Jobs at Labs
Brilliant Minds Need Smart Mentors
Whether you are a university student, recent graduate, or a mid-career professional who is looking for a side gig, join us as a mentor and make a difference to young people in your community.
Mentoring roles at The Lab are well paid part-time positions and provide an opportunity to enhance your technology, professional practice, and interpersonal communications skills. If you are interested in games, digital technologies and most importantly supporting, guiding and mentoring some of the most creative and brilliant minds, join us now.
The Role of the Mentor
The Lab aims to encourage social engagement through a young person’s interests in games and technology. The mentor’s role is to support participants technology and skill development experience during Lab sessions and to foster a fun and positive environment. Participants at Lab sessions don’t have a disability, but they are different from other kids in many brilliant ways. You’ll find few behavioural issues in a Lab session and mentors are not expected to be teachers, disciplinarians or therapists. Mentors are there to assist young people to share their interests, to develop new skills and to have fun whenever possible.
Mentors have a wide range of experience with popular video and tabletop games, games development, coding, artwork, video or digital media in a variety of areas.
The Lab Mentor’s role and Responsibilities.pdf
Read more about mentoring at The Lab and what’s involved: Introduction to Mentoring at The Lab.pdf
Mentoring at a Lab
The Lab is very unlike school in that there’s no formal structure, but there is a theme of supporting participants interests in technology skill development. Mentors encourage opportunities for skill development, whether coding, video editing or whatever a participants interests might be (within the mentors expertise) but don’t dictate what participants do and when they do it. The Lab is a participant led activity and that’s what makes it so enjoyable for participants. The mentors are there to support, encourage, but not to direct.
For more information please contact us at admin@thelab.org.au, include your current CV with emphasis on your games and technology experience, whether coding, designing or just as a passionate game player. Please indicate the Lab venue most appropriate for you.
We welcome and encourage applications from all applicants regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, cultural background, sexual orientation or disability. Please let us know if you require specific arrangements or need any additional support during the application process.
Mentoring at The Lab Frequently Asked Questions
What time commitment is required for being a mentor?
Labs operate during school term dates with one or two two hour sessions a week. The number of weekly sessions and hours for mentors grows as the number of participants at a Lab increases. Consistent attendance by mentors at Lab sessions is very important so it is essential that if you make a commitment to join a Lab, you can make it to every session where you are scheduled.
I don’t have any experience working with young people on the autism spectrum, can I still work as a mentor?
Yes, absolutely. The Lab provides extensive induction and training for your role as a mentor. There is also the support of the many experienced mentors around the country who can support you with many years experience at The Lab.
Young people in Lab sessions have some differences from other young people, but we see these differences as strengths and that’s one of the features of The Lab program.
What does the recruitment process look like after I submit my resume?
There are many Lab venues around the country so please let us know where you are located. The National Coordinator will review your CV and forward to the local Lab in your area where the local organiser will be in touch to talk over the phone. Not all Labs have vacancies at all times so we may have to keep your details on file for when a position becomes available. The Lab Network also runs an online program and this is another opportunity for new mentors.
Is there a deadline for applications?
We’re accepting applications all year round. Please contact us at admin@thelab.org.au to express your interest.
Can I apply to mentor at multiple Labs?
Yes, in capital cities there are several Labs in the same region and provided the session times don’t clash you are free to work across multiple venues.