FAQs – MENTORS
Here are some answers to questions you may have about the mentoring program.
Who can be a Mentor?
This program is open to Industry Professionals who typically identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders, and/or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Allies. Mentors typically have three or more years of professional workforce experience and have a willingness to share their expertise and experience.
What will my time commitment be?
The amount of mentoring time you devote to your partnership is flexible, but a minimum contact time of one hour per month is required. You may be able to meet more frequently or agree to email or phone contact between meetings. Mentoring partnerships will typically run for 12 weeks in line with semesters.
What guidance will my student Mentee require?
Mentees may have different needs depending upon their stage of study. Needs could range from general career advice, career planning, information on further studies, personal encouragement and confidence building, and/or specific guidance on sourcing jobs and internships.
Your first meeting will offer the perfect opportunity to discuss your Mentees specific needs and expectations. A "mentoring agreement" which lists potential mentoring topics will be sent to you when your partnership commences.
My Mentee and I are not located in the same city - what are our options?
If you are located outside of Melbourne, you may want to connect with your Mentee through “remote mentoring” via email or video conference technology such as SKYPE or Google Hangouts for example.
How does matching happen?
Mentees and mentors are partnered by the program administrator based on the career interests of the mentees and mentors' expertise areas. Partnerships are created at the start of semester 1 and 2 each year.
Can I work with more than one Mentee at a time?
Yes absolutely. You can control how many students you will accept partnerships with at any one time. Mentors have their maximum partnerships set at “1”, but by editing your profile you can increase this default setting.
What if I am concerned about an aspect of my partnership?
We encourage you to discuss this with your Mentee in the first instance. Identify your areas of concern regarding the partnership. If you are unable to resolve an issue between you and your Mentee, you can seek advice and guidance from the program administrator. We will provide our full support to resolve the situation in a positive manner for both parties.