What does a Learning Partner do?
Learning Partners provide a critical mentoring role to students by helping with organisational skills, essay writing, internet searches, research and library use. This is done by supporting, encouraging and assisting to build confidence, self-esteem and self-reliance, as well as help them to participate in their chosen education program.
Learning Partners are provided with online or face to face training and are matched to assist students.
Please note, all volunteers are required to undergo a SVDP National Police Check and some may require a Blue Card.
As a Learning Partner, you can assist by:
- Providing a student with support, encouragement and study skill assistance
- Assist the student to develop complementary skills required by the course
- Pursue the above tasks in the context of a developing relationship by engendering trust and building self-esteem
Desired skills, knowledge and personal attributes:
- Have good communication skills – written and verbal with a wide range of stakeholders
- Ability to support with personal study organisation, library and internet research
- Have ability to mentor and skills to encourage personal development in others
- Assist with essay writing and structure and referencing
- Ability to assist the student to understand the scope and requirements of assessments
- Be aligned with and have empathy for people from all community sectors
- Possess an ability to interact and deal sensitively with students from a variety of backgrounds
- Have a high ethical standard, be trustworthy and maintain confidentiality, work well individually and within a team
- Be considerate and respectful of others and their views and adapt to changing environments
- Be enthusiastic and project a positive image with good attention to detail, efficiency and effectiveness.
- Have computer literacy at a level to assist with internet research and formatting assignments
Where are the Programs on offer?
There are currently two programs and locations that volunteers can assist as Learning Partner in Brisbane and Toowoomba regions:
As a Clemente Learning Partner, you will assist by supporting students through their University study in Certificate of Liberal Studies. Although Learning Partners are not expected to be subject content experts, a University degree and a good grounding in tertiary education and an understanding of the processes involved in study and mentoring is required. Learning Partners assist and motivate students in their learning journey, coursework requirements, writing skills and assist with the use of technology.
Class lectures are held for 12 weeks each semester. Learning Partners are invited to attend a 2-hour lecture then spend dedicated time assisting student’s session for 1 hour.
There are currently two programs on offer at ACU Campus, Banyo (Wednesdays) and Common Ground, South Brisbane (Thursdays).
2. Toowoomba Scholarship Program
As a Toowoomba Scholarship Program Learning Partner, you can assist students in a wide variety of vocational and education programs, assisting with navigating face-to-face and online learning, have conversations about the work they are learning or assisting with research and finding information online and in the library.
As a TSP Learning Partner, you could spend up to 1-2 hours per fortnight providing study and social support to the scholarship recipient online via a digital communication platform, email or face to face in a location like a library or café (COVID-19 safe).
Some participants will be in the program for 12 months and others only 3 months. It will depend on the recipient’s course.
Who can I contact for more information or register my interest?
Please contact:
Education Services Coordinator on (07) 3010 1083 or 0419 502 531
or
Toowoomba Scholarship Program Coordinator on (07) 4699 5222 or 0436 845 379
or
Email education@svdpqld.org.au