9/07/2026
By Ellie Fuller MIEP, Partnership and Learning Consultant at IEP Australia
Two weeks ago, I stepped inside the walls of Pentridge Prison as part of the Big Brothers Big Sisters Australia fundraising event.
Representing IEP Australia, I attended to learn more about the organisation’s work and to support a cause that shares many of the values we hold as a sector – creating opportunities, building confidence, and helping people realise their potential.
Big Brothers Big Sisters Australia provides one-to-one mentoring for young people aged 7–17 who may be experiencing disadvantage, isolation, or a lack of positive adult role models. Through carefully matched mentoring relationships, young people are connected with a trusted adult who provides encouragement, guidance, and consistent support. The organisation’s work is built on a simple but powerful belief: that one caring adult can help change the course of a young person’s life.
If I’m honest, I’d heard of Big Brothers Big Sisters before, but I’d never really stopped to think about the impact of their work. Like many great causes, I respected what they did, but it hadn’t touched my life personally.
What I experienced that night changed that.
Walking through the prison was confronting. The sounds, the stories, the atmosphere – it was a powerful reminder of how easily a young person’s life can be shaped by the people around them.
But the stories we heard weren’t really about prisons.
They were about hope.
They were about the life-changing impact of one person choosing to show up, listen, care, and believe in a young person.
The fundraiser highlighted both the challenges many vulnerable young people face and the role mentoring can play in providing connection, belonging, confidence and opportunity. It reinforced the importance of early intervention and positive relationships in helping young people navigate life’s challenges.
As employability professionals, these themes resonate strongly with our work. Every day, our sector supports people to build confidence, overcome barriers, develop skills, and create brighter futures. While our focus may often be employment, the evening was a timely reminder that meaningful outcomes frequently begin with something much simpler: a trusted relationship and someone who believes in your potential.
Thank you to Mark Watt AM and everyone involved in creating such a moving and thought-provoking evening. Mark Watt AM, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters Australia, has dedicated much of his career to supporting disadvantaged and at-risk young people through mentoring and opportunity creation.
I left with a much deeper appreciation for the incredible work of Big Brothers Big Sisters and the power of having someone in your corner.
If you haven’t already, I encourage you to learn more about the work they’re doing. It has the power to change lives – not only for the young people they support, but for the mentors, families and communities around them too.