Mentorship Program
Do you support organisations to supply healthier foods and drinks?
Are you leading healthy eating changes in your school or workplace?
If so, you might be eligible to join our free Mentorship Program!
The Mentorship Program will give you the skills and knowledge to promote healthy eating in your organisation, or others that you work with, such as:
- schools
- hospitals and health services
- sport and recreation centres
- universities and TAFEs
- workplaces
- other large organisations with foods supplied on site.
You will learn how to support these organisations to implement their guidelines, and which outline how to provide and promote healthier food and drinks in:
- school canteens, fundraising and events
- retail food outlets, such as cafés and kiosks
- catering
- vending machines
You'll also join a network of like-minded professionals who are doing similar work around Victoria.
"The Mentorship Program significantly increased my knowledge and confidence to assist our cafe to meet the Healthy Choices guidelines.
It’s increased our ability to work effectively as a team and continue making changes to ensure healthy choices are available across our health service."
Crystie Ballard, Health Promotion Officer, Rochester and Elmore District Health Service.
Choose a stream
There are two subject ‘streams’ to choose from based on the types of organisations you work with. You can join one or both streams:
- Join the schools mentorship stream to promote healthy eating in Victorian school primary and secondary, according to the Department of Education and Training’s School Canteens and Other School Food Services Policy.
- Join the Healthy Choices mentorship stream to promote healthy eating in large organisations according to the Department of Health and Human Services’ Healthy Choices guidelines for retail outlets, catering and vending machines.
| Please note: The Mentorship Program does not include support for working with early childhood services. Read about out training options for long day care and outside schools hours care here. |
We explain each stream in more detail below:
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Mentorship Program stream |
Schools |
Healthy Choices |
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To work with: |
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Food and drinks guidelines |
School Canteens and Other School Food Services Policy Department of Education and Training, Victoria. |
Healthy Choices for retail outlets, vending machines and catering. Department of Health and Human Services, Victoria. |
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Who it’s suitable for |
Anyone who works with Victorian schools to promote healthy eating, such as:
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Anyone responsible for promoting healthy eating in the organisations above, such as:
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Who it’s not suitable for |
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Upcoming training sessions |
No scheduled events.
Send us an email and we'll let you know when there's a training session near you. |
No scheduled events.
Send us an email and we'll let you know when there's a training session near you. |
Program outline
1. TrainingMentorship begin with a three hour training session where you will learn how to implement the school canteen policy or the Healthy Choices guidelines (depending on the stream you’ve chosen) through a whole-of-organisation approach.
You will learn:
- how to apply the relevant guidelines in different settings - strategies to gain support from key stakeholders, such as management, canteen/retail outlet, staff, customers and others - how to assess menus, products and recipes online using FoodChecker - ways to overcome common barriers - how to promote healthier foods and drinks
The training session is also a great opportunity to meet other people doing similar work, and to make some new contacts.
Training session are held every few months in Melbourne and regional Victoria according to demand.
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2. Ongoing supportChange takes time, so after attending training you will have ongoing support from the dietitians and nutritionists at the Healthy Eating Advisory Service.
You can call or email at any time for advice and to troubleshoot any issues you’re having with creating healthy changes.
You’ll also get ongoing peer support from other mentees in the Facebook group, and at various networking events held throughout the year. You can get help to overcome challenges and be inspired by new ideas, as well as share your own information and experiences with others.
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3. Regular follow upOver the next year, we will follow up with you every three months to see how you’re doing and to offer any further support.
At the 3, 6 and 12 month follow ups we’ll ask you to report on key data, such as the number and types of organisations you have engaged with, and information on their progress.
This helps us measure the impact of the Mentorship Program, and to track where healthy changes are occurring around the state.
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Would you like to join?
If you’re interested in joining the Mentorship Program, please send your expression of interest using the contact form below.
Or call or email us if you have any further questions.