WA Program for Mentors
Why be a mentor?
Mentoring is not undertaken for personal profit. However, by participating in the WA Mentor program you are likely to:
- gain personal satisfaction in making a contribution through sharing your ideas and experience and seeing someone develop
- gain new enthusiasm and perspectives about your work and sustainable energy
- expand your professional networks
- contribute to your career development track record by enhancing your people skills in areas such as leadership, interpersonal skills and communication
- contribute to the development of sustainable energy
- increase your profile and the profile of your organisation among University students and the wider community.
Matching with a mentee
If you are interested in mentoring you can complete the registration form with information on your interests and professional background. Mentees will be asked to fill in a similar form. The AuSES Mentor Coordinator will then match mentors and mentees.
Depending on demand you may not be asked to mentor immediately or you could be asked to mentor more than one person. You will be asked if that is possible on the registration form.
Commitments
Mentors must have professional experience associated with sustainable energy and have a commitment to its future development. They must make a firm commitment to be honest, confidential and understanding with their mentee. Mentors must be good listeners.
The time commitment will depend on the relationship which is developed. We ask that mentors see their mentees face to face at least three times a year and contact by email or telephone at least once every two months for the first year. AuSES is planning a series of network meetings in WA during 2011 and these meetings could be where contact occurs. They will also be a place where mentors and mentees can discuss the process with others.
The mentor relationship is a professional one. Both mentor and mentee should keep this in mind. They need to be punctual and focus their discussions on professional matters. At the end of the year mentors will be asked to complete an evaluation.
Mentoring is a relationship which is dependent on personalities and doesn’t always work. If you or your mentee find that the program is not working, you should inform the Coordinator and the partnership will cease without any blame to either side. You may then take on another mentee or may opt out altogether.
