Mentoring Program

The Women's Professional Development Network (WPDN) of the University of Adelaide has run highly successful mentoring programs for professional women since 1997.

The aim of the mentoring program is to:

  • empower professional staff who identify as women to take control of their career path
  • equip participants with vital skills and strategies to steer their career in the direction of their choice
  • aid in the removal of personal and institutional barriers which prevent women reaching their desired personal and professional potential
  • establish mutually beneficial mentoring relationships to assist career development for both mentees and mentors.

  • Program Overview

    We offer an inclusive program, which is open to women professional staff from all backgrounds. We welcome participants from all campuses. We undertake a rigorous process to identify and match mentees with mentors for optimal outcomes. We recommend that you obtain line manager approval to participate in the program. The mentoring program is not suitable or designed for those who are working remotely.

    The WPDN Mentoring Program has been refreshed and redesigned to address the needs of both mentors and mentees for 2024. Participants will attend a series of professional development workshops specifically tailored to the WPDN’s mentoring program. For those who may have participated in the program in previous years, we hope to deepen and strengthen your previous experience with our new approach.

    In person workshops will be facilitated by Rosslyn Cox of Managing for Performance. 

    Rosslyn brings a wealth of experience and expertise to enhance and develop individual skills of both mentors and mentees. Rosslyn is passionate about working with individuals to uncover their potential and find opportunities to realise their professional aspirations. As a Professional Certified Coach (PCC ICF) specialising in executive performance coaching, she applies a strengths-based approach to personal and professional development, emphasising emotional intelligence and referencing positive psychology and neuroscience. You can watch Rosslyn’s 2023 keynote TedXTalk to gain an insight into what Rosslyn brings to our program. 

    We are excited to partner with Rosslyn to take the mentoring program to the next level!

    Workshop Dates

    We have curated an exciting program, designed to set our mentees and mentors up for success, ensuring that participants draw as much as possible from the experience:

    • Program launch | Tuesday, 16 April

    You will explore the Program in more detail, gather some tips and tricks for networking confidently and meet up with your mentor.

    • Joint capability building workshop + goal setting workshop | Tuesday 30 April

    You will join with mentors to explore the role our values and strengths play in our professional practice before setting your goals for the Program.

    • Mid-year check in + mentoring-in-minutes session | Tuesday, 25 June

    You will have the opportunity to check in with other mentees and meet with five other mentors in a facilitated networking session.

    • Program wrap-up | Tuesday, 19 November

    You will have an opportunity to reflect on and celebrate your personal and professional progress and achievements throughout the Program.
     

  • Mentee Eligibility Criteria

    Mentees

    To participate in the WPDN Mentoring Program, as a mentee, you must meet all of the following criteria. 
    You must:

    • Be a professional staff member of the University of Adelaide who identifies as a woman.
    • Be employed within the professional classification bands of HEO 3 to HEO 8 
    • Be on a continuing or fixed term / casual contract until 31 December 2024
    • Attend all scheduled WPDN Mentoring Sessions. Non-attendance may result in exclusion from the program.
    • Available to undertake the mentoring program between April and November 2024
    • Provide a testimonial at the end of the program
    • Be willing to volunteer as a mentor in future program offerings.

  • Mentor Eligibility Criteria

    Mentors

    We encourage applications from the University community to act as a mentor.

    To participate as a mentor, you must:

    • Be of any gender 
    • Be employed at the professional classification band of HEO 7 and above; and
    • Be in a continuing or fixed term / casual contract until 31 December 2024; 
    • Be available to mentor from April to November 2024;
    • Attend all scheduled WPDN mentoring sessions;
    • Provide a testimonial at the end of the program. 
       

  • Application Process

    Applications for the 2024 WPDN Mentoring Program have closed. The mentee intake is strictly limited to 30 places. Acceptance into the program is via a competitive process and based upon the applicant’s responses.

    As part of the application process, you will need to submit an online application including a matching questionnaire. 

    You can nominate a mentor or indicate a preference to be matched with a mentor as part of the application. Preference requests will be considered but are not guaranteed.

Register to be a mentor  Frequently asked questions