ACS WA Mentoring Program - Applications open for 2024 Intake
Highlights
- The ACS Mentoring Program is an opportunity available to WA members interested in the benefits of being a Mentor or Mentee.
- Members help members! Share your professional experiences and knowledge with people who have a need in their professional life.
The WA Mentoring Program is an opportunity for ACS mentors to provide the benefits of their professional and real-world experience to mentees. It also assists members to improve their professional skills and seek guidance on a range of career choices.
Curious about the impact of our mentoring program? Discover firsthand experience testimonials from past participants.
- My experience with the ACS mentoring program was transformative through providing invaluable insights into workplace dynamics and cultural nuances in Perth.
- As a mentor, I had to be thorough with the advices and suggestions that I offered to my mentee, hence I have to be updated and informative on my areas in ICT. I see it as a positive impact in-terms of my own professional development.
- The ACS Mentoring Program enabled me to bridge the gap between my academic learning in Information Systems at university and the real-world requirements of the IT industry. This has given me a higher perspective and a head start in navigating my IT career. In particular, with the help of my mentor I was able to link data from the Digital Pulse 2023 report and relate it to my personal skill set and career ambitions.
- My mentor's willingness to share his knowledge and decades of experience in person stood out the most. The flexibility of discussing various topics and customizing the Q&A sessions to my learning style greatly enhanced the experience. I particularly valued the insights related to project management and MIS, which were extremely beneficial.
- A memorable moment in the program was during a project discussion where my mentor helped me draw parallels between architectural design and IT project management. This discussion illuminated how my past experience could be a unique asset in the IT field, bridging two seemingly different domains through project management principles.
- For those considering the ACS WA MEP, I suggest approaching the program with an eagerness to learn and an open mindset. Engaging actively with your mentor can unlock numerous opportunities and offer insights beyond ChatGPT. This can be a transformative experience in shaping your professional path in the IT industry.
Why should you consider participating in the ACS Mentoring Program?
Knowledge Sharing: Mentoring allows you to tap into the vast expertise and experiences of seasoned professionals within the ACS community. By participating in this program, you can gain insights, advice, and best practices from mentors who have successfully navigated their careers.
Skill Development: Mentoring provides an opportunity to hone your skills and develop new ones. Whether it's improving your communication abilities, enhancing your leadership skills, or refining your technical expertise, a mentor can guide you along the path to professional excellence.
Networking Opportunities: The ACS Mentoring Program facilitates valuable networking connections. Engaging with mentors or mentees from different backgrounds and areas of expertise expands your professional network, opening doors to new collaborations and career prospects.
Personal Growth: Beyond professional development, mentoring can have a profound impact on personal growth. Mentors can offer guidance on work-life balance, career choices, and overcoming obstacles, helping you navigate the challenges and triumphs of your professional journey.
Benefits to Mentees
The Mentoring Program is designed to support the mentee’s development path. Whether you are a recent graduate, a mid-career professional, or transitioning to a new field, a mentor can provide valuable insights and guidance to help you achieve your goals. Some of the benefits for mentees include:
- Being able to have an open and confidential career discussion in a neutral environment
- Learning from the expertise, experience, and wisdom of a seasoned information technology practitioner
- Having access to an impartial and objective third party to work through current information technology and career challenges
- Gaining new insights and different perspectives on issues
- Broadening your professional network
Benefits to Mentors
Mentors recognise the importance of developing the next generation of information technology professionals. By sharing their
knowledge and experiences, they can shape the future of the ACS community. They also benefit from the mentoring role by:
- Giving back to the profession by helping less experienced professionals improve their skills
- Reflecting on missteps and accomplishments to assist mentees in their development.
- Gaining new perspectives from your interactions with your mentee
- Recognition as a seasoned practitioner
- Development of mentoring skills
How it works
Mentors and mentees submit an application to participate in the program.
The ACS WA Mentoring team matches mentees and mentors according to their experience, career objectives and, where possible, work or home location provided in the participant's application.
All successful applicants are required to attend a briefing session that kicks off each intake. Once the matching has been completed, participants will receive an email with the details for the kick-off meeting.
Health check surveys are carried out by the mentoring program team during each intake to ensure that mentors and mentees expectations are being fulfilled, and to seek opportunities for improvement and feedback.
The mentoring intake ends with a close-out session. This is an opportunity to take stock of what was accomplished, learn from the experience and provide input so the next intake can be further enhanced.
Eligibility Requirements
Mentoring is a reciprocal relationship, where both mentors and mentees can learn and grow. Together, let's build a supportive community where knowledge, guidance, and success are shared.
The mentoring program mentors are ACS volunteers who offer their time and energy free of charge for the benefit of the mentees.
The program is exclusive to current financial ACS WA members. Professional Year members are not eligible to register as the Professional Year program is specifically designed as a job-readiness program that includes a work placement and mentoring component.
How can you get involved?
If you are interested in becoming a mentor, or finding a mentor through the ACS Mentoring Program, we encourage you to take the first step toward empowering your professional growth. The application process is simple and can be completed by clicking on the 'Apply to be a Mentee' or 'Apply to be a Mentor' buttons below.
We look forward to receiving your applications and witnessing the positive impact of the ACS Mentoring Program on our members' professional journeys.
If you have any questions about the ACS WA Mentoring Program, please contact the team at acs.wa@acs.org.au