted on the SOS Mentor web page with their permission.

Recognition and remuneration

The SOS Mentor Program is a voluntary program, which recruits students on an annual basis.

The students who volunteer for this program are not paid, although all SOS mentors receive a $100 book voucher as a show of appreciation for participation. The $100 book voucher is provided for both participation at the orientation at the beginning of the year and also, to those who assist at the mid-year orientation.

SOS mentors also receive certificates in recognition of the training they have undertaken as well as an invitation to attend an award ceremony where they are presented with a Vice-Chancellor's Certificate of Appreciation