Australian human resources institute mentoring program

Contributed by the AHRI

The AHRI Mentoring Program facilitates mentoring relationships, allowing members to share advice, knowledge and experiences. The program enables links to be established between experienced HR professionals from within the AHRI membership and members who are seeking opportunities for career and professional development. The program aims to match mentors and mentees with similar fields of interest or similar roles.

Benefits for mentors:

• Further developing mentoring skills including; providing feedback, communication and interpersonal skills
• Personal and professional satisfaction
• Contributing to the profession
• Contributing to AHRI
• Mentoring participation qualifies for CPD hours
• Staying in touch with emerging issues relevant to less experienced HR professionals

Benefits for mentees:

• Excellent networking opportunities
• Developing new skills – i.e. problem solving
• Access to professional role model
• Identifying professional growth and development areas
• Develops communication skills
• Drives the mentee to set goals and work towards them
• Mentee can set goals and put processes in place to achieve them
• Mentoring participation qualifies for CPD hours

How does the program work?

The AHRI Mentoring Program typically runs over a 10-11 month period. Applicants are required to complete an online application form, which will be given to state mentoring committees who then match mentors and mentees.

An orientation will be conducted early in the year once mentors and mentees have been matched. The session provides an overview of the structure of the program, the roles and responsibilities of mentors/mentees and allows for networking. The session also gives the matched pairs the chance to meet face to face and determine a schedule to suit for further communication and meetings.

Mentors and mentees are responsible for ongoing contact. The format of the relationship will be determined by the pair and may include e-mail, phone or face-to-face meetings.

A mid-year meeting will be held in each state to allow participants to ‘check in’, share ideas and provide feedback regarding the program. In addition ongoing feedback will be sought by AHRI regularly throughout the program.

Finally, at the end of the year a final event will be held to conclude the formal mentoring program, allow participants to share experiences and give feedback about the program for future planning.

Who can be involved in the AHRI Mentoring Program?

AHRI members can apply to participate in the Mentoring Program. The program is open to participants who are employed in a HR role or hold an HR qualification.

What is the cost?

The cost of the program is an administrative fee of $110 (inc GST) for mentees only.

For more information about the AHRI Mentoring Program, please contact the AHRI mentoring team or alternatively download an information kit.