[NEWSFLASH] Due to an overwhelming response from IT industry mentors - We are currently only accepting mentoring applications from female engineering mentors with roles in the Biomedical, Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics, Project Management, Manufacturing, Civil, Construction, Water and Environmental fields. Thank you.
Program Objective
'Lucy’ is an innovative longstanding program originally designed by the NSW Office for Women's Policy (Dept of Premier and Cabinet) to inspire, motivate and educate young women about the opportunities available for employment and leadership in the public and private sectors. At the University of Technology, Sydney the Lucy Mentoring Program focuses primarily on undergraduate women studying Engineering and Information Technology.
Program Objective
The Lucy Mentoring Program aims to:
- Communicate to women the diversity of opportunities available for them in the private and public sector and the personal advantages of achieving job satisfaction;
- Provide an opportunity for women to work with businesswomen, professional women and women of influence;
- Provide women, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, with access to a network of senior women in the private and public sectors; and
- Provide women with a Program which will encourage active decision making about their careers.
The Mentoring Relationship
Mentors are selected on the basis of their life and work experience in the private and public sectors and willingness to share their time, skills and workplace with a student. Mentors are generally mid-level and senior professionals who are recruited from the Engineering and Information technology sectors. In 2012 we had engineering and IT female Mentors from 26 different organisations in both the public and private sector.
Second and subsequent year female students are recruited from the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology at the University of Technology, Sydney through an Expression of Interest (EOI) process in March each year. Student applicants are asked to indicate their area of Engineering or Information Technology interest and these are matched as closely as possible with the mentor’s expertise.
Role of the Mentor
The role of the mentor is to inspire female University students to think about the range of work options available to them in the private and public sectors. The role of a ‘Lucy’ mentor in particular, is to use this opportunity to actively support these students seeking a career in the Engineering and Information Technology fields. The mentor will share knowledge and experience to equip the student to meet the challenges often experienced by women in their chosen industry.
Mentors and Organisations will benefit from:
- Networking with other women in senior positions in the public and private sectors,
- Knowing that their contribution will assist in the development of future women leaders in non-traditional fields,
- Knowing that they have contributed to the goal of increasing the numbers of women with potential to reach middle and senior management
- Providing a potential pathway of female talent into a workplace which may otherwise be lacking in gender diversity.
Mentor Commitments
Over a period of weeks, mentors and students work together on a small work related project while also attending some larger group sessions to meet and learn from other Program participants. The main components of the ‘Lucy’ Program during 2012 include:
The Launch / Introductory Session (15 May 2013, 6:00pm-8:00pm, Westpac 275 Kent Street, Sydney)Provides mentors and students with the opportunity to meet as a group, complete the Mentoring Agreement in the LUCY Manual and begin discussion about potential Work Based Activities.
The Work Based Activity (WBA, May - October 2013) totals 35 hours in the mentor’s workplace (e.g. this may comprise a series of half days or a block of time over a week). The WBA is a flexible arrangement which is organised to suit mentor-student commitments. It encourages an understanding of the challenges of working in the private or public sector. The mentor and student meet regularly throughout this period at agreed times.
The Debrief ( 1 & 2 August 2013)Is held mid way through the WBA. Students attend a Debrief session to discuss progress and issues related to the WBA. Mentors are contacted individually via phone for an update.
Final Session (October 2013, 5:30pm-8:00pm, Commonwealth Bank, Sydney CBD)Involves attending a formal presentation by students on their Work Based Activity, and the presentation of completion certificates. This event provides an opportunity to network with other participants and Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology staff.
Are You:
- A female UTS student within the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology?
- 2nd Year or higher?
- Studying a BEng, BEngSc, BScIT, BSc GameDev or BComp (including double degrees)?
- Interested in entering an industry workplace for 35 hours to be mentored by a successful female professional, between May and October or during a block session over your mid-year semester break?
Benefits
Apart from having the opportunity to be mentored by successful industry professionals in some of Australia’s largest workplaces, the Lucy Mentoring Program is a starting platform towards internship opportunities and future graduate programs. Industry is calling for more diversity and host mentoring organisations gain access to a pool of talented young women.
Student Application Procedure
Applications for the next round will open in February 2013 and close in April 2013.
After applying, you must send your academic transcript and your current resume (checked by UTS Careers Service) to Lucy[at]uts.edu.au with ‘Lucy Mentoring Program Applicant-First NAME, Last NAME’ in the subject line. If you have any questions about the Lucy Mentoring Program, please do not hesitate to contact Lucy Program Staff on (02) 9514 2602.
Mentor Application Procedure
After applying, you must send your academic transcript and your current resume (checked by UTS Careers Service) to Lucy[at]uts.edu.au with ‘Lucy Mentoring Program Applicant-First NAME, Last NAME’ in the subject line. If you have any questions about the Lucy Mentoring Program, please do not hesitate to contact Lucy Program Staff on (02) 9514 2602.
Mentor Application Procedure
Applications for 2013 Mentors are now OPEN. *Please note Expressions of Interest are currently being taken by Organisations interested in supplying female Engineering Mentors (any discipline) and IT Professionals for the Lucy Program in 2013. If you are interested in being added to the Lucy Program Mailing list, please send an email to Lucy[at]uts.edu.au with 'Lucy Mentoring Program' in the subject line. Alternatively you may download the Mentor Application Form (word document) here to distribute to your female employees/colleagues. You may also apply ONLINE. A digital copy of the Lucy Program Manual may be downloaded below.
Former Minister for Women, MP Jodi McKay talking about the Lucy Mentoring Program.
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