What will I have to do?
The support and advice that skilled migrant mentees will require is varied, and will be different according to each person’s needs, vocational skills and qualifications.
Potential mentors are asked to attend an interview, in which you will have a chance to discuss your own needs and requirements and ask any questions that may have occurred to you.
Before entering into a mentoring partnership with a skilled migrant or refugee, you will need to think about:
- when you are willing to be available to be contacted by your mentee
- how you would like to contact them (eg email/phone/in person)
- how often you are willing to be in touch with them in each week.
If there are times when you do not wish to be contacted, that’s okay.
You will need to read and understand the Volunteer Mentoring Program Code of Conduct, which encompasses issues of privacy and confidentiality, professionalism, OH&S and legislative requirements, conflict of interest and non-judgemental behaviour. See below for our Mentor Code of Conduct document.
You will also need to provide us with the contact information of two referees. This is a standard enrolment process required to ensure volunteers are of good character to provide information and advice to our program participants, towards whom we have a duty of care.
What happens next?
We will arrange for you to meet with a skilled migrant or refugee that matches your vocational skills/qualifications. If, after meeting, you both agree to enter into a mentoring relationship, you will need to sign a mentoring agreement with that person outlining the “ground rules” that will govern the relationship.
This is so that each person understands their responsibilities to each other and does not infringe on the other person’s privacy or personal/professional time, except as agreed by both and stated in the signed agreement.
What help will they need?
Ask them! Some mentees will have clear career goals but will need help in finding out how to reach those goals.
Other mentees may not have a good understanding of what they want to achieve in their new career in Australia, and may need help defining what direction to take.
Others may have specific barriers they are finding it difficult to surmount, such as issues to do with recruitment (eg resumes, interviews), professional development (such as bridging courses or training) or communication (language, workplace culture).
- You may need to commit an hour or two each week. Some mentees may need more than this. Some may need less. The program guidelines require that each mentee must receive at least 15 hours of mentoring from a fellow professional.
- You may need to spend some of your own time researching professional organisations, vocational training options, jobseeking skills or employment options that will be helpful for your mentee.
- You may also need to meet your mentee face to face on a regular basis to help answer questions, direct and guide their jobseeking activities or just to provide support and an open, non-judgemental sounding board.
- If you are able/willing you may also be able to introduce your mentee to other professionals/organisations that will enhance development of their skills or provide networking opportunities.
- If you are willing/able to arrange unpaid work experience opportunities for your mentee we are happy to provide you with any support or information you need.
The best way to achieve positive results from a mentoring relationship is to discuss setting some SMART goals so that at the end of the process, your mentee has clearly moved forward in their professional skills.
Still Interested?
Apply to mentor a Skilled Migrant click here.
If you feel you have the skills and experience to mentor a Refugee click here
You are also welcome to contact the college on 8752 7555 (Skilled Migrant program) or
8752 7533 (Refugee program) if you need further information.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| Mentor Code of Conduct.pdf | 150.42 KB |