Panyappi Indigenous Youth Mentoring Program Evaluation

Panyappi Indigenous Youth Mentoring Program Evaluation
mentor’s role, and wondered if this leaned toward “rescuing the kid, rather than
acknowledging it’s a reality.”
It was apparent there was some confusion between what constituted communication,
information sharing and the overall best interests of the young person, and what actions
compromised the mentoring work by achieving a short-term gain for a long-term loss.
Clarifying roles and developing effective communication was not always seen as a mutual
responsibility, but something that Panyappi should lead rather than other agencies ask
about. This also reflected some frustration that “they look like the good guys and we
look li ke the bad guys , as we have to tell them [young people] off for different things.”
In contrast, other program collaborators said that:
I know when I have issues that I want to raise with these kids I’ve struggled to
confront them [as a professional worker]. I don’t think getting a mentor to do
that is right, as I think that the rapport building that they have spent so much
time on will go down the drain. I think if it is clear child protection, guardianship
and court stuff…it needs to be coming from statutory [workers]…I think it
needs to be kept separate from the mentor’s role. (Program collaborator)
Facing the realities of the work – opportunities for personal growth
Some of the mentors have been there a bit themselves or seen others or have
siblings in similar situations. Aboriginal mentors come with a whole different
concept than others I’d have to say because of that connection there. It’s
already in the forefront of their mind about the family being important [as well
as the young person]. (Program collaborators)
This situation gives the Panyappi mentors considerable advantage in trying to engage
young people who are not always keen to be involved with (yet another) service. At the
same time, some mentors were not fully aware of the realities of these young people’s
lives and therefore what they would face in the work.
I guess it has opened their eyes to what our young kids are going through. The
issues that they face on a regular basis, the stuff they deal with at home, the
stuff they deal with the Police. The basic everyday life of a young person, all the
emotions everything they go through each day. Sometimes they are very
shocked. They really haven’t experienced being with kids that are hard core,
that have witnessed and experienced drugs, alcohol, abuse, domestic violence. A
lot of the mentors haven’t experienced that. When they do see that or are
confronted they don’t have the skills to deal with this and it affects them in a
strong way [so] that some don’t want to work here. (Program collaborators)
On two occasions, when young people mentors were confronted with “hard end” issues or
mandatory reporting responsibilities they decided to leave. Although support was
provided and offered on an ongoing basis, mentors did not always experience it as
sufficient or did not request further support when they needed it, which may have
prevented them from leaving and then later regretting the decision (also see “Support
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