FAQs

• 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 (Facts and figures)

• 20 April: Mentor applications open
• 8 June: Matching process commences
• Week commencing 13 July: Students and alumni will be notified about the outcome of their application and introduced to their partner via email.
• Week commencing 20 July: Program Preparation Events are held for matched mentors and mentees
• July – November: The program runs for 5 months
• 26 August: Mentoring Mixer (in person networking event for Melbourne based participants)
• End of November: Program concludes

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

As a mentor, you are expected to support and guide your mentee in appropriate ways for their field. Meetings with your student might include:

• Providing a sounding board regarding career planning and development
• Discussing the benefits of extracurricular opportunities
• Introducing your student to colleagues and professional networks
• Work shadowing if appropriate (observing)

To join the Career Mentoring program as a mentor you must:

1. Have graduated from the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences before 2025.
2. Currently working/practicing in the industry.
3. Have a minimum of one year of professional industry experience.
4. Not be currently employed by the University of Melbourne in any role that influences the academic outcomes of students.
5. Not be in any position or situation that may be deemed to cause a conflict of interest affecting the results of this program.

Mentors are supported through program preparation events, online resources, and ongoing assistance from the Mentoring Team throughout the program.

Mentoring is a voluntary role and mentors are not paid; however, many mentors tell us they gain valuable professional insight, connection and satisfaction from the experience.

You will be matched 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.

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.

Mentor/student meetings must be scheduled at a suitable location and time for both parties. Meetings can either be in-person or online. Format and frequency of meetings is to be discussed and agreed to at the first meeting.

Yes, absolutely you are welcome to apply again. Every effort will be made to match you with a student whose career interests align with your expertise and experience, however sometimes a match is not found and unfortunately not all applications will be successful.

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

• Monday 13 April: Mentee applications open
• Friday 22 May: Applications close or once program capacity is reached
• Week commencing 13 July: Application outcomes and partnerships announced
• Week commencing 20 July: Mentee Preparation Workshop
• July – November: Regular (at least monthly) meetings and communication with your mentor
• 26 August: Mentoring Mixer (in-person networking event)
• End of November: Program concludes

To get the most out of this program, students need to be open-minded, proactive, and accountable for their own professional development. Students are responsible for the following:

• Complete a short online Mentoring Preparation module and quiz (approx 15 minutes)
• 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 three meetings with your mentor between July and November. The exact nature and frequency of these meetings can be determined between the student and mentor and may include an online conversation, 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.
• Complete two feedback surveys (after the first meeting and at the end of the program).
• Demonstrate professional and ethical conduct at all times.

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 Career Mentoring Team.

We will match you with a mentor based upon commonality in your applications. Preferences cannot be guaranteed; however, every effort will be made to accommodate them based on mentor availability.

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.

Mentor/student meetings must be scheduled at a suitable location and time for both parties. However, it is preferable that students work around the mentor’s schedule. Please note that mentors are not required to meet you on campus. Meetings can either be in-person or online. Format and frequency of meetings is to be discussed and agreed to at the first meeting.

Students who meet the following criteria and are enrolled for the duration of the program are eligible to apply:

Penultimate or final year students enrolled in the below courses:

• Bachelor of Oral Health
• Doctor of Dental Surgery
• Doctor of Medicine
• Doctor of Optometry
• Doctor of Physiotherapy

All students enrolled in the following courses:

• Master of Advanced Nursing Practice (Nurse Practitioner)
• Master of Biostatistics
• Master of Biostatistics (Enhanced)
• Master of Clinical Audiology
• Master of Nursing Science
• Master of Psychology (Clinical Neuropsychology)
• Master of Psychology (Clinical Psychology)
• Master of Applied Psychology
• Master of Professional Psychology
• Master of Public Health
• Master of Science (Epidemiology)
• Master of Social Work
• Master of Speech Pathology

In 2025, eligibility will be extended to a small group of final year students studying the Bachelor of Biomedicine. Places will be strictly limited for this pilot program.