Mentoring Resources
Our resource roundup points to various mentoring platforms and programs, as well as information and advice on how to implement effective mentoring programs.
Industry mentoring programs
National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) Mentoring Program This service is open to all current NAWIC members, which matches up mentors and mentees by age, experience and goals. Its purpose is to extend women’s networks and give them valuable advice on industry and work-related issues. www.nawic.com.au
Planning Institute of Australia The PIA runs a 10-month Women’s Leadership program, which connects mentees with an experienced mentor to help people take the next step in their career and plug into new networks. Mentees pay an upfront fee of $345, which is deductible as a professional development expense.
Stepping up on Mentoring
These articles were developed as part of a set that draws on the Champions of Change Architecture Group Mentoring Toolkit with the aim of sharing knowledge and experiences on equitable mentoring with the wider architecture profession.
What is mentoring and why does it matter?
Mentoring offers opportunities and pathways for both mentors and mentees to expand their knowledge base, build relationships and develop invaluable skills. Incorporating a mentoring program into your practice can have a substantial impact on individuals and practice culture, regardless of your size or scale.
How to create an effective mentoring program
An effective mentoring program helps individuals develop their careers and navigate the world of work. It helps transfer knowledge across generations, improves the skills of mentors and mentees, and build practice and professional cultures.
Guides & Research
Parlour Guide to Equitable Practice – Mentoring
The Parlour Guide to Mentoring (currently being reviewed and updated) outlines the opportunities of mentoring; the benefits to practices, mentors, mentees and the wider profession; and the ways that individuals, practices and professional organisations can each contribute to promoting and supporting mentoring.
Supporting careers – mentoring or sponsorship
Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA)
WGEA unpack the differences between mentoring and sponsorship, and the effects these have on women’s career development. Topics include Sponsoring women, Gender differences in support programs and Implementing sponsorship or mentoring in the workplace.
Videos & Podcasts
Parlour Light at the end of the Tunnel, Mentoring
This online session on mentoring was held on 17 July 2020 in the early days of COVID, with Sonia Sarangi and Alison Cleary offering insights about mentoring in conversation with Justine Clark, Naomi Stead and the highly active and engaged Parlour audience. This session is available to purchase on demand.
‘The power of a good mentor’
This Working Life with Lisa Leong, ABC podcast
Features Madeleine Grummet who started an organisation dedicated to mentoring the future workforce; and Maria Antwan, who opened a business in the male-dominated construction industry and found that her mentor helped her deal with criticism, build her resilience and realise her true potential.
‘Why you need a mentor, Ep6’
The Marketing Mentors with Tasha Dal Bianco & Linda D’Amico
The podcasters talk about the connection between the use of mentors and faster career development. They outline some key stats on mentoring from the US. Around 84% of Fortune 500 companies have mentoring programs, while 100% of Fortune 50 companies have them. When asking mentees what they think of mentoring, 97% of people say they’re valuable. 89% of those who have been mentored go on to mentor themselves. This podcast also offers lots of advice on some key questions – What does a mentor do? How does the process work? What are some of the traditional and non-traditional mentoring approaches? What’s the difference between mentoring and friendship? How do you find a mentor?
Online platforms
An online mentoring platform with a team of mentoring advocates and experts based in London and Melbourne. The website has an extensive library of free mentoring resources, including ebooks on Remote mentoring and the 10 key qualities and habits of effective mentors, resources on the Business case for mentoring, How to be a great mentor and How to be a great mentee.
Another online mentoring platform that helps organisations connect, support and develop their people through accessible mentoring programs. Includes useful resources, such as How to start a mentoring program: A step by step guide and downloadable ebooks on Types and uses of workplace mentoring, Mentoring for diversity and inclusion and the ROI of mentoring.
Articles
“The merits of mentoring”
Michael Smith, Parlour, 2 May 2017
Michael Smith argues the case for mentoring programs, emphasising the benefits to mentor, mentee and the industry as a whole. He shares his experience of running a mentoring program in his small practice.
“How to get mentors and sponsors who can support your career”
Emerging Leaders Playbook, by Womens’ Agenda, 26 June 2018
Part two of the Emerging Leaders Playbook series offers advice on how to find mentors and sponsors throughout your career (knowing yourself and what your aspirations are is the first important step!). “Self-awareness and self-knowledge is critical”
“The complete guide to reverse mentoring”
Nicola Cronin, Guider.AI, 3 July 2020
What is reverse mentoring? Why is reverse mentoring important? What are the benefits? How do you set up a reverse mentoring program? This guide answers all these questions and more. “The process recognises that there are skills gaps and opportunities to learn on both sides of a mentoring relationship, and flipping the traditional format on its head can be very beneficial for both parties. Reverse mentoring also challenges the idea of mentoring being elitist, as it’s not about a senior person taking someone under their wing, but a formal relationship for the purpose of skill sharing and professional development.”