About the Career Mentoring Program
The Career Mentoring Program empowers your employees to become mentors for people with disability in the workforce. This initiative is a unique opportunity for your employees to build disability confidence and develop leadership skills, all while making a meaningful difference in a jobseeker’s career journey. Choose inclusion through connection.
Our dedicated team matches mentors with people with disability based on factors such as location, industry, and background. Over a series of six to eight meetings within a 16-week period, mentors offer valuable guidance and coaching to help mentees develop career skills. These sessions cover areas such as CV writing, interview techniques, understanding workplace dynamics, and exploring career paths.
We run the program twice a year with an Autumn cohort from April to August, and a Spring cohort from August to December
At the end of the program cycle, we host a closing event, bringing together all participants to celebrate their achievements and share insights from their experiences.
Cost
There are two package options:
- Introductory Package (3-5 mentors): $3,990 plus GST
- Full Package (6-10 mentors): $5,700 plus GST
Please note: member hours are not redeemable for this program.
Register your organisation for Career Mentoring
Career Mentoring is only available to Australian Disability Network member organisations.
To participate in Career Mentoring, the key contact at your organisation must first register your organisation for the program. This is usually someone in your Diversity and Inclusion team.
Deadline for member organisations to register for the program
- Autumn cohort: end of January
- Spring cohort: end of May
Please note: Only key contacts of member organisations can express interest and complete the registration for Career Mentoring participation.
If you’re an individual interested in becoming a mentor, please reach out to your organisation’s key contact for more information. We have resources to support this process.
To find out more and express your interest in Career Mentoring please contact the Career Mentoring Program Lead, Tia Kwan at tia.kwan@ausdn.org.au or 0370 323 523
What happens after you register:
After you have registered with the Career Mentoring Program Lead, we will guide you through the next steps:
- Complete registration: Sign and return the Program Agreement to confirm your organisation’s place in the next Career Mentoring cohort.
- Promote Mentoring Opportunities: To source mentors, share the opportunity internally. Australian Disability Network can support you with resources.
- Submit Mentor Nomination List: Finalise and send your mentor nomination list to Australian Disability Network Career Mentoring Program Lead.
- Onboarding: Australian Disability Network will provide disability confidence training and pre-briefing to nominated mentors.
Together, let’s create meaningful career pathways and make a lasting impact!
Key dates
- Member EOIs open: November 2024
- Member information session #1: Thursday, 12 December 2024 – Register for Information Session #1
- Member information session #2: Thursday, 16 January 2025 – Register for Information Session #2
- Member registrations close: Friday, 31 January 2025
- Mentor nomination list due: early February 2025
- Mentor onboarding process (application & training completed): February – March 2025
- Program Launch: April 2025
- Program Closing Event: August 2025
For further information please contact Career Mentoring Program Lead, Tia Kwan at tia.kwan@ausdn.org.au or 03 7032 3523
Are you Looking for a Mentor?
If you are a jobseeker who would like to find a mentor, you can find out more about the Career Mentoring program and apply to be mentored.
FAQs for Member Organisations
1. Who can join Career Mentoring?
Only organisations that are members of Australian Disability Network can participate in Career Mentoring.
2. When does the program run?
The program runs twice per year, from April to August and from August to December.
3. How much time does the program require?
The Career Mentoring Program lasts 16 weeks. Mentors and mentees should meet at least six times, though this may vary depending on the mentee’s goals. Meetings usually last 1-2 hours.
4. What does the program cost?
There are two package options:
- Introductory Package (3-5 mentors): $3,998 plus GST
- Full Package (6-10 mentors): $5,700 plus GST
Please note that member hours are not redeemable for this program.
5. Is the Career Mentoring Program included in our membership?
This program is exclusive to Australian Disability Network members, but there is an additional participation fee. Please refer to question 4.
6. Are there additional costs for hosting a mentee?
If a mentee requires an adjustment that incurs a cost, e.g. having an Auslan Interpreter present for the mentoring sessions, there is an expectation for the host organisation to cover these costs, along with any associated expenses such as meals or coffees.
7. What support do mentors get throughout the program?
Mentors receive Disability Confidence and Awareness Training and a Mentor Briefing as part of onboarding. We also provide ongoing support, a Mentor Handbook, and related resources.
8. How can we find mentors within our organisation?
Organisations need to nominate staff as Career Mentors. To encourage self-nomination, we strongly recommend that member organisations use the promotional materials we provide on their internal communication channels. Additionally, consider reaching out to specific leaders who may benefit from the program.
We also offer tailored sessions for organisations to discuss their previous or current involvement in the program and to share valuable insights gained from the experience. Please contact us for more information.
9. How are mentees recruited?
We source mentees through university contacts, Disability Employment Services, and community groups. Eligible applicants must attend a compulsory briefing session as part of the screening process.
10. How are mentees prepared for the program?
All mentees attend a briefing on their roles and responsibilities. Matched mentees also join a workshop on planning meetings, setting goals, and starting the program effectively.
11. What if our organisation changes its mind about participating?
If your organisation decides not to participate after the mentor onboarding has started, we may charge a portion of the program fee. This fee will be determined in relation to the stage of the onboarding process.