About us

Women and Mentoring (WAM) offer a unique, early intervention program that supports women and non-binary people in contact with the legal system by matching them individually with a supportive mentor. The volunteer mentors are trained and resourced to provide appropriate support to the program participants, to share their skills and to contribute to the wider community.

WAM began operating in the City of Yarra (in Melbourne) working with the Neighbourhood Justice Centre in 2009, and in 2015 received funding from the Melbourne Women’s Fund to replicate the program in the Sunshine Magistrates Court precinct.

With recurrent philanthropic funding, we have been able to expand our service area to provide support to more criminalised women who experience significant challenges in their life. Since 2022, with state government funding, we can now receive referrals for women across all metropolitan Melbourne areas. In 2023 we began accepting referrals from the Ballarat area. Referrals for women outside metro Melbourne and Ballarat may also be considered on a case-by-case basis, depending on the location and mentor availability. Remote mentoring may also be offered to women in other regional locations.

Our 2021 Evaluation Report demonstrates that engagement with a mentor has made a significant positive difference to the participants’ confidence, coping mechanisms and capacity to respond to their legal matters and address the issues that underlie their offending. The vast majority of the participants have avoided a prison sentence and have not re-offended.

WAM has been fortunate to rely on strong connections and partnerships to deliver this unique and gender-responsive initiative. We welcome interest and support from the community in mentoring and skilled volunteer roles. We work collaboratively with many partners in the health justice and community services sector for referrals.

Contact Women and Mentoring

OUR BOARD

  • Vacant

    Chair

    We are recruiting for a new Board Chair - please see our advertisement on Ethical Jobs.

  • Amanda Thornton

    Deputy Chair

    Amanda is a non-profit sector professional with qualifications and broad expertise in philanthropy, fundraising, and organisation and program development, governance and evaluation. Her experience spans team and leadership roles across areas of need including women and families, health, homelessness, food insecurity, and visual arts. She is passionate about fairness, equality and empowerment, collaborative problem-solving, skills and knowledge-sharing, and organisational learning and improvement. Amanda joined the Board in 2019 and during 2022-23 she chaired the Fundraising & Marketing Committee.

  • Ingrid Svendsen OAM GAICD

    Director

    Ingrid is an international NGO co-founder and experienced non-executive director. She received a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2022 for her work with not-for-profit organisations in Australia and Timor-Leste. Ingrid brings to the board strengths in strategy, building board capacity, and communications and stakeholder engagement. In her professional life, Ingrid runs her own strategic communications consulting practice, specialising in crisis communication and issues management.

  • Tracy Baylis

    Director & Company Secretary

    Tracy brings strong knowledge and many years of governance and strategic planning experience. A values-driven leader, Tracy is currently the Strategic Planning and Implementation Manager at the Australian Urban Research Infrastructure Network, an organisation aiming to increase liveability and resilience in our cities and communities and thereby improve the lives of every Australian. Tracy has supported WAM as a volunteer for several years.

  • Tamsin Mildenhall

    Director

    Tamsin is an experienced criminal defence lawyer having worked in both the private and Government sectors. Currently, she is the Manager of the Summary Crime team at Victoria Legal Aid, working with sector partners to ensure the delivery of high-quality legal services as well as a fair and efficient justice system. She is a Law Institute of Victoria (LIV) Accredited Criminal Law and Children's Law Specialist and a member of the LIV Children's Law Specialisation advisory Committee.

  • Trevor Irwin

    Director

    Trevor is an experienced accountant with a background in corporate, university and not-for-profit sectors. He is a CPA, has an MBA and is an Australian law graduate (juris doctor).

  • Amelia Condi

    Director

    Amelia is an experienced leader in social policy, strategy, implementation, outcomes measurement and transformation. She has spent her career working across the ‘for purpose’ and the public sector. She is passionate about social issues and creating better opportunities for individuals and communities alike.

  • Amber O'Meara

    Director

    With two decades’ experience in communications, marketing, and innovation, Amber brings strategic insight and a deep commitment to social impact. At MinterEllison, Amber partners with Purpose Leads, Pro Bono, and Social Impact teams to deliver purpose-driven initiatives. Amber is passionate about aligning her corporate skills with community needs to support women meaningfully.

  • Sabina Ahmed

    Director

    Sabina is a strategic leader with 12+ years’ experience across global markets, specialising in governance, ethical investing, and mentorship. A passionate advocate for migrant women and young female finance students, she brings lived experience and professional insight to WAM’s board. Sabina’s work fosters diverse leadership and strengthens WAM’s mission through financial oversight and inclusive strategic planning.

OUR TEAM