Aboriginal Mentoring Program
There have been many requests recently for an across
sector Aboriginal mentoring program. If you are an Aboriginal
person in a senior position in the public service or have
retired from such a position and you would like to mentor
a young person, a recent entrant to the service or an Aboriginal
person wishing to advance their career, please contact us.
The mentor training is provided free of charge. Mentors are not
paid for their participation in the program. The cost to mentees (usually
met by their department) is $2,900 (inclusive of GST). Both mentors and
mentees can give participants a nationally recognised Statement of Attainment
in 2 competency units towards the Diploma of Government (Management) PSP51104.
Recognition of prior learning (RPL) available through the program can
potentially fulfil another 5 competency units of the 11 units required.
There are several such programs being conducted within specific
departments at present, but none with access to qualifications, and none
with an across sector focus. The Department of Premier and Cabinet initiated
this project, is involved in the pilot and is supportive of an ongoing
program.
The program is a pilot which has been partly funded by the Australian
Flexible Learning Framework of the Department of Education, Employment
and Workplace Relations to HarrisBromley RTO No 90182 in partnership with
the Institute of Public Administration Australia NSW Division (IPAA NSW).
IPAA NSW intends to continue to run the program following the end of the
pilot for as long as there is interest. A blended learning approach will
increase participation from regional areas where many Aboriginal staff
are located.
The first face to face session will be conducted on 7 and 8 August
2008 at Clearly Business Level 19, 323 Castlereagh St Sydney (opposite
Belmore Park and Central).
The course for mentors and mentees will include:
- Setting the ground rules for the mentoring arrangement the aim of which
is for all parties to clearly understand the roles in their relationship
- Establishing and imparting the framework within which
the mentoring relationship will take place including timeframes
for mentoring contacts, the likely lifespan of the mentoring
relationship and a mechanism for the important feedback/evaluation
process
- Advanced communication strategies.
The best possible match will be made between mentor
and mentee. IPAA NSW will have regular contact with the
mentor and mentee to ensure the ongoing relevance and suitability
of the relationship. If necessary a new mentor will be found
for the mentee. Support will be provided for both parties.
Benefits for mentees
- Improved communication skills
- Improved leadership skills
- Enhanced problem solving skills
- Improved insights into people management
- Improved management of the balance between work, family
and community
- Development of talent and potential
Benefits for mentors
- Increased awareness, confidence and ability to use a range of technologies
- An opportunity to contribute wisdom to others
- Learnings from cross-sectoral networking
- Potentially a nationally recognised qualification
Benefits for the public sector
- Increased retention of Aboriginal staff
- More Aboriginal staff in senior positions
A report by Hudson in January 2008 found that one-third
of employers are struggling to improve their rates of staff
turnover. The survey of over 7,000 employers found the two
most common engagement methods used to retain staff were
flexibility (67 percent) and financial incentives (62 percent).
These were followed by leadership development and succession
planning (48 percent each), mentoring programs (36 percent),
coaching programs (35 percent), and high-potential programs
(27 percent).
We are very excited about the potential of this program
and hope you will join us in making it a success.
For more information please contact Anne
Rauch on 02 9228 5225 or anne@nsw.ipaa.org.au
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