Student Mentor Program
James Cook University values highly the work of its Student Mentors. An increasing body of research indicates that student satisfaction with University life is closely related to peer interactions. During Orientation Week or at any time during the year, continuing students assist first year students by providing them with information about how the University works and about how students provide support for each other. Student Mentors generally join the program because they remember what it was like to be a new student. Student Mentors appreciate the assistance they received in their first year and also see mentoring as an opportunity to develop valuable leadership and communication skills.
- CAIRNS NEWS
- TOWSVILLE NEWS
- How to become a Mentor
- Returning Mentor Application
- Student Mentor Handbook
This document (Word) provides a comprehensive description of the JCU Student Mentor Program and includes the definition of mentoring in the JCU context, a mission statement, the nature of the mentor relationship and the code of conduct for Student Mentors.
CAIRNS NEWS
The Cairns JCU Student Mentor program is generously supported by Quicksilver Cruises. and the Cairns Campus Student Association.
MENTOR LEADERS 2008
If you are a new student looking to contact a Student Mentor in your discipline, you should contact one of the Student Mentor Leaders listed below. Academic staff members are also encouraged to publicise this list and refer their students to the Mentor Leaders.
| Discipline | Mentor Leader | E-mail Address | |
|---|---|---|---|
Humanities/Arts |
Cornelia Lehane | Cornelia.Lehane@jcu.edu.au | |
Business/Tourism/Commerce |
Leonie Cassidy | leonie.cassidy@jcu.edu.au | |
Early Childhood Education |
Jenny Worsely |
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Primary Education |
Philip Kilfoy | Philip.kilfoy@jcu.edu.au | |
Secondary Education |
Michele Aitken | michele.aitken@jcu.edu.au | |
Law |
Alan Griffiths | ||
Nursing |
Stephanie Moffatt | ||
Social Science |
Susita Vout | ||
Social Work/Community Welfare |
Debra Hutchinson |
Debra.Hutchinson@jcu.edu.au | |
Science |
Robert Courtney | ||
Psychology |
Adam Walker |
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Sport & Exercise Science |
Wayne Green | ||
Information Technology |
Gia Kim | Gia.Kim@jcu.edu.au | |
General Troubleshooter! (Education/Psychology) |
Mark Ianson | Mark.Ianson@jcu.edu.au | |
Engineering |
Jeremy Gordon |
AN EXCITING BEGINNING TO 2008!
JCU Cairns Student Mentor Program kicked off its official activities for 2007 with a training and planning day in Crowther Theatre on Friday the 22nd of February. The day included preparation for Orientation Week and learning about the role of a Student Mentor and the place of the program in the life of the JCU community on the Cairns Campus.
Several Student Mentors worked as paid facilitators of the four faculty-specific transition programs offered in the week before Oweek. These three-day programs saw over 80 new students introduced to JCU Cairns through KICKSTART, FRESHSTART, SCISTART AND HEALTHSTART.
The student mentors once again welcomed all new students to the campus and each student was linked up with a mentor from their faculty and given a tour of the campus followed by a welcome lunch and information session provided by the faculty.
One of the most exciting aspects of the Student Mentor Program for 2008 is the active partnerships being developed with other members of the JCU community to further facilitate the improvement in student support and University engagement with the wider Cairns community. One of these partnerships is with the JCU Marketing Department which assists with the purchase of mentor shirts, and another partnership is with the School of Education. In this partnership Student Mentors are providing a new online mentoring service for students studying through flexible delivery. Student Mentors continue to be involved in a range of Equity support programs including SHADES, ONTRACK and ASPIRE. It looks like another exciting year for the Cairns Student Mentor Program.
Mentors in action!
 Prof Scott Bowman welcoming transition program participants |
 First year students being welcomed to the Learning Centre by their Student Mentors |
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Student Mentors in training |
TOWNSVILLE NEWS
A great big 'thank you!' to all the mentors who volunteer their time to make our program a success!
On Monday and Tuesday of O-week, we had 250 mentors turn up to welcome the new students. Dressed up in zany costumes like jellyfish, superheroes and biohazzard mutants the mentors brought mentee groups of between 10 to 25 people around the university, showing them all the important buildings (like lecture theatres, student services mall and of course the toilets) and giving them little hints and bits on information to help them survive the first semester. Most of the mentees found it to be a fun day and really enjoyed the sense of support they felt. There were others though who commented that mentors sound all be issued a can of bug spray to combat the North Queensland mosquitos! (I think they got bitten quite a bit during their tour)
This year, we have had mentors involved in a number of other university run, peer support programs including
1) Disabilities Coach Mentoring
2) SHAPES
3) On Track
4) ASPIRE Mentoring
If you would like to know more about any of these programs (including the mentor program), please e-mail Neil Chan (neil.chan@jcu.edu.au ).
Mentor Leaders 2008
The following table provides e-mail addresses of the Mentors Leaders for each school. If you feeling a little lost and need the support of a mentor, please feel free to e-mail the Mentor Leader from your school. They will arrange for a mentor to get in contact with you.
| Discipline | Mentor Leader | E-mail Address | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Law | Kelvin de Franciscis Julia Nielsen |
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| Business/Tourism/Commerce | Jo Cooper Jennilee Mills |
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| Education | Charlotte Gillum Mikaela Goostrey |
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| Psychology | Donna Griffith Laura Hanelt Clare Brosnan |
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| Social Science | Angela Hamilton | ||
| Medicine | |||
| Pharmacy | Suzanne Cameron | suzanne.cameron@jcu.edu.au | |
| Nursing | Freddie le Roux |
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| Vet Science | Troy Laidlow | troy.laidlow@jcu.edu.au | |
| Biomedical Science |
Jenna-Louise Graffini |
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| Sport & Exercise Science | Susanna Tope Fiona Young Ashley Pillieron |
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| Physiotherapy/OT/Speech Pathology | Robert Street |
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| Bio Science | Kim Palmer |
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| Science & IT | |||
| Engineering | Katie Latimore |
Photos
Below are some great photos of the mentors from 2008.
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The "Big School" and all its mentors |
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Superheroes of Health: Co-Winners of this Year's Best Costume Contest |
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These mentors are contagious! |
| More mentor Pics (Follow link) |
How to become a Mentor
The first step in becoming a Student Mentor at either the Cairns or Townsville campuses is to complete an application form. You can obtain these forms from Learning Advisers or Mentor Administrators at both campuses or you can fill out the online application form below.
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Cairns Contacts
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Townsville Contact Neil Chan, Mentor Administrator (Townsville) |
Returning Mentor Application
Thanks very much for your past contribution as a Student Mentor at JCU. We are very happy to welcome you back as a returning Student Mentor and we are therefore interested in keeping our database up to date. Returning Mentor Application forms can be obtained from Learning Advisers or Mentor Facilitators at both Townsville and Cairns campuses or you can fill out the online form below.
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Cairns Contacts
Grant Sinnamon , Mentor Administrator (Cairns) Email: Grant.Sinnamon@jcu.edu.au Phone: (07) 4042 1074 Alan Calder, Learning Adviser (Cairns) Email: Alan.Calder@jcu.edu.au Phone: (07) 4042 1153 |
Townsville Contact
Neil Chan Mentor Administrator (Townsville) Email: neil.chan@jcu.edu.au Phone: (07) 4781 5365 |
