The Mentoring Program

The Women in Transport (WiT) Mentoring Program is creating an empowered, enduring and energetic future for women in Victoria’s transport industry.

The program is designed to foster supportive relationships and actively encourage mentees to identify and realise their professional goals. The aim is to give mentees a fresh avenue for development as they progress through their career in transport, and to give mentors an opportunity to share their experience and discover just how much they have to offer.

The program is a 6 month, industry-wide initiative and includes networking opportunities, professional development, plus regular guidance to help structure monthly mentee-mentor meetings.

Participating in the Women In Transport (WiT) Mentoring Program is your opportunity to make the transport industry great for women.

Whether mentee or mentor, you will benefit from personal and professional development and contribute to a culture of positive learning that will support the capability of women in transport now and in the future.

The WiT program was the first of its kind in Australia back in 2017 and takes a strategic approach to shifting the dial in a sector typically dominated by men. Since then, we have welcomed the introduction of the Victorian Government’s Gender Equality Strategy (2020) and the launch of the new WiT 2021-2024 strategy.

The mentoring program continues to be a key focus area of the WiT strategy, in improving access to employment and career advancement for women and people of diverse gender identities.

WiT Mentoring is delivered by the Level Crossing Removal Project (LXRP) on behalf of the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP). It is part of WiT, a multi-million package of initiatives and business improvements to encourage more women to enter and stay in the transport industry.

Benefits of the Women in Transport Mentoring Program

For Mentees

• Experienced guidance and support from within the transport industry, in a structured program
• Learning from industry experts, leaders and peers
• Networking opportunities across different levels, fields and sectors of industry
• Receiving feedback and developmental guidance
• Identifying professional growth and career planning

For Mentors

• Pay it forward by supporting women to advance in their careers and help fill the gap of women in senior positions
• Contribute to a culture supporting the capability of women in transport
• Mutual benefit from personal and professional development
• Stay abreast of emerging issues relevant to the industry
• Further development of mentoring skills such as listening, asking questions, guiding, providing feedback, communication and interpersonal skills

What is meant by mentoring?

Mentor: (noun) an experienced and trusted adviser.

Mentorship is a developmental relationship in which one person, usually more experienced or senior, takes time to assist the career, professional or personal development of someone else, who is known as a mentee, or protégé. Mentoring is most often a one-on-one relationship but is sometimes done in groups.

A mentoring relationship is one that is built on trust, in which there is an exchange of knowledge, experience and goodwill.

What do past participants have to say?

Participating in the program

Who can apply?

Mentees and mentors can work in any role in any Victorian government department or agency or private business in Victoria's transport industry. You

can apply to be either a mentee or a mentor. Mentees are women only, but we encourage and welcome men as mentors.

We encourage applications from Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, those with disability, people who identify as culturally and linguistically diverse (CalD), and those who identify as LGBTIQA+ people.

The WiT Mentoring Program is open to all women (including transgender women) and non-binary and gender diverse people.

Self-definition is at the discretion of the individual. We recognise that gender is a self-identification, and that there is a range of language that people may use to articulate their experience of gender.

To join as a mentee, you must be:

• a woman, a transgender women, non-binary or gender diverse
• employed within Victoria's transport industry
• able to commit to a six-month program
• able to attend monthly meetings, training sessions and events
• comfortable driving the mentoring relationship
• clear about your goals and what you want to achieve
• respectful of your mentor’s time
• prepared and responsible for your own program outcomes.

To join as a mentor, you:

• can be any gender
• can be at any level – you don’t need to be a senior manager or expert
• must have upwards of 5 years’ experience in your field
• must be employed within Victoria's transport industry
• must be able to commit to a 6 month program
• must be able to attend monthly meetings, training sessions and events
• must be available to listen and willing to guide.

What’s involved?

• The WiT Mentoring Program is a 6 month program.
• Mentees and mentors will be asked to complete a short application form to assess their eligibility for the program and to collect details about what they are looking for in a mentoring partner.
• Mentors and mentees will be matched into pairs according to the details provided in the application form.
• Pairs are expected to meet at least one a month and attend the scheduled networking events and training that form part of the program
• The program uses a mentoring software platform provided by Art of Mentoring. Mentees and mentors will be expected to complete Art of Mentoring online training to prepare them for their mentoring relationship.
• During the program, you will receive frequent communications from the WiT team, giving you helpful tips and information about mentoring, and access to other relevant materials available on the platform.
• Throughout the 6 month program you will be invited to provide feedback about your experience via surveys.
• Participants who complete all training and feedback surveys will be eligible to receive a program completion certificate at the end.

Expectations

Clear expectations and commitments are important for supporting successful mentoring relationships and a productive mentoring program.

The WiT Mentoring Program is a 6 month commitment. Mentees and mentors must agree to:

• meet at least once a month
• negotiate meeting locations and time commitments
• ensure that discussions remain confidential
• prepare for meetings and read the program resources provided
• participate in the professional development sessions
• access further support from the program coordinator when required
• keep their contact details up to date via the Mentoring Platform
• notify the WiT Mentoring Program team if either party is disengaged or not contactable or if you are concerned about their welfare.

Mentors should:

• be open and honest in sharing their knowledge, expertise and experiences.
• offer honest feedback in a constructive manner.
• be able to listen and provide guidance to mentees, allowing them to make their own decisions.

Mentors should be committed to:

• the development of their mentee
• demonstrating leadership by championing collaboration across teams and organisations
• understanding the opportunities and barriers that women face at different levels in the transport industry
• developing their individual skills by contributing to the development of another
• self-reflection, where sharing experiences allows mentors to learn new insights about themselves
• providing a culturally safe and inclusive environment for their mentee (resources are provided to assist with this).

Mentees should:

• be the drivers of the mentoring relationship, proactively contacting their mentor, setting up meetings and establishing meeting agendas
• demonstrate a commitment to personal learning and development and follow through on all actions agreed with their mentor
• have a positive attitude and be open to developing self- awareness, personal growth, seeking feedback
• take responsibility for their decisions and actions
• be clear about their goals throughout the program.

Mentees should have a desire to:

• develop a wider knowledge of the transport industry
• build self-confidence
• support their career and personal development by developing greater insight into skills and behaviours needed to be effective in their roles
• build and grow a strong professional network
• learn through shared experiences.

What would I be committing to?

• Networking/professional development events, online training, reading resource – 10 to 12 hours in total (spread over 6 months)
• Mentoring conversations (including preparation and follow-up) – 1 to 2 hours per month
• Program surveys – 30 minutes in total

A detailed program of events will be available early 2023 via the WiT Mentoring Program website.

Key Dates 2023

How to apply

Applications are open from 6 March 2023 until 11 April 2023.

Apply at Art of Mentoring

Frequently asked questions

Return to the Women in Transport homepage.