Why Mentors Matter
Over the last 12 years, I’ve been fortunate to cross paths with some incredible mentors. Each one has left an imprint on me, guiding me through different stages of life and work. When I look back, I can see clearly just how much they’ve shaped the person I am today.
My very first mentor came into my life when I was just 15. At that time, I’d stepped away from the traditional schooling path. After finishing grade 10 at a private school in Brisbane, I transitioned into a trade college to complete years 11 and 12 while taking on a school-based traineeship with Queensland Health at Redcliffe Hospital. One day a week I was at the hospital, and the rest of the week I was in the classroom. I also picked up shifts during the school holidays, rotating through departments like emergency, medical imaging, and pharmacy.
Looking back, it was a big leap for someone so young. At 15 and 16, you’re just beginning to figure out who you are. Stepping into a professional workplace that early was both exciting and overwhelming. Having a mentor at that age made all the difference. It gave me confidence to walk into unfamiliar environments and believe that I belonged there. It provided guidance when everything felt new and uncertain, helping me make sense of what I was learning. It offered stability during a time of life that can be turbulent, reminding me that no matter how overwhelming things felt, there was someone I could rely on. Most of all, it gave me life skills that went beyond the technical side of the traineeship — lessons in professionalism, resilience, empathy, and the small but important things that shape the way you show up in the workplace.
For me, that person was Kylie, our school-based traineeship coordinator. She was our constant. Every week, no matter how uncertain we felt, we knew her office door was open. She listened, she guided, and she grounded us as a group. Whether we were training in nursing, dental, or admin, she made sure we all got through. Kylie was approachable, funny, and kind — the kind of mentor who made you want to live up to her example. To this day, I still think of her as my first true mentor in the workplace.
Since then, I’ve been lucky to have other mentors who’ve continued to encourage me, challenge me, and help me grow. And now, through my work with the Inspiring Brighter Futures Foundation, I’ve come full circle. Our program matches mentors from across Townsville with students in schools, giving young people the same gift I was given at 15: someone to walk beside them, believe in them, and guide them through those first uncertain steps.
Mentors don’t just shape careers — they shape people. They remind us of what’s possible, they help us see our strengths, and they stay with us long after the formal program is done. For me, that journey started with Kylie, and it’s one I now feel proud to continue by helping young people find mentors of their own.