Potential student mentors, current mentors and staff of CQU Mackay Campus had a barbeque recently to mingle and sign new applicants up for the CQU Student Mentor Program.

Second-time mentor Juanita Joy says that her own experience as a new student motivated her to go on and become a student mentor.

“I wanted to do a better job myself at helping students get through university, so I signed up and this is my second year as a mentor. I love it”.

Juanita believes the program has made her feel more a part of the University community.

“I’ve met so many more people in different faculties that I never would have known had I not been a mentor. The program has made my whole University experience so much greater,” she said.

Mentors learn valuable life and mentoring skills which not only appear officially on their transcripts upon graduating, but are transferable into the work environment they enter after graduating.

Some of the other benefits to students joining the program include 10% off all text books at the bookshop and an end of year function and presentation for ‘Mentor of the Year’ Awards.

Councillor at CQU Mackay campus and coordinator of on-campus mentors, Julie Godden is happy with the interest in the Mentor program this year.

“We had great interest at the barbecue today and received 11 more applications for the program,” she said.

“We just need a few more Nursing students as well as a few more IT, Multimedia and Business students,” said Julie.

Interested CQU students are urged to get in touch with Katrina Richmond on 4940 7416.

Photo : Student mentors and new students get together at a barbecue to talk about ‘becoming a student mentor’ at CQU Mackay campus. Back row, left to right: Stephen Bryant , Taryn Potts, Glen Penridge, Middle: Andrea Palmer, Kerry Stephens, Juanita Joy, Front row: Riley Molloy and Leanne Jones.