COVID-19: Information for participants
Students
The University is taking increasing measures to support and protect the community, in line with government and health authority advice. Participating and maintaining your mentoring relationship is a great way to stay connected to your field, our alumni experts, and continue to work towards your career goals outside of the classroom. You can continue these conversations virtually using a range of tools.
As a temporary measure, please convert any MDHS Mentoring Program upcoming meetings to online meetings – consider that many mentors may prefer it, or their employer may have requested it, given the current global situation. There are many products (e.g. Skype or FaceTime) available that may work for you and your mentor - the University makes Zoom available for students. Your wellbeing and that of the broader community remains our prime concern.
Alumni Mentors
We are clear about our responsibility to do everything that we can to reduce rates of infection in the community. The University is continuing to follow advice from the state and federal governments and has taken a range of measures to increase social distancing, including changes to the format of face-to-face teaching and research and the cancellation of events and other group activities on campus. For full details of the University’s response to Coronavirus (COVID-19) visit our dedicated information page.
Your health and wellbeing are of paramount importance to the University. We therefore ask all mentors to undertake the appropriate precaution when scheduling meetings with students. It is our recommendation that where possible you consider hosting your face-to-face meetings with students online instead using web conferencing software such as Skype and Zoom.
Don’t forget, this is also a hugely disruptive time for our students. Many students may have recently had their on-campus lectures cancelled for the immediate future and may be relying on online communications to continue their studies. Some may not even have set foot on campus. If your student has questions or requires additional support, please direct them to our dedicated student page or encourage them to contact Stop 1.
We also understand that your commitment to this program may be affected by the current situation. Please let the MDHS Mentoring Team know if you have any concerns.
For more information
MDHS Mentoring Team
mdhs-mentoring@unimelb.edu.au
+61 3 9035 7869
Support our future health leaders
Navigating through the final years of university and into the early stages of a professional career can be a challenge. The Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences (MDHS) Mentoring Program connects students and alumni to help prepare students for the future.
After successfully piloting the mentoring program in the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health and the Melbourne Dental School, we are pleased to expand the program across the faculty and offer opportunities to Audiology, Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing, Optometry, Oral Health, Physiotherapy, Public Health, Psychology, Social Work and Speech Pathology students.
The MDHS mentoring program is an 8-month commitment that includes online video information sessions as well as face-to-face meetings and organised networking events. Mentors and students will be matched according to study area or degree, as well as interests, experience and preferences for meeting arrangements.
The program connects final year students with an experienced graduate of their chosen study area. The one-to-one mentoring structure fosters relationships between experienced practitioners and students and offers the opportunity to discuss career aspirations and concerns whilst gaining advice and guidance to help prepare students for the transition from university to the workplace.
Applications for the 2020 program are now closed. Applications for the 2021 program will open in January 2021.
Info for Students
Are you interested in understanding more about what life will be like once you graduate? Would you like to get more advice and guidance about how to begin your career?
It can be daunting to think past the end of your degree and what you might be doing next. What does your future career actually look like in reality? Should you undertake further study? How will you navigate applications and interviews?
Being mentored is a powerful tool for you to make connections and receive guidance to help enhance your employment outcomes. Through workshops and one-to-one meetings, students participating in the program can increase their professional networks, understand work and learning experiences in practice, and work with their mentor to help identify and develop a career strategy post-study.
“My mentor provided lots of practical suggestions for my study and occupational planning. Also, his passion and professional knowledge for public health deeply encouraged me. Thanks for giving me this opportunity to meet an awesome mentor!”
– Student, 2019 program
Applications for the 2020 program are now closed. Applications for the 2021 program will open in January 2021.
Student FAQs
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What might I expect to gain from joining the mentoring program?
Each mentoring match will be different. How your mentoring relationship evolves depends on you and your mentor documenting clear goals and strategies for achieving them. However, you can expect to be involved in some of the following:
- Exposure to expertise and experience
- Goal setting and decision making
- Career planning and professional development
- Discussion about the challenges of being a professional clinical practitioner
- Working through problems from a new perspective
- Introduction to the Australian professional environment
- Starting to establish a professional network within your chosen profession
- Assistance with practical advice that will help you find a job
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When does the program run?
- November 2019 – March 2020: Recruitment for both students and alumni
- March: Matching Process
- Late March: Students and alumni will be notified about the outcome of their application and introduced to their partner online.
