iTrack - Fact Sheet - The Smith Family
Creating better outcomes for disadvantaged Australians
Lack of employment is still the single greatest predictor that an individual will be in the poorest 20% of Australia's population.*
Research by The Smith Family with the Australian Council for Education Research found that while disadvantaged students appear to have a good understanding of the world of work, they have more to learn about how to get these jobs.**
The Smith Family believes in providing mentoring opportunities to support school to work/further study transition. Young people need to be supported in their preparation to undertake the transition, so that they have a clearer idea of their abilities and interests, the opportunities available and the pathways needed to take advantage of these opportunities.
What is iTrack?
iTrack is an online mentoring program that focuses on the school to work transition. The program aims to provide students with opportunities to develop appropriate relationships with supportive adults other than a teacher or parent, and to provide information to students about workplace, study and career opportunities to enhance their school to work transition.
How does iTrack work?
Senior high school students are matched with professionals currently drawn from The Smith Family's corporate partners, and communicate over the course of approximately two school terms. The interactions mostly take place online in The Smith Family's IGNITE! website chatrooms and IBM's MentorPlace site. Some pairs also have three face-to-face meetings, which helps build rapport between student and mentor.
While projects and activities are provided to guide the development of the relationships, just as much value is gleaned from the social interaction between the partners. By the nature of the interaction, students become accustomed to online communication and improve their ICT (information communication technology) skills.
iTrack is currently operating in NSW, VIC, QLD, SA and WA.
Feedback
A comprehensive evaluation of iTrack conducted by The Smith Family and completed in October 2007 showed over 92 percent of those mentored found the experience valuable and more than 81 percent confirmed they had a better understanding of career pathways as a result of participating in iTrack.***
"I feel confident after learning new skills such as interviewing techniques, resume writing and applying for a job."
"It was great meeting someone who was working in the field I wanted to work in. She gave me heaps of advice about how to achieve my own goals"
"I developed a valuable relationship with my mentor. I learnt not to be scared to ask for help"
"I learned a lot about life and myself"
Get involved
If you would like to find out more about mentoring in your area, please contact the National Volunteer Coordination Unit on 1300 397 730 or email your enquiry to volunteer@thesmithfamily.com.au
*Source: BCA (2007) Employing Our Potential
**The Smith Family/ACER (2005) What do students know about work?
***.(Connecting for Careers; The iTrack Online Youth Mentoring Program. Published by The Smith Family, October 2007)
