STUDENT INFORMATION

 

Would you like to connect with someone from your industry, ask questions about what they do, how they landed their career, and seek advice on how and where you should start yours?

The Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences (FVAS) graduate mentoring program connects graduate students enrolled in the Master of Agricultural Sciences, Food Science and Food Packaging and Innovation with experienced mentors from a range of industries. The primary objectives of the FVAS graduate mentoring program are to provide:

  • Students with the opportunity to develop a greater understanding of the Australian agricultural sector through connecting with industry experts
  • Professionals with the opportunity to mentor skilled and enthusiastic graduate students by fostering the development of their industry knowledge.

Throughout the program the Faculty will:

  • Support students and mentors and be available to discuss any questions or concerns that arise 
  • Seek feedback from students and mentors regarding the success of this initiative at the end of each year

Benefits to mentees

Being mentored is a powerful tool for you to make connections and receive guidance to help enhance your employment outcomes. Through workshops and one-to-one meetings, students participating in the program can increase their professional networks, understand work and learning experiences in practice, and work with their mentor to help identify and develop a career strategy post-study.

Mentoring is a great way to:

  • Find out about alternative career paths and options post-study, and also broaden your horizons to explore new opportunities
  • Gain confidence and a career direction
  • Learn from a professional about how to successfully adjust to the working world
  • Develop your career plan and align your goals to your values
  • Increase your confidence in networking and your professional communication skills
  • Improve your chances of securing a job or graduate admission by developing a professional CV and practicing your interviewing technique
 

Expectations

 

Students applying to participate in this program should be willing to commit to the program until the end of Semester 2. During the program you are expected to:

  • Take responsibility for identifying and achieving your own development goals
  • Listen, clarify and reflect back
  • Commit to the mentoring process, including agreed meetings and time commitments
  • Initiate meetings with your mentor, manage meeting dates and times and set the agenda for the partnership
  • Be open to and appreciate different perspectives
  • Learn how to find your own solutions
  • Be prepared to be challenged and take opportunities presented by your mentor
  • Respect confidences

Eligibility


To apply, students must be:
  • Enrolled in the Master of Agricultural Science, Master of Food Science or Master of Food and Packaging Innovation and, 
  • Be in their final year of study (ie. intending to graduate at the end of 2022, or mid-2023) and, 
  • Have a weighted average mark (WAM) of at least 65% across subjects undertaken in the degree program.

Participation numbers may be limited to the number of mentors that are available. Applications will be assessed on a variety of criteria including; response to the application questions, WAM and suitability to the available mentors. Not all applications will be successful, and this will be at the discretion of the FVAS Mentoring Team.