- Tuesday 31 March: Commencement Event
- April – November: Students are encouraged to organise meetings with their mentor. These can take place in person or online.
- Thursday 6 August: Drop In Event
- October: End of Program Celebration (date TBC)
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How do I know if I’m eligible for the program?
Final year students (those who graduate at the end of 2020, or mid-2021), who are enrolled in the following courses are eligible to apply:
Bachelor of Oral Health
Doctor of Dental Surgery
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Optometry
Doctor of Physiotherapy
Master of Advanced Nursing Practice (Nurse Practitioner)
Master of Clinical Audiology
Master of Nursing Science
Master of Psychology (Clinical Neuropsychology)
Master of Psychology (Clinical Psychology)
Master of Public Health
Master of Social Work
Master of Speech Pathology
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What are the responsibilities of a student?
To get the most out of this program students need to be open minded and willing to be proactive and accountable for their own professional development. Students are responsible for:
- Leading the mentoring relationship. You are expected to initiate the first contact and organise all meetings and communication with your mentor
- Being reliable - honour your appointments and commitments with your mentor
- Communicating openly and freely
- Defining and expressing what you wish to gain from the mentoring relationship
- Providing feedback to your mentor
- Sharing your thoughts and ideas about the profession, entering practice and your future aspirations
- Actively seeking your mentor’s opinions
- Commit to at least five meetings with your mentor between April and November 2020. The exact nature and frequency of these meetings can be determined between the student and mentor and may include a Skype call, informal meetings over coffee, attending a public lecture together, and much more. Meetings take place at a location and time most convenient for you and your mentor.
- Attend on-campus program events at the beginning, middle and end of the program.
- Complete three feedback surveys (beginning, middle, end)
- Demonstrate professional and ethical conduct at all times
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How do you decide which students are selected for this program?
Participation numbers may be limited to the number of mentors that are available. Applications will be assessed on a variety of criteria including student need, response to the application questions and suitability to the available mentors. Not all applications will be successful, and this will be at the discretion of the MDHS Mentoring Team.
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How will I be matched with a mentor?
We will match you with a mentor based upon commonality in your applications. Best efforts will be made to fulfil your preferences but not all preferences can be guaranteed.
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Can I choose my mentor?
No, we will match you with a mentor taking into consideration the preferences and interests you have provided on your application form. Best efforts will be made to fulfil your preferences but not all preferences can be guaranteed.
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Where will I meet my mentor?
Mentor/student meetings need to be scheduled at a location and time suitable for both parties. However, it is preferable that students work around the mentor’s schedule. Please note, there is no requirement for mentors to meet you on campus.
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Contact us
For further information, please contact the MDHS Mentoring Team on 9035 7869 or at mdhs-mentoring@unimelb.edu.au
Info for Mentors
Do you remember your final year of university, wondering what it might be like in the real world? We have students right now with exactly the same questions.
We are currently looking for alumni from the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences to share their professional experience and support students with the transition from university into their chosen career. Alumni from the below study areas are needed for the program in 2020:
Audiology
Dentistry
Medicine
Nursing
Optometry
Oral Health
Physiotherapy
Public Health
Psychological Sciences
Social Work
Speech Pathology
The MDHS Mentoring Program gives you the opportunity to enhance coaching and leadership skills and connect with the next generation of graduates from the faculty.
“I have always wanted to give back to MDS since leaving in 1995. Being a mentor is a great opportunity to engage with current students and the University. I feel I’m looking back at myself 20 years ago!
– Dr Jodie Dobson (BDSc1995)
Applications for the 2020 program are now closed. Applications for the 2021 program will open in January 2021.
Mentoring FAQs
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What might I expect to gain from joining the mentoring program?
- Develop a fresh perspective on your career
- Extend your professional network
- Help to shape the future of your profession and community
- Connect with the next generation of graduates
- Support your student to identify and achieve their career goals and develop in confidence
- Reconnect or develop closer links with the University of Melbourne, ranked #1 in Australia
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When does the program run?
- November 2019 – March 2020: Recruitment for both students and alumni
- March: Matching Process
- Late March: Students and alumni will be notified about the outcome of their application and introduced to their partner online.
- Tuesday 31 March: Commencement Event
- April – November: Students are encouraged to organise meetings with their mentor. These can take place in person or online.
- Thursday 6 August: Drop In Event
- October: End of Program Celebration (date TBC)
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What are the attributes of a good mentor?
