Mentoring with Purpose at Sydney Airport

The teenage years can be tough, but having a mentor can change everything.

Since 2020, more than 50 Sydney Airport team members have volunteered as mentors through the Raise Foundation, walking alongside local high school students as they navigate some of the most important years of their lives.

Raise delivers early-intervention programs in public secondary schools, connecting young people who may be at risk of disengagement or poor wellbeing with trained, trusted adults who show up for them every week.

The impact of Raise mentorship

Over the 20-week program, the difference is clear. Students build confidence, resilience and a sense of belonging. Mentors grow too – sharpening leadership, listening and communication skills along the way.

Vicki Condon, Founder and CEO, Raise Foundation said: “Life doesn’t come with an instruction manual and navigating the years between childhood and adulthood are amongst the toughest. Raise mentors step in during the critical years of 13 to 16 to listen, support and empower young people with the skills they need to survive and thrive during adolescence and beyond. And benefits flow both ways, with mentors reporting positive impacts at home, work and in the community.”

A mentor’s perspective

Earlier this year, Sydney Airport welcomed its 2025 Raise mentees for a special behind-the-scenes tour of the airport. The visit gave students a glimpse into the aviation industry and helped strengthen the bonds they’ve formed with their mentors.

Amanda Palmer, Sydney Airport’s Community Investment & Partnerships Manager, has been a Raise mentor for four years. She said the experience continues to be deeply rewarding: “I am so proud of our partnership with the Raise Foundation – it gives us the opportunity to connect with our local community and make a difference. There is something so special about meeting these young people. Every week I look forward to seeing my mentee and every week I leave the session inspired, humbled and empowered to make a bigger impact. Seeing these students develop over the two-term program and leave the program with resilience and self-awareness really is amazing.”

Growing our own leaders

For Sydney Airport, the partnership isn’t just about giving back – it’s also about developing its people. Kristen Sweeney, Group Executive, People & Corporate Affairs, said Raise mentoring reflects the values the airport wants to foster in its leaders:

“Sydney Airport is committed to investing in the next generation and through our long-standing partnership with Raise, it’s a way that we can do that. Through Raise our leaders are there and they commit to this program week in and week out and being there and listening and supporting and coaching and guiding – they’re all the leadership skills we want from our people.”

Lessons that last

For individual mentors, the program can be just as transformative. Mike Joyce, Senior Manager of Passenger Experience Research & Insights, said it has shaped the way he approaches challenges: “The mentoring program gave me the opportunities to use my skills in a different way. It was about not having all the answers and being comfortable with that. Really just listening to a problem, and understanding it but not fixing or judging. It showed me the power of just showing up, being there, sitting beside someone and giving them the opportunity to speak.”

Hope for the future

Sydney Airport is proud to support the Raise Foundation as it continues to provide a vital bridge for young people navigating life’s challenges – while giving our people the chance to grow, give back, and make a lasting difference in our local community.