Victorian Wins National Youth Mentor of the Year

The overall Australian Youth Mentoring of the Year 2014 award has gone to Alan McConachie, a youth mentor with the Standing Tall program in Hamilton, Victoria.

Six youth mentors were today honoured by the Australian Youth Mentoring Network for their dedication to improving young lives and their positive contributions to society.

The awards were presented to winners from across six States and Territories in Australia. The awards are held annually during Youth Mentoring Week to raise awareness for youth mentoring programs in Australia.

The winners of the awards are:

• Queensland Mentor of the Year: Rae McRae – Hervey Bay Youth Mentoring Program
• New South Wales Mentor of the Year: Maureen Pollard – The Raise Foundation
• Victorian Mentor of the Year: Alan McConachie – Standing Tall, Hamilton
• Western Australian Mentor of the Year: Jane Liddle – Youth Focus
• South Australia Mentor of the Year: Jorja Richards – Operation Flinders Foundation
• ACT Mentor of the Year: Glenda Lomas – Canberra Police Community Youth Club

“The Australian Youth Mentoring Network has long championed the important work of youth mentors and their contribution to the prospects and development of young people and their communities, as well as to advancing youth mentoring as a positive toll for engaging of young people,” Network CEO, Bradley Grieve said.

“Youth mentors are champions of young people – working with them and for them, often unheralded and with very few resources. These awards are about celebrating their vital contribution to the strength and progress of our societies.”

“The outstanding qualities of initiative and caring demonstrated by (Alan) during your role as a youth mentor with Standing Tall, Hamilton is indicative of your genuine goodwill and compassion,” Grieve said in announcing the award.

“Your actions as a youth mentor have resulted in significant praise from your program and meaningful improvement in the lives of young people in Hamilton.”

Alan McConachie said he was humbled to have received his award and thanked Baimbridge College and the Staff of Standing Tall in Hamilton for the opportunity to mentor.