News

Seeking business and community mentors

Tue, 13 Jan 2015 13:40:00

Mallee District Aboriginal Services is hoping to recruit external partners to get involved with a new mentoring program that will build the workplace skills of staff within the organisation.

The MDAS Mentoring Program aims to support the career development of MDAS staff by partnering them with more experienced staff inside and outside the organisation.
MDAS Manager of People and Culture Debbie Fankhauser said the mentoring program supports the aspirations of less experienced staff and helps develop their professional skills.
“We are hoping there are people outside of MDAS who are also willing to share their expertise, advice and knowledge to help our younger staff to reach their career aspirations and potential,” Ms Fankhauser said.
“The main aim is to build the workforce capacity of the Mallee’s Koori community, but it’s really a win-win, because setting up these mentor arrangements will also build relationships between MDAS and the wider community, and foster a healthy cultural exchange as well,” she said.
MDAS has formed a committee of appropriately skilled people to will assess all applications and match mentors and mentees with complementary backgrounds, aspirations, skills, knowledge and attributes.
The Mentoring Program has already fostered several successful internal partnerships between experienced and less-experienced staff within MDAS.
Tim Chase, who is an experienced IT Manager within MDAS, who is supporting People and Culture Trainee Briana Hayden.
“We work together in the same office, but once a month we meet specifically to talk about my development and career,” Briana said.
“It’s great to have Tim there for advice when I come up against something that’s a bit challenging or for some encouragement and feedback when I need it,” she said.
“It’s made me feel more confident and given me some great feedback about developing my skills, and the job opportunities that might exist both within MDAS, but outside as well.”
Potential mentors can get more information on the MDAS website www.mdas.org.au under “People and Jobs”.