2010 WOMEN TO LEADERSHIP MENTORING PROGRAM

Nominate by 31 March for the 2010 program.


Overview

The QWIPS Women to Leadership Mentoring Program is a signature activity of the Queensland Women in the Public Service (QWIPS) based on the Appreciative Inquiry model of mentoring. It has proven to be one of the most successful professional and personal development initiatives in the last 8 years. To date, over 800 participants have benefited from this 1 on 1 mentoring program. It links women (and men) from across public service agencies and assists their leadership and skills development by facilitating knowledge sharing across diverse disciplines and work environments.

In March 2008, QWIPS presented an overview of the program to the Women as Global Leaders: Learning Leadership conference in Dubai, UAE.  A copy of the presentation is available on the QWIPS website (click here).

In November 2008, Her Excellency, Penelope Wensley, Governor of Queensland launched the QWIPS mentoring resource guide, Stepping Up: Developing Leadership Practice Through Mentoring.  Copies are available for purchase by emailing secretary@qwips.com.au.

Eligible Participants
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Mentorees: Women working in Queensland’s public sector agencies within the A04 – SO2 levels (or equivalent) are invited to apply. Prospective mentorees (of any level) who are able to arrange for their own mentor may be offered a place in the program.

Mentors: Women and men from A06 - SES levels (or equivalent) in the public and private sector agencies who are willing to encourage and support committed mentorees are engaged as mentors. They are expected to share their leadership knowledge, experience and insights with their mentoree who could benefit from this exchange.

Time Commitment

The Program operates from April to November. A mutually negotiated time commitment by both parties is required. To be successful, the minimum contact time is 1-2 hours per month.  Participants are also expected to attend workshops and events to be held at the Undumbi Room, Parliamentary Annexe, corner George and Alice Streets, Brisbane.

Registration Cost
  • There is no cost for those who wish to nominate as mentors.
  • The registration cost (approximately $875 - $950) for mentorees will be charged to the mentoree’s sponsoring agency after the outcome of the matching process.

QWIPS is a non-profit volunteer-based practitioners’ network and takes pride in its capacity to offer low cost, high impact professional development activities. Due to the volunteer nature of the organisation, we are unable to offer assistance in travel or accommodation costs associated with program participation. We sincerely appreciate mentors' and/or their agencies' relevant contribution and support in this initiative.

Mentor and Mentoree Matching

Matching will be based on knowledge, skills and experience able to be shared. Places on the program will depend on the number of suitable mentors who nominate to meet the needs of prospective mentorees.

Mentorees may wish to encourage prospective mentors to join the program to increase the overall pool of available mentors. Mentoree registrants may also arrange for a mentor of their own choice to participate in the program.

Facilitation

QWIPS has engaged Mellish and Associates to facilitate relevant workshops for mentors and mentorees. The QWIPS Working Group will provide coordination and support for the duration of the mentoring program.

Registration of Interest

This year’s mentoring program starts in April and finishes in November. Applications close on 31 March 2010.

To register, complete the registration form and:


FURTHER INFORMATION
2010 Program Dates

Date

Time

Who?

Wednesday  28 April 2010

5:30 pm to 7:30 pm

Mentors Workshop (Mentors only)

Wednesday  5 May 2010

9:00 am to 11:00 am

Mentorees Workshop (Mentorees only)

Wednesday  5 May 2010

11:00 am to 1:00 pm

Mentoring Partnership Workshop (Mentors and Mentorees)

Wednesday  28 July 2010

9:00 am to 12:30 pm

Review Workshop ( Mentors and Mentorees)

Wednesday  24 November 2010

5:30 pm to 7:30 pm

Showcase and Celebration Event (Mentors and Mentorees)
The Benefits of Mentoring

For the Mentoree

For the Mentor

For an Agency
  • Increased knowledge and skills
  • Leadership awareness and application: reason and meaning
  • Increased potential for career mobility and promotion
  • Improved understanding of roles in an organisation
  • Insights to organisational and public sector culture
  • A supportive environment
  • Supports smoother transition
  • A learning tool to enhance professional experience
  • Potential for increased visibility
  • Networking opportunities
  • Professional and self confidence development
  • Recognition and satisfaction
  • Empowerment
  • Increased opportunity to go beyond rhetoric: ability to coach and mentor actively
  • A space to apply reflective practice
  • Improved leadership skills and capacity to contribute to leadership agenda
  • Opportunities to test ideas
  • Enhanced knowledge of other organisational cultures
  • Renewed enthusiasm for role
  • Environment for discussion with others outside your agency
  • Satisfaction from contributing to a mentoree’s development
  • Opportunities to reflect upon and articulate own role
  • Ability to share experience and knowledge
  • Improved delivery of services through more informed and skilled staff
  • Application of knowledge gained from mentoring
  • Reduced recruitment and selection costs as a result of higher employee retention
  • Progress towards diversity and equal opportunity in the workplace
  • Improved communication with other areas and other agencies
  • Support networks for employees in times of organisational change
  • Managers with enhanced people management skills
  • Successful mentorees often become mentors and better people managers

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