Landgate mentors making a difference

Sharing their life learning, knowledge and experiences with today's young people are some of the ways that Landgate's employees are making a difference in the community.

Throughout the year, Landgate staff pack their bags and go back to school to mentor students as part of Western Australia's School Volunteer Program.

Landgate's Greg Doehring is currently in his sixth year as a mentor at Woodbridge Primary School taking a mixed class of Years 5 and 6.

"I demonstrate to the students, through learning manual art skills, how they can apply in a fun way the education they receive in the classroom, by building practical and useful items for the school and students. Completed projects include the design and construction of two outdoor student lunch tables and bench seat sets. 

"One of the lunch tables incorporated a fruit and vegetable themed artwork that was designed and painted by the Year 6/7 art class. The table and accompanying bench seats are installed next to the student's fruit and vegetable garden."

Greg said their current project involved the design and construction of nine breeding boxes for native birds that will be installed in the trees of the school grounds. 

Another of Landgate's employees, Ian Hyde, provides literacy and numeracy support to a Year 7 student and has been a mentor for three years.

"To help them realise the importance of education and seeing the progressive positive changes in their behaviour and academic achievement are the reasons I participate in the Program," Ian said. 

"It is rewarding to see that only a few hours of my time each week can make a significant change in their attitude towards leaning."

Mentors help students with their social skills, science experiments, maths and English exercises, computer studies and outdoor activities at local schools throughout the Midland-Kalamunda region.

Landgate Chief Executive Mike Bradford said the Program reflects Landgate's core value of 'community' and is very supportive of the staff participating. 

The School Volunteer Program is Western Australia's leading school mentoring program. For further
information, please visit www.svp.org.au

Landgate is Western Australia's primary source of land information and geographic data, providing the accuracy government, business and individuals rely on.