Current student information

The Faculty of Business and Law
Postgraduate Student Mentor Program - Support for students by students

The concept of the program was developed in liaison with student representatives from the Deakin Business School Society during semester 2 2007, was piloted in Summer Semester 2007/08.

The Postgraduate mentor program is designed to support student focused, social and academic transition for new students during their first semester. Its aim is to provide a supportive environment where one mentor can share their experiences with up to four new students, on a regular basis. Mentors are current Deakin students and are primarily there to interpret academic expectations, create awareness of key concepts of time-management and independent learning and to link students to support services in the Faculty and across the University.

Selection and Training

All Mentors are individually interviewed before attending a compulsory one day training workshop each semester which includes discussion and clarification on roles of a mentor, development of communication and teamwork skills and case study and role play analysis. Staff from the Faculty, Deakin International and Division of Student Life support the training. Mentors receive a training manual and comprehensive, student developed weekly checklist of discussion topics and reminders to use with their mentees.

Mentors and their new students aim to meet fortnightly in person and communicate by email or telephone weekly, depending on the needs of the group.

The mentor experience

Find out what some of the mentors from past postgraduate mentor programs had to say about their experiences

more from the mentors

Postgraduate Mentor Leadership program

The mentors can also attend a two-part workshop designed to enhance a mentor’s understanding of the concept of leadership and, then to reflect on their experiences of being a mentor and how they might articulate/critique those in an interview or resume.

Postgraduate Student Drop in Station (DIS)

This Drop in Station is staffed by a team of Mentors from the PG Mentor program who are available daily from 1-3pm in Building lb2.208 (Burwood). This has further allowed Mentors to model problem solving behavior necessary for successful transition. DIS caters to late arriving /enrolling PG students and gives Mentors a place to check in with the PG Mentor Co-ordinator with any issues relating to their mentees.