How 'headspace' is Using Mentoring to Support Young People’s Careers and Mental Health
with Michelle Barley, Debra McFall, Peter Savat and Linh Nguyen
Mentorloop Impact Award Winner 2025
headspace is Australia’s national youth mental health foundation, supporting more than 160 communities with a mission to ensure every young person has the tools, hope, and connection to thrive. Recognising the critical link between mental health and meaningful work or study, headspace launched its fully digital Career Mentoring Program — the only one of its kind in Australia. With Mentorloop powering the program, headspace has scaled safe, inclusive, and impactful mentoring relationships that give young people clarity, confidence, and career direction, while building a nationwide community of skilled, empathetic mentors.
The headspace career mentoring program is funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services.
headspace is Australia’s national youth mental health foundation, supporting people aged 12–25 — along with their families and communities — through a network of 170+ centres nationwide and a wide range of online services.
In 2017, headspace piloted its career mentoring program to help young people bridge the gap between education and employment. Today, it’s the only fully digital, youth-aligned career mentoring program in Australia, designed to support work, study, and mental health simultaneously.
"When young people are supported to pursue meaningful employment or education, they gain connection, purpose, hope, and structure — all key protective factors for mental wellbeing."
– Michelle Barley, Service Lead, headspace Career Mentoring
Why Mentoring, Why Now?
- 1 in 3 young people in Australia were not engaged in any form of work or study (recently improved to 1 in 4).
- Only 50% feel confident about their career aspirations.
- Competitive job markets, high living costs, and financial pressures compound stress and uncertainty.
headspace recognises that work, study, and mental health are deeply connected — and saw mentoring as a way to provide safe, accessible, early support for young people entering the workforce.
Delivered entirely online, the headsapce career mentoring program connects 18–25 year-olds with trained professionals who provide guidance, encouragement, and a sense of possibility.
Impact in Action
In FY24–25 alone, headspace supported 181 young people through mentoring — with outcomes that speak for themselves:
- 100% of participants were satisfied with their mentor, found the service useful, and would recommend it
- 98.9% gained a clearer understanding of career options and felt more optimistic about their future
- 40% secured employment or started a new role while in the program
- 4.43 MQS (Mentoring Quality Score) and 4.7/5 satisfaction rating
Judy’s Story:
A university student, Judy, had just completed her Master’s but was unemployed, isolated, and unsure of her next steps.
She was matched with mentor Frank, a delivery manager at a major tech consulting firm.
"Frank gave me industry insights, and advice on consulting and product analysis, and support I couldn’t find online. Thanks to him, I gained confidence and clarity — and landed a role as a business analyst aligned with my studies."
And Judy is just one of many. Post-meeting surveys consistently highlight how mentoring boosts confidence, provides direction, and becomes “the highlight of my week” for participants.
From a Patchwork of Manual Systems:
Before Mentorloop, the program was run via Qualtrics, Asana, SharePoint, and email — a patchwork of manual systems that meant:
- Matching was slow and admin-heavy
- Data capture was inconsistent
- Program Coordinators had little visibility into engagement
To Mentorloop, Where Everything Changed: 📈
- Scale: Highest ever number of matches in program history
- Efficiency: Admin time cut by 30%+
- Longevity: Mentoring relationships lasting 4–6 months increased from 52% → 76%
- Engagement: Bulk messaging and tagging features keep cohorts informed and active
- Safety: Full oversight ensures clinical safety and support throughout
"Mentorloop hasn’t just improved our workflow, it’s elevated the entire experience for participants — delivering a more connected, responsive, and impactful program."
Making Mentoring Accessible for Everyone 🌏
Accessibility is at the core of headspace’s approach:
- Fully online program — reaching regional and remote communities
- Inclusive matching — mentors/mentees can self-identify with diverse groups (LGBTIQA+, disability, multicultural) for safer, more affirming connections
- Outreach through headspace centres, community orgs, and universities ensures no one misses out
Why Mentorloop?
Mentorloop provides the infrastructure headspace needed to scale and strengthen their mentoring program:
- Matching tools: Aligning mentees and mentors by skills, interests, and values
- Goal-setting & tracking: Keeps relationships focused and measurable
- Bulk messaging & tagging: Easy cohort communication
- Real-time dashboards: Visibility into sessions, surveys, and engagement
- Resource library: Structured training for mentors and mentees
- Dedicated support: Tailored product improvements based on feedback
"Mentorloop hasn’t just helped us grow — it’s helped us grow smarter, faster, and with greater impact."
– Peter Savat, Project Officer, headspace Career Mentoring
What’s Next for headspace 🚀
As the headspace Career Mentoring program continues to evolve, it will focus on:
- Peer mentoring pilots — connecting young people with slightly older role models for relatability and trust
- One-off industry sessions — short, targeted conversations with professionals in specific career areas
- Executive mentoring — opportunities to connect with Headspace senior leaders during annual Work & Study Month
- Strengthening mentor networks — more training, resources, and community support for volunteers
Will it be your turn next?
With Mentorloop, headspace has built Australia’s first national, clinically safe, fully digital career mentoring program for young people. By connecting education, employment, and mental wellbeing, the program is not just helping participants find jobs — it’s transforming lives and strengthening communities.
📌 Ready to create a mentoring program that transforms futures?
Michelle Barley
headspace
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"Mentorloop hasn’t just improved our workflow — it’s transformed how we deliver hope, connection, and opportunity to young people across Australia."
– headspace Career Mentoring Team
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