Pilbara mentors are seeking more volunteers after a worryingly low drop in program contributors

Port Hedland’s Pilbara Mentor’s program has put a call out for volunteers after a drastic reduction in their numbers since COVID-19. The Pilbara Mentors program is run by EdConnect Australia and seeks to enhance the social and emotional well-being of students by partnering them with an encouraging and reliable adult role model. The program held an information session at the Port Hedland Dome on Thursday, July 27, aimed at showing the community the value in contributing to the initiative. Pilbara Mentors liaison officer Ainsley Chadwick said she was hoping to get more local mentors into the program. “It’s great to be able to make awareness of this program in the community, we need more locals to get involved,” she said. “It’s just one hour a week of your time during school hours. “A mentoring relationship builds a student’s confidence, self-esteem, and resilience- in turn, this creates a positive ripple effect back to the classroom. As a Pilbara Mentor, you will receive so much more in return.” The Pilbara Mentors program began in Port Hedland in 2016 and previously had as many as 20 local volunteers but since COVID-19 the number has dropped to seven.