ASA Mentor Scheme
The ASA Council invites and encourages all members to participate in the Mentor Scheme during 2007. The next program of the Mentor Scheme is scheduled to commence in January 2007 and will formally operate for a 12 month period. Nominations to participate are now being sought.
The aim of the Mentor Scheme is to encourage archivists to be active professionals. The Scheme offers a partnership where both parties can benefit.
Subject to the availability of mentors the Mentor Scheme matches participants based on areas of interest, work environment and experience and geographic location. If mentors are not immediately available a request for volunteers will be made via the Aus-Archivists listserv, ASA Branches and Special Interest Groups (SIGs). If there is no suitable mentor a match will not be made until a suitable mentor is identified.
Benefits described by Mentees include:
- advice from an experienced archivist
- opportunity for informal discussion of professional matters
- opportunity to meet other archivists
- establish informal networks
- increase knowledge and skills
- professional development
- experience of another workplace and a different perspective
Benefits described by Mentors include:
- satisfaction from offering support to another archivist, contributing to the development of the profession and contributing to another person's development
- the opportunity to receive feedback from another professional when offering training advice, to develop your own knowledge and contribute to your own development
- increased informal networks
- the opportunity for mutual exchange of ideas and information and an opportunity for reflection and discussion with a fellow professional
- improved ability to share experience and knowledge
Objectives and Roles
The objectives will vary depending on the individual mentor/mentee partnership. In general the Mentor Scheme has the following objectives:
1. To discuss career options
2. To facilitate contacts/networks
3. To overcome isolation (e.g. geographical or sole archivists)
4. To enrich understanding of the breadth of the profession
5. To increase confidence
6. To learn about roles of the ASA
The role of Mentors is to:
- listen and provide feedback, give information on different workplaces, describe what work involves practically, arrange visits and introductions and refer the mentee to relevant reading
- introduce the mentee to colleagues at a branch meeting, refer them to SIGs of interest, encourage them to attend ASA social functions, and introduce the mentee to relevant listservs
- inform mentee of educational opportunities such as workshops, conferences etc. and encourage participation, and give a reasonable level of technical advice
- encourage mentee to write for journals/newsletters, assist with workshops, visit the mentee's workplace and encourage mentee to give a tour for an ASA meeting, and encourage nomination for positions in the ASA
- explain the various roles of the branches, SIGs and Council, mention the ASA Members' Handbook, explain the role of the ICA and refer to relevant internet sites
It is not the mentor's role to:
- find the mentee a job or give careers counselling
- arrange the mentee's social life, give personal counselling or assertiveness training
- give continuous advice on how to do a job e.g. daily telephone calls, supervision
- force a mentee to be an ASA office bearer
The role of Mentees is to:
- request guidance about your professional development, education and training opportunities
- request information about the ASA and opportunities for further involvement in the ASA
If you are interested in becoming a mentor and/or mentee please complete the Nomination Form and forward it to:
jenni.davidson@naa.gov.au
fiona.burn@naa.gov.au