The annual Mentor Me program connects mentees with mentors and guides participants through a structured mentoring experience. Participants have access to a pre-program workshop, an opening networking event, supporting resources, access to the UQPN Mentor Me community and ongoing guidance from the UQPN Mentor Me program team: Fiona Hennig and Julie Thompson. Participants will develop new skills, expand their professional network, and connect with peers beyond their organisational unit.
Applications for the 2026 Mentor Me program are NOW OPEN! Submit your expression of interest using the link below:
Please direct any queries to mentorme@uq.edu.au.
Personal satisfaction and purpose
- Helping your mentee grow and succeed is incredibly rewarding.
- Mentoring brings a sense of meaning; knowing you are making a difference, giving back to UQ community and leaving a positive legacy.
Strengthened leadership and management skills
- As a mentor, you refine how you give feedback, listen actively, and adapt your leadership style.
- Great practice for your team management and influence skills.
Fresh perspectives and commitment to continuing learning
- Mentees bring new ideas, tools, and generational insights.
- In a mentor role, you learn as much from the conversation as you share.
Grow and expand your professional and social network
- The Mentor Me program connects you with current UQPN mentors & mentees and the UQPN Mentor Me Alumni network.
- Joining our mentoring program opens doors for future collaboration and visibility beyond your organisational unit.
- You will make new friends for sure!
Boosted confidence and self-awareness
- Reflecting on your own career journey helps reinforce your expertise.
- Answering questions sharpens your own thinking and self-knowledge.
Professional development and recognition
- Mentoring demonstrates leadership and a commitment to your own professional development.
- You can include your mentorship experience in your annual performance review (APD); it demonstrates leadership and shows you are preparing for more senior roles.
Thoughts from our 2025 mentors
“Being a mentor helps you grow too—you learn a lot while helping someone else.”
“I was not sure I would be a valuable mentor, but it seems I had more to share than I thought! The experience was a good confidence booster.”
“We will never really know where a mentoring relationship will lead. Being open-minded and curious creates significant opportunities for growth.”
“You can make a meaningful difference to someone’s career and life by sharing your own experiences.”
Relevant advice and inspiration
Career progression opportunities
Enhanced self-confidence
Career guidance from someone who has walked the path
New skills and capabilities
A healthy dose of personal growth
Thoughts from our 2025 mentees
“As a new employee, it was an amazing experience, especially setting the career plan at UQ and developing the skills needed. I got heaps of encouragement to keep pursuing my career plan with confidence.”
“Thanks to my mentor, I now have a much clearer sense of the kind of roles I would like to move into in future, and the skills I need to develop in order to get there.”
“[My mentor] helped me feel more confident and helped me identify valuable skills that I have.”
“It was lovely to meet someone outside of my usual work bubble. My mentor helped me see the bigger picture of such a large organisation.”
Can anyone be a mentor?
Yes! If you’re passionate about helping others grow and can commit the time, you absolutely can be a mentor. Many mentees are new to UQ and simply want guidance in better understanding and navigating the organisation; your experience could make a real difference. Check out the benefits of becoming a mentor in the tab ‘What’s in it for you as a mentor?’ if you still have doubts!
Do I receive any training?
Yes. All 2026 mentors will be invited to a pre-program workshop developed by a specialist in organisational culture and capability. This session will guide you on how to begin building a strong mentoring relationship. The workshop is scheduled for mid to late April 2026 and will be held over a lunchbreak period. Invitations will be emailed to mentors shortly after acceptance into the program.
What am I expected to do?
Mentors are asked to provide at least one hour of support per month, but you and your mentee can decide what schedule works best for both of you.
Most mentoring interactions occur via email, MS Teams chats, or meetings: in person or online, depending on your preferences.
You’ll be matched with your mentee based on your expertise and their selected development areas. In your first meeting, your mentee will also share a specific goal they’d like to work on during the program.
A summary of mentor and mentee expectations will be shared during the Opening Event, scheduled for late April 2026.
How long is the commitment?
The Mentor Me program runs for three months, and we ask mentors to engage for the full duration. This ensures your mentee has the opportunity to gain real value from the relationship.
We invite mentors to attend the opening and closing events, and we ask that you meet with your mentee at least three times during the three months. Mentors and mentees are encouraged to adopt a meeting rhythm that works best for both of you. You’re also welcome to continue the connection beyond the formal close of the program.
How does the matching process work?
Based on your profile and the mentee applications, the mentoring platform will suggest the best match for you.
You’ll be notified of your assigned mentee in late April 2026, before the Opening Event. Mentors and mentees will first meet at the Opening Event.
How can I influence the matching process?
While the platform handles most of the matching based on areas of expertise and mentee development needs, we guarantee that your mentee will come from a different organisational unit than yours.
Tip! If you'd prefer to be paired with a staff member who is new to UQ, consider selecting “understanding and navigating the organisation” as your area of expertise on your application form.
