BPW Australia officially
established its national mentoring program
in 2006. A national taskforce on mentoring
was established to guide Australian BPW
Clubs in the set up of their own individual
mentoring programs throughout the country.
Between June 2006,
and July 2007, BPW Australia made available
to all of its clubs, three mentoring packages:
“Introduction to Mentoring”,
“Effective Communication”, and
” New Member Mentoring and Succession
Mentoring”. Several states have held
workshop presentations at their BPW State
Conferences on the subject of mentoring
and mentoring is now on the agenda of every
Australian BPW Conference. Clubs Australia-wide
are being encouraged to appoint a mentoring
coordinator. Once this is achieved, mentoring
will be on the agenda at every club meeting
around Australia.
August 2007 was the
inaugural “Mentoring for Success”
month Australia-wide. Clubs held mentoring
events across the country which provided
valuable feedback.
BPW
Geelong’s mentoring
program has a 17-year history and has a
community mentoring program which focuses
on high school students, school leavers,
and single mothers. In 2006, the mentoring
program turned toward targeting its own
BPW members.
BPW Geelong’s
mentoring program focuses on empowering
members, increasing membership, and building
a strong community profile. The aim of the
mentoring program is to develop the leadership
potential of its members and non-members.
BPW Parramatta
has become involved with the Western Sydney
Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC)
Young Women’s Leadership Program,
a community-based project developed in response
to the number of young women in leadership
and decision-making positions within the
community. By involving itself with this
community-based program, BPW Parramatta
is increasing its community profile, and
hopes to attract new members. BPW Parramatta
has also made a commitment to establish
its own internal mentoring program for the
purposes of new member mentoring and succession
planning, to ensure the ongoing success
of the club.
BPW Maitland
has developed the Maitland “’Step
Up’ High School Mentoring Program”
to mentor female students in order to build
their confidence and knowledge so they will
further their education, careers and community
involvement.
Each of these clubs
have attracted new members specifically
due to the added benefits provided by their
individual mentoring programs. The profile
of BPW in Australia is being raised with
mentoring programs around the nation.
www.bpw.com.au
|
President
Margaret Tipper uses the whiteboard,
while new member Grace Bertolla (foreground),
is deep in thought. |
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BPW
Parramatta & the Greater West
held a special planning meeting to
work out a strategy for the Mentoring
Programme. Pictured clockwise from
top are; Past President Julie Stuart,
life member Doreen Smith and new member
Grace Bertolla (back to the camera).
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A
meeting of the minds (clockwise from
left) - Shaun Summers of the Mentoring
Taskforce; Jasmyn Mumme BPWA VPIP;
Marilyn Forsythe Past President of
BPW NSW and another BPW member. |
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