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A sixth-year medical student who won an award for his outstanding efforts as a volunteer mentor to other medical students hopes to continue to support students during his years as a hospital doctor.

Jason Joon Qing Tan was a co-recipient of the UWA 2008 UniMentor of the Year award along with Balsam Abdul Jabar of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics.

Mr Joon Qing Tan said he helped his mentees by encouraging them to discuss any problems they had, helping them find their way around the campus, advising them about their choices of units, providing them with past examination papers and suggesting ways of relieving stress.

“I guess really my ambition was to help them have a great transition to university,” he said.

In his first year as a mentor, he had one mentee but by this year he had five. “I really learnt to organise myself,” he said. His aim was to be friendly, approachable and non-judgmental.

Mr Joon Qing Tan said in his work next year at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, he would keep a look-out for his former mentees and would be happy to take them on his rounds or give them tutorials.

He said he was grateful to the Faculty for the excellent clinical training, which had contributed greatly to his professional development, leadership skills and success at UWA.

Every year the UniMentor program hosts a mentor appreciation ceremony where volunteer mentors are publicly recognised for their contribution to the UWA community and outstanding mentors receive special recognition awards.

The UniMentor of the Year Award is the ultimate award and given to the student who has been recognised by the staff of UniMentor and their mentees as an outstanding and committed mentor who has consistently supported students in their transition and has provided support to staff of UniMentor.

Jayne Brown, UniMentor co-ordinator, said Mr Joon Qing Tan had a long association with the program, participating as a Host Day Leader in 2004 and then as a mentor from 2005 until 2008 for the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences.

“Jason is an extremely conscientious mentor who gives a lot of his time to support his mentees,” she said. “He has maintained contact with many of his mentees beyond their first year.

“He seeks feedback from staff about his mentoring and has a very planned approach to managing his relationships with mentees. Jason is an outstanding role model for mentors and an excellent ambassador for UWA.”