Indigenous Youth Mentoring: Evaluating the journey of aspirational development

This discussion paper raises the issue of evaluating the aspirational development of Indigenous young people within mentoring programs. Aspiration setting is a crucial vehicle for building self-esteem and identity for young people, yet it remains a subjective indicator to evaluate in relation to building education and career pathways. Providing realistic options in the most part allows the young person to dream beyond their schooling, beyond their tertiary education and having a prospective career. In this paper evaluative techniques are examined based on the experiences and reflections of three women - two Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and one non-Aboriginal woman. These women work with Indigenous young people and use various evaluative techniques to assess and track progress against specific and general indicators. This discussion paper highlights the challenging situations facing Indigenous youth in the Northern Territory where thirty per cent of the population are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. Mentoring is a practical strategy that enables aspirational development and instils self-worth and belief. The evaluation strategies that underlie youth mentoring programs are critical to gauging specific aspects in understanding what really is responsible for certain behaviours.