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AIOP Newcastle Mentoring Program

Statement Of Purpose

The Australian Institute of Office Professionals (AIOP) Business Administration Mentoring Program has been developed to assist Business Administration graduates and trainees to make the transition into an administrative career. Mentees will gain knowledge and insight from AIOP mentors who have agreed to volunteer their time to share their professional experiences and expertise.

Sponsorship

The 2009 mentoring program is being sponsored by AIOP Newcastle, PeopleFusion and Tamsett Consulting and Tutoring.

Goals of the Program

• To assist mentees to assimilate into an office environment.
• To assist mentees to develop professional career goals.
• To enchance each mentee's professional development through AIOP and other external sources.
• To assist mentees with career development.
• To assist new graduates to understand the function of AIOP.
• To build the reputation of AIOP to be the Institute of choice.

Mentoring relationships should be based on trust, acknowledgment of mutual benefit and a balanced responsibility for conduct with attention to the confidential nature of the relationship.

2009 Program

The 2009 program commenced in April with 4 mentors and mentees.

Mentee                        Mentor

Naomi Ellem                  Janette Dempsey

Vivienne Todhunter        Kate Leonard

Kristy Eastwood             Susan Laughlan

2008 Program

The AIOP Newcastle Mentoring Program was launched in 2008 with 3 mentors and mentees participating.

My AIOP Mentoring Program Experience as a Mentor

"In my 17 years' experience in Executive Administration and Management, there have been one or two key moments in my career where the advice and guidance of a mentor were critical. So, when I was asked to participate in the AIOP Mentoring Program as a mentor, I jumped at the chance. This was my opportunity to give back and offer my guidance, expertise and practical experience to someone making the transition from TAFE to employment.

Each time we make contact, my mentee greets me with enthusiasm. It is warming to see that my presence is so greatly appreciated and that simply by being there to offer advice and guidance on various issues, I can make such a large impact.

Over the last 4 months, I have watched my mentee gain confidence and "bloom". She has obtained full-time employment and her administrative skills have developed considerably. This has been incredibly satisfying to me, knowing that my support has played a role in my mentee's success.

There are also many personal benefits one can gain from being a mentor. For me, I have experienced a renewed sense of motivation, my career and personal satisfaction has improved from being able to support and aid another's development and I have felt a real sense of achievement in reaching the milestones we set out to attain.

The AIOP mentoring program has truly been a rewarding experience."  

Emma Blair, Executive Officer, Internationalisation. Faculty of Business and Law, The University of Newcastle

My AIOP Mentoring Program Experience as a Mentee

"I'm unsure which is more daunting, living up to the expectations of my mentor or living up to the expectations I have of myself.  Being paired up with Emma Blair from the University of Newcastle has been an invaluable experience so far, and a unique one, as I have never had a mentor before. Not only does Emma offer advice and guidance with the sticker parts and grey areas of my new career as an office professional, but she is also a character and role model for me. It's been a confidence boost to have such a strong female to identify with and observe.

I work in a family run wholesaler business, and although I love my job, it has given me little opportunity to network or meet with other office professionals in the field. Through the support of AIOP Newcastle, Julie Olive and Peoplefusion, I have had the chance of a lifetime to meet others like me and work with two other mentor and mentee partnerships.

Our meetings are engaging and fun. We speak about our progress and problems with our work and ourselves. Being a part of this inaugural mentoring program has been a rare opportunity for me to see and become part of the office professional community." 

Katie Dever - Mentee