Become a Mentor

We are inviting enthusiastic and dedicated staff members that are Advance HE Fellows to contribute to the Advance HE Fellowship Success Program (previously known as the Western Educational Fellowship Scheme - WEFS) through their valuable expertise as mentors.

Contact Learning and Teaching with any queries or register your interest.

More about becoming a mentor

What are the benefits of being a mentor?

  • Contribution to and growth of communities of practice committed to enhanced teaching quality and recognition through professional learning.
  • Exposure to new and diverse perspectives on reflective teaching practice.
  • Evidencing teaching practice that supports teaching awards, promotions, publications or grant applications.
  • Leadership skills development.
  • Growth of professional confidence and fulfilment.

What support is provided?

  • Orientation Session with a live Q&A (recording will be available)
  • Attending a mandatory mentor training session and/or completing mentoring activities/reviewing resources before mentoring groups (2 hours total)
  • Mandatory training for mentorship in the Advance HE Success Program
  • Documents/resources to support you as a mentor and provide structure and guidance to your mentoring sessions and mentee applications’ progression
  • Mentor drop-in sessions to connect with other mentors and share best practices and discuss challenges
  • A timeline of the Round which includes key dates and recommendations to keep your mentoring on track
  • Mentor-Mentee Progress Template
  • Advance HE Resources for PSF 2023
  • Mock Calibration Sessions with Advance HE (depending on schedule and timing)

What other support is provided for mentees?

  • Information session and orientation session
  • Understanding the PSF 2023 Framework
  • Training for Mentees
  • Writing Sessions (grouped as D1 & D2, and D3 & D4)
  • Drop in and Q&A sessions

Round 7 (2025) commitment and timeline

DateActivityDuration
May Attend the Advance HE Fellowship Success Program orientation session (or watching the recording) 2 hours
May Attend a mandatory mentor training session and/or completing mentoring activities/reviewing resources before mentoring groups 2 hours
May-June Review mentor resources such as the PSF 2023 and the application guides for relevant descriptors to conduct mentorship [please note: PSF 2023 Framework has new application guidance available which is different to the PSF 2011 Framework] 3-5 hours
June-October Mentor a small group of applicants (maximum four) through the Advance HE Fellowship application process. We recommend at least four meetings with your mentee group across the program*. Some mentees may request additional time from you; however, this will be at your discretion and shall be transparently communicated to mentees in the beginning 6-10 hours depending on group size and mentor-mentee agreements
July, August
September  		Three Mentor-specific drop-in sessions with Learning and Teaching to discuss ongoing best practices and challenges within mentor-mentee groups and suggestions to continually improve the program. 3 hours
TBC Participate in a Mock Calibration Process to review drafts or portions of application draft(s) within or external to your mentees group. 1-2 hours

Thank you to our mentors

Across the rounds, we are grateful to the following colleagues that have provided Fellowship mentoring of our Western staff:

Colleagues at Western:

  • Neha Deo, Dr Neil Perry, Dr Jess Richards (Business)
  • Sarah Jones, A/Prof Rodrigo Neves Calheiros (Computer, Data and Mathematical Sciences)
  • Dr John Ley, Dr Erin Mackenzie (Education)
  • A/Prof Surendra Shrestha, Dr Brendan Kirkland, Dr Mauricio Nonoa Munoz, Zuhaib Siddiqui (Engineering, Design and Built Environment)
  • Dr Clarice Tang (Health Sciences)
  • Dr Roger Dawkins, Dr Nicole Bridges, A/Prof Brett Bennett, Julie Lim, Daniel Portelli (Humanities and Communication Arts)
  • Joh Wodak (Institute for Culture and Society)
  • A/Prof Brahm Marjadi, Dr Jerry Zhou, Dr Sowbhagya Micheal, Poonam Mudgil (Medicine)
  • Prof Jane Frost, Dr Hazel Keedle, A/Prof Olayide Ogunsiji, Dr Kate O'Reilly (Nursing and Midwifery)
  • Dr Chris Jones, A/Prof Julie Old (Science)
  • Dr Jenna Condie (Social Sciences)
  • Lorraine Basson, Akther Sherman (The College)
  • Dr Claire Urbach (The Library)
  • A/Prof Jo Chuck, Xinni Du, Marlene Henry, Hermy Llacuna, Caroline Lunt, Dr Glenn Mason, Dr Angie Nguyen, A/Prof Tai Peseta, David Roach, Dr Carol Russell, Gina Saliba, Dr Gavin Smith, Dr Jen Tindale (Division of Education)
  • Dr Nicolene Murdoch (Division of Research, Enterprise and Global)

Colleagues at other universities:

  • A/Prof Amani Bell, Dr Kate Thomson, Dr Melinda Hayes and Dr Belinda Judd (The University of Sydney)
  • Dr Bonnie Dean (University of Wollongong)
  • Dr Vanessa Fredericks (Australian Catholic University)
  • Dr Valeria Pashkova (Victoria University)

If you are currently a Western Fellow and would like the opportunity to give back to the program through mentoring please get in touch and we will contact you about the next step.