Community education and youth mentoring: how to build good practice? - Research findings and evaluation of regional coordination projects

Oct 15, 2026

Upload by Aldword

The paper evaluates the Helen Macpherson Smith Trust’s Mentoring and Capacity Building Initiative Regional Coordination Projects (RCPs), commissioned through Victoria University in 2008. It examines how the RCPs’ community-education and collaboration model supports cross-sector mentoring and community building. Objectives include coordinating regional delivery, identifying and sharing best-practice mentoring models, strengthening partnerships and collaboration, and developing whole-of-community approaches, while also monitoring program outcomes and strategic partnerships.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages17

Reading Time43 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Mentoring and Capacity Building Initiative (MCBI) overview

Targeted Projects and RCP structure

Evaluation purpose and objectives

Monitoring outcomes and partnerships

Community learning theory and mentoring program design

Transformative learning foundations

RCP model and goals

Whole-of-community and cross-sector approaches

Relevant policy context

Australian Journal of Adult Learning Community education and youth mentoring 319 Volume 49, Number 2, July 2009 Community education and youth mentoring: how to build good practice? Robyn Broadbent and Theo Papadopoulos Victoria University In 2008, the Helen Macpherson Smith (HMS) Trust commissioned Victoria University to conduct an evaluation of the Mentoring and Capacity Building Initiative’s Regional Coordination Projects (RCPs). The RCPs arefounded on a model of community education and collaboration that aims to enhance cross-sectoral and wholeof-community approaches to mentoring and community building. Their specific objectives are to: • coordinate effective regional delivery of new and existing mentoring programs and related activities • identify, document and share best practice mentoring models • strengthen community partnerships and collaboration, and the capacity and skills delivery of mentoring programs • develop cross-sectoral and whole-of-community approaches to mentoring. The aim of the evaluation was to determine the effectiveness of the RCPs in achieving these objectives, including the monitoring of program outcomes and strategic partnerships supporting these projects. This paper reports on some of the key findings ofthat evaluation. Introduction In 2008, the Helen Macpherson Smith (HMS) Trust commissioned Victoria University to conduct an evaluation of the Mentoring and Capacity Building Initiative (MCBI) Regional Coordination Projects (RCPs) . The MCBI is an initiative of the Office for Youth (OFY), Department for Planning and Community Development, aimed at young people between the ages of 12 to 25. It has two key elements – MCBI Targeted Projects and MCBI Regional Coordination. The purpose of the MCBI is to provide an integrated, coordinated and evidenced-based approach to improving the quality of communitybased youth mentoring programs in Victoria. There are 12 area-based Targeted Projects which aim to increase the number and capacity of youth mentoring projects in communities with high levels of disadvantage and to build on existing models, practices and networks in communities. In addition, there are six RCPs managed by community organisations to build greater coordination and linkages within communities and across mentoring projects, agencies and related service activities. The 12 Targeted Projects are funded by OFY, while the six RCPs are jointly funded by OFY and the HMS Trust. The youth mentoring programs that operate at a community level are commonly focused on individuals being matched to adult mentorsand subsequent role models. These programs have been built around the knowledge from the adult learning sector; they are underpinned by notions of being practical and experiential, and filtered through Mezirow’s work on transformative learning that challenges young 320 Robyn Broadbent and Theo Papadopoulos Community education and youth mentoring 321 people to walk alongside their mentor, consider their previously uncritically assimilated assumptions, beliefs, values and perspectives, and question them so as they may become more open, permeable and better validated (Mezirow 2000) . The RCPs are founded on a model of community collaboration and support, and aim to develop and enhance cross-sectoral and whole-ofcommunity approaches to mentoring and community building. Their specific objectives are to: • coordinate effective regional delivery of new and existing mentoring programs and related activities • identify, document and share best practice mentoring models • strengthen community partnerships and collaboration, and the capacity and skills delivery of mentoring programs • develop cross-sectoral and whole-of-community approaches to mentoring. Policy at both a state and federal level has seen a renewed emphasis on community-based approaches to promoting community and social change as well as economic development. The MCBI capacitybuilding initiative has relevan

FAQs

What is the purpose of the evaluation described in the paper?

It determines how effective the Regional Coordination Projects (RCPs) are in achieving the initiative’s objectives, including monitoring program outcomes and supporting strategic partnerships.

What are the key elements and objectives of the Mentoring and Capacity Building Initiative (MCBI)?

The MCBI provides an integrated, coordinated, evidence-based approach to improving community-based youth mentoring quality. Its Regional Coordination Projects aim to coordinate delivery, identify and share best-practice mentoring models, strengthen partnerships, and build cross-sectoral and whole-of-community mentoring approaches.

How are the Targeted Projects and RCPs organized and funded?

There are 12 area-based Targeted Projects, funded by the Office for Youth (OFY), and six RCPs managed by community organizations. The RCPs are jointly funded by OFY and the HMS Trust.

Oct 15, 2026

Upload by Aldword