How JT Academy is Guiding the Next Generation Towards Meaningful Careers

Mentorship as a Catalyst for Change

Australia’s youth today are growing up in a world of increasing complexity. From rising unemployment and shifting job markets to mental health challenges and social disconnection, young people face a range of barriers on their journey from education to employment. For those in regional and Indigenous communities, these challenges are often magnified.

While technical skills and qualifications are important, what many young Australians lack is not ability, but direction, belief, and guidance. This is where mentorship becomes not just beneficial, but transformational.

At the Johnathan Thurston Academy (JT Academy), mentorship is embedded across every program—from JTBelieve and JTSucceed to JTLeadLikeAGirl and JTYouGotThis. This structured, culturally safe mentorship model is helping young Australians gain the confidence, perspective, and support they need to achieve employment success.

This blog explores how mentorship, when done right, can significantly improve youth employment outcomes—and how JT Academy is leading the way in making that vision a reality.

Understanding the Youth Employment Gap in Australia

1. Self-Belief and Confidence

Before diving into the power of mentorship, it’s essential to understand the employment challenges facing Australia’s young people.

Key Statistics (Source: ABS, AIHW):

• Youth unemployment (ages 15–24) sits at around 11%, more than double the national average.
• Indigenous Australians are less likely to be in full-time employment post-school compared to their non-Indigenous peers.
• Around 1 in 3 young people feel unprepared for employment after leaving school.
• Disengaged youth (not in education, training, or employment) are at greater risk of long-term disadvantage.

The core issue? A lack of personal guidance, practical experience, and professional networks.

What Is Mentorship—and Why Does It Matter?

Mentorship is a relationship between an experienced individual (the mentor) and a young person (the mentee), focused on growth, goal-setting, and career development.

Mentors provide:

• Support – emotional and professional encouragement
• Skills development – real-world guidance on workplace behaviour, communication, and resilience
• Confidence building – helping youth see their own potential
• Access – opening doors to opportunities, networks, and industry insights

Mentorship is especially powerful for those who lack role models in their immediate environment. For Indigenous youth, culturally aware mentors can play a crucial role in navigating both traditional values and modern workplace demands.

The JT Academy Mentorship Model

At JT Academy, mentorship isn’t an add-on—it’s built into the DNA of every program.
Core Elements:

1. Cultural Safety and Representation

• Many mentors are Indigenous leaders, athletes, professionals, or youth workers who understand the lived experiences of mentees.
• Mentorship includes yarning circles, storytelling, and identity-affirming conversations.

2. Long-Term Commitment

• Mentors aren’t just there for a session—they stay involved, tracking progress and offering ongoing encouragement.

3. Integrated into Training

• Whether it’s through job readiness (JTSucceed), early intervention (JTYouGotThis), or female leadership (JTLeadLikeAGirl), each program embeds mentorship into practical skills development.

4. Connection with Employers

• JT Academy mentors often bridge the gap between young people and employers, helping facilitate introductions, placement opportunities, and workplace adaptation.

Impact on Employment Outcomes: What the Data Shows

Mentorship has a measurable effect on employment success.

National & Global Research Highlights:

• Young people who have had a mentor are 55% more likely to be employed.
• Mentored youth are more confident in interviews, more resilient in rejection, and more likely to persist in job-seeking.
• Mentorship improves soft skill development, including communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills that employers rate most highly.

At JT Academy, internal tracking across programs has shown:

• Higher job placement rates for participants with ongoing mentorship
• Longer job retention for youth placed through mentor-supported pathways
• Stronger self-reporting on goal clarity, confidence, and resilience

Real Stories of Change

Story 1: Alex, 17 – From Quiet Observer to Full-Time Trainee

Alex, a quiet high school student from Townsville, joined JTBelieve with low confidence and no clear career path. Through weekly mentorship with a local Indigenous businesswoman, Alex discovered a passion for event planning. With her mentor’s help, Alex applied for a traineeship and is now working full-time while studying.

“She didn’t just tell me what to do. She listened. She believed in me. And that made me believe in myself.”

Story 2: Keira, 16 – Leading with Purpose

Keira participated in JTLeadLikeAGirl and was matched with a mentor from the education sector. Her mentor encouraged her to speak at a community event. Today, Keira mentors younger students at her school and plans to become a youth worker herself.

“Before, I wouldn’t raise my hand in class. Now I’m leading workshops.”

Why Mentorship Works—Especially in Regional and Indigenous Communities

1. Mentorship Builds Trust

Many young people in regional communities have experienced disconnection from institutions. Mentors offer consistency and a safe space for honest conversation, key to building trust.

2. Mentorship Validates Identity

For Indigenous youth, seeing successful professionals who share their background helps dismantle the myth that success is only for others.

3. Mentorship Transfers Real-World Knowledge

Beyond theory, mentors offer practical insight into what jobs are really like—from employer expectations to navigating challenges on the job.

4. Mentorship Reduces Isolation

In remote areas, youth can feel cut off from opportunity. Mentorship offers connection, accountability, and a sense of being seen.

The Role of Mentorship in Employer Partnerships

JT Academy mentors also act as liaisons between employers and young workers, ensuring:

• Proper onboarding
• Conflict resolution support
• Cultural understanding in the workplace
• Feedback that helps youth grow professionally

This leads to stronger employer satisfaction and longer retention of young hires.

Mentorship and Mental Health

Employment success isn’t just about technical ability—it’s also about emotional resilience. Mentors often help young people manage:

• Interview anxiety
• Fear of failure or rejection
• Workplace stress or discrimination
• Low self-esteem or impostor syndrome

By providing a stable, encouraging voice, mentors contribute to stronger mental wellbeing, essential for success in any role.

How to Strengthen Mentorship Ecosystems in Australia

To scale impact, Australia must invest in mentorship infrastructure. Here’s how:

For Schools:

• Embed mentorship into senior year programs
• Connect students with industry mentors through community organisations

For Employers:

• Participate in mentor-matching schemes
• Offer employee volunteer hours for mentoring
• Create culturally safe, youth-friendly environments

For Government and Policymakers:

• Fund mentorship programs as part of national youth employment strategies
• Incentivise regional mentorship initiatives through grants or tax offsets
• Promote mentorship as a social investment with measurable ROI

For Communities:

• Encourage Elders, professionals, and community leaders to take on mentorship roles
• Build local networks that support youth transitions
• Celebrate success stories to inspire the next generation

The Long-Term Benefits of Mentorship

Beyond immediate job outcomes, mentorship creates:

• Leadership pipelines for underrepresented groups
• Stronger community ties and intergenerational knowledge sharing
• Reduction in disengagement and youth justice involvement
• Increased entrepreneurial activity and self-employment among mentored youth

Ultimately, mentorship helps youth not just find jobs, but build purposeful, empowered lives.

A Powerful, Personal Pathway to Success

Mentorship is more than guidance—it’s a relationship of belief, trust, and shared growth. For many young Australians, especially those navigating disadvantage or disconnection, a mentor can be the single most important influence on their employment journey.

JT Academy continues to prove that when we invest in young people, with time, attention, and genuine mentorship, the returns are extraordinary.

If we want confident, capable, and connected young workers, we must give them more than a resume template. We must give them someone who believes in their future.

Support mentorship. Support youth employment. Support JT Academy.