Mentor DO's
Commit to at least 1 hour of support and engagement per month.
Take responsibility to initiate the relationship.
Set aside time for the mentoring process and honour all appointments.
Invite the Mentee to meetings or activities, as appropriate. Schedule meetings with planned topics.
Be flexible on meeting times and places.
Arrange frequent contact through Teams or face-to-face, as appropriate.
Respond to messages from your Mentee ideally within 2 days of receipt.
Keep information that your Mentee has shared with you confidential. If something concerning the Mentee needs to be discussed with others, it should first be discussed within the mentoring relationship.
Establish open and honest communication and a forum for idea exchange.
Foster creativity and independence. Help build self-confidence and offer encouragement.
Provide honest and timely feedback to your Mentee.
Provide opportunities for the Mentee to talk about concerns and ask questions.
Above all, LISTEN.
Mentor DON'Ts
Try to give advice on everything.
Encourage the Mentee to be dependent upon you.
Provide your personal history, problems, animosities, successes, failures, etc, unless they are constructive contributions.
Be too busy when the Mentee needs your friendship or your support. If you do not have time, give the Mentee a heads up, so that they know when they can reach you.
Criticise.
Can I apply for the 2026 Mentor Me program?
Yes! Current UQPN members are welcome to apply for each new edition of the Mentor Me program.
Not a UQPN member yet? Learn how to join the UQPN network before submitting your mentoring application.
Can I apply to be both a mentee and a mentor?
Yes, absolutely. If you’re interested in participating in both roles, please make this selection when submitting your EOI. Bonus: By joining as a mentor, you also help grow the pool of available mentors, increasing the chances of finding a great match for yourself.
Do I choose my mentor?
Not directly. After submitting your EOI, you will be asked to complete your profile on the Mentor Me platform (Chronus), including:
- the skills you would like to develop (choose up to three from the list below)
- your career goals
- what you hope to gain from participating in the program.
Based on your profile and the available mentor pool, the platform will suggest the best match for you. You’ll be notified of the outcome of your application and your mentor match in late April 2026, before the Opening Event. Mentors and mentees will first meet at the Opening Event.
Important note: While we aim to match all mentees with a mentor, unfortunately, we cannot guarantee a match for all applicants. Mentee places are limited.
What if I’m not sure what I want to be mentored on?
No problem! The application form includes prompts to help you reflect on your mentoring goals. You’ll also be asked to select up to three skills you’d like to develop from the following list:
- Adaptability
- Analytical thinking
- Building and retaining relationships
- Communicating effectively
- Conflict resolution
- Continuous improvement
- Courage and confidence in speaking up
- Decision making
- Developing others
- Emotional intelligence
- Improving processes
- Innovation
- Leadership
- Managing change
- Managing diversity and inclusion
- Managing politics
- Managing up
- Motivating and inspiring teams
- Negotiation
- Planning and execution
- Project management
- Problem solving
- Risk management
- Strategic planning
- Understanding and navigating the organisation
Tip! If you are new to UQ, consider selecting broader skills such as “understanding and navigating the organisation.”
How long will mentors be available?
We ask mentors to commit to the program for at least three months to ensure a meaningful mentoring experience. However, we know from previous editions that many mentoring relationships continue beyond the program's duration.
What if my mentor and I aren’t a good fit?
It happens! Like any relationship, mentoring doesn’t always click. If you experience issues, just reach out to the Mentor Me Program Team; we are here to help.
Do I receive any training?
Yes. All 2026 mentees will be invited to a pre-program workshop facilitated by a professional in coaching and goal-setting. This session will guide you on how to get the most from your mentorship relationship.
The workshop is scheduled for mid to late April 2026 and will be held over a lunchbreak period. Invitations will be emailed to mentees shortly after acceptance into the program.
A summary of mentor and mentee expectations will be shared during the Opening Event scheduled for late April 2026.
Mentee DO's
Take a proactive role in shaping the relationship
Understand what you want from the professional mentoring relationship and communicate your goals and aspirations to your Mentor.
Set aside time for the mentoring process and keep all scheduled appointments with your Mentor and display professional behaviour.
Put your time with your mentor to good use. Come to meetings prepared with planned topics, questions and insights.
Respond promptly to your Mentor's feedback. Respond to messages from your Mentor ideally within two days of receipt.
Be open and honest with your Mentor about your challenges and weaknesses; they can help you best if they know where you struggle and are there to help you
If something concerning the Mentor needs to be discussed with others, always try to address it with your Mentor first. If that doesn’t work, reach out to the Mentor Me Project Team.
Mentee DON'Ts
Ask for advice on everything. Have a purpose in each request.
Blame the Mentor if their advice doesn't work out.
Expect the Mentor to know all the answers.
Commit yourself to obligations you cannot keep.
Cancel meetings/visits with your Mentor at the very last minute (unless unavoidable).