A mentor is someone who is:
- Willing and eager to listen
- Enthusiastic, yet honest
- Open to learning and self-reflection
- Happy to share experiences, both positive and negative
- Supports and listens rather than coaching or lecturing
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How do I know if I’m eligible for the program?
- Have graduated from the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences before 2017.
- Have a minimum of two years professional experience.
- Not currently employed by the University of Melbourne in any role that influences the academic outcomes of students.
- Not in any position or situation that may be deemed to cause a conflict of interest affecting the results of this program.
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What is the time commitment?
Mentors and students are expected to have regular meetings for a duration of eight months (at least 5 meetings), between March and November. The exact nature and frequency of these meetings can be determined between the mentor and student and may include going for a walk, informal meetings over coffee, attending a public lecture together, and much more. Mentors are also encouraged to attend on-campus events with their student partner at the beginning, middle and end of the program.
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How will I be matched with a student?
We will match you with a student based upon commonality in your applications. Best efforts will be made to fulfil your preferences but not all preferences can be guaranteed.
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Can I choose a student?
No, we will match you with a student taking into consideration the preferences and interests you have provided on your application form. Best efforts will be made to fulfil your preferences but not all preferences can be guaranteed.
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Where will I meet my student
The scheduling of mentor/student meetings are the responsibility of the student and need to be scheduled at a location and time suitable for both parties. However, it is preferable that students work around the mentor’s schedule. Please note, there is no requirement for mentors to meet students on campus.
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If my application is unsuccessful, can I apply to be a mentor in subsequent years?
Yes. Places in this program are restricted to those that are eligible to apply, and to those that are compatible with the available students. Unfortunately, not all applications will be successful. We are happy to discuss your suitability for the program with you in person.
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Contact us
For further information, please contact the MDHS Alumni Relations Team on 9035 7869 or at mdhs-mentoring@unimelb.edu.au
Leadership Coaching Consultant and paediatric dentist Associate Professor Nicky Kilpatrick shares some tips for a successful mentoring partnership
Mentoring has been described as a way of ‘remaining connected, staying relevant and continuing to contribute to our community’. This year more than ever it seems that the most productive mentoring relationships are those in which both parties have and continue to take time getting to know and understand each other rather than focusing all the time on tasks and goals. To this end, we’d like to encourage you to take time to connect with your mentoring partner again. Here are some ideas that came out of our mid-year check in a couple of weeks ago:
- Invite them to a ‘meet’ up in whatever way you are able to;
- Go for a walk and a coffee (remembering you can walk and talk remotely) and
- Ask them to connect for a 5-minute check-in
- Be genuinely curious to know how is your mentor/mentee doing today, this week?
- Ask them what are they doing this weekend?
- Find out – in general - what is working well in their lives and what is hard for them right now?
It can be hard sometimes to think of things to discuss in your mentoring pairs particularly this year where work/university is so disrupted. In the past some activities that have been popular are:
- Helping prepare CVs,
- Reviewing cover letters,
- Conducting mock-interviews (many of which will happen virtually this year),
- Browsing LinkedIn together and exploring different employment opportunities and
- Actively making introductions to people in your network for a career conversation
For students
please be proactive and reach out to your mentor. They have all volunteered their time and they want to be in this program. The most common comment from mentors is ‘we are here to help!’ - so don’t be shy! Remember that your mentors may not have all the answers however they too are living through these challenging times and they may like to share their experiences with you. Here are some questions you might like to ask them:
- How are you managing in this disrupted world?
- What are you finding useful about being in lockdown?
- What have you learned about yourself or other people around you?
For mentors
while we encourage students to be proactive in driving the mentoring relationship, particularly in this remote environment, please reach out and encourage your mentee to connect with you. Many students feel hesitant about ‘bothering’ their mentor so please take the initiative and make contact. Let your student know that you’d welcome this opportunity to catch up with them again. Here are some suggestions:
- Suggest a regular time to meet – it may only be for 20 minutes once a month.
- One way to build trust and confidence in a mentoring relationship is to share some of the challenges you have or are facing, how you overcame these and what you’ve learnt from the experience. It is often through adversity that we thrive and in sharing these experiences we help build resilience in others. Be bold.
- Share your favourite book, magazine, Netflix show or walking trail with your mentee. See if you can find some common interests that might lead to more connections.