Mentoring · Targeted early support · Primary and high school
Mentoring for students doing it tough, or who just need a boost.
Small-group mentoring in school time. Our Youth Resilience Mentor uses movement and shared challenge to open the conversations young people often struggle to have, and to build the resilience to navigate tough times.
Movement opens the door. Mentoring builds trust. Resilience is the outcome.
Some students need more than a classroom can give.
Growing up brings big questions about identity, belonging and pressure, and they're often hard to put into words. When students disconnect, it shows up in their confidence, their engagement and their behaviour, and more lands on your teachers.
Our mentoring gives those students a trusted adult outside the classroom. We get them moving first. Shared physical challenge builds trust, and trust opens the conversations that build resilience before students reach crisis point.
This is mentoring, not counselling. We work alongside your wellbeing team and follow your school's processes if a student needs more support.
Meet your mentor
Tim Cornforth
Youth Resilience Mentor
Tim brings years of experience across youth support, First Nations education, elite sport and coaching. He knows how to build trust with young people who are finding things hard, and how to use sport and movement to help them find their way back to school, family and community.
- Indigenous Education Officer – supporting First Nations students and families with identity, culture and connection
- Bimberi Transition Officer – reconnecting young people with family, school, work and community
- Former Australian Rugby Sevens player and semi-professional rugby player
- Rugby Union Level 2 Coach and Assistant Coach, Brumbies Women
- Owner and Director, TMC Fitness, since 2015
Backed by volunteer mentors
Tim is supported by working professionals who volunteer their time to the program. They give students more positive role models, and a real-world picture of what's possible.
Supporting First Nations students
Tim's background in Indigenous education makes this program a strong fit for schools supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. Many schools fund it through cultural wellbeing or student engagement budgets.
How movement opens the door
Every activity carries a lesson for life
We choose activities to suit your students and your school. Here are some examples.
Dance
Make your move in life.
Football
Learn how to tackle the issues of life.
Basketball
Overcome the fear of failure and take the shot.
Hiking
Keep moving through tough seasons.
What your students gain
The 4Cs: our Resilience Through Movement™ framework
Movement is the vehicle. These four shifts are what we build in every young person.
Students feel more connected at school.
“I belong.”
Students start believing in themselves.
“I believe I can.”
Students become more willing to try, learn and keep improving.
“I can grow through challenge.”
Students learn to give back and lift others up.
“I have something to give.”
Choose your program
Two ways to start: Spark or Shift
Both run weekly at your school, in school time. Sessions run 45–60 minutes, depending on the needs of your students and school.
Spark
8 weekly sessions across one term. A focused start that builds trust and momentum.
Shift
16 weekly sessions across two terms (8 per term). More time for trust, growth and lasting change.
Larger groups
The ideal group is 12 students. Each extra student adds $20 per session.
What's included
Weekly sessions led by our Youth Resilience Mentor, supported by volunteer mentors who are working professionals: guided movement and physical challenge, mentoring conversations and resilience activities.
Funding it
Schools often use wellbeing, student engagement or cultural wellbeing budgets.
How it works
From first conversation to lasting change
- 1
Book a conversation
Tell us about your students and what you're seeing. We'll listen to your wellbeing team before we recommend anything.
- 2
Choose Spark or Shift
Pick one term or a semester, and a session time that suits your timetable.
- 3
Select your students
Your school identifies the students who would benefit from extra support, stronger connection or a trusted mentor.
- 4
Weekly mentoring
Your mentor runs 45–60 minute sessions at school each week: movement first, then conversation and reflection.
- 5
Review together
We share what we've seen with your wellbeing team and gather feedback, so you can decide on next steps.
What others have seen
Movement and mentoring in action
Regular exercise and mentoring strengthened confidence, wellbeing and positive relationships. Staff saw stronger engagement, improved behaviour and greater awareness of emotions and personal responsibility.
Structured exercise, sport and one-on-one mentoring helped young people build discipline, resilience and confidence for returning to the community, with positive role modelling supporting healthy routines and goal-setting.
Consistent mentoring and basketball produced gains in confidence, self-awareness and social connection, building communication, respect, teamwork and accountability.
Book a mentoring conversation
Tell us about your students
Share a few details and we'll be in touch to talk through the right program for your school.
We'll be in touch within 2 business days. Please don't include students' names or personal details.
Common questions
Is this counselling?
No. It's mentoring, not counselling or clinical therapy. We work alongside your wellbeing team, and if a student needs more support we follow your school's processes.
Which students is it for?
Primary and high school students who would benefit from extra support, stronger connection or a trusted mentor outside the classroom. Your school chooses the group.
What's the difference between Spark and Shift?
Spark runs for 8 weeks across one term. Shift runs for 16 weeks across two terms (a semester), giving more time to build trust and lasting change.
How much does it cost?
$500 per session for a group of up to 12 students, so $4,000 for Spark or $8,000 for Shift. Each extra student adds $20 per session.
Where and when do sessions run?
At your school, in school time, once a week. Sessions run 45–60 minutes depending on your students and timetable.
How can we fund it?
Schools often use wellbeing, student engagement or cultural wellbeing budgets. We're happy to talk through what fits your school.
Ask us a question
Thanks for taking the time to ask us a question
Ask as many as you like. Our team will get back to you.
We'll email you straight away to confirm we've received your question.
Give your students someone in their corner.
Talk to Kellie Ayres, School Programs Manager, on (02) 6296 3265 or [email protected].