Academic Mentoring for Women Program (AMW)

The Academic Mentoring for Women* (AMW) program commenced at the University of Adelaide in 2024. More than forty mentor/mentee pairs were supported through the inaugural AMW program, with participants from all three faculties. 

*Identify as a woman or gender diverse

Aims

The aims of the AMW program are to:

  1. empower academic staff who identify as women to progress towards career fulfilment,
  2. support women to identify and clarify their career aspirations and goals,
  3. equip the participants with skills and strategies to steer their career in the direction of their choice,
  4. support participants to navigate personal and institutional barriers preventing career progression and satisfaction, as well as providing collective evidence to inform new organisational initiatives,
  5. to support mutually beneficial mentoring relationships to assist career development, and progress towards an inclusive and supportive workplace culture for all academic staff.

The program

  • Foundation workshop (3 hours)

    Date: Friday 21 February 2025
    Time: 10.00 am - 1.30 pm
    Location: Schulz Building 214/218, North Terrace Campus

    The first 1.5 hours combines mentors and mentees, with a further 1.5 hours for mentees only. Includes a 30 min break for catering and networking.

    First 1.5 hours (all participants)

    • Why mentoring? Individual reflection on purpose of Program participation. 
    • Mentoring roles: understanding the different roles mentors can play. 
    • Mentoring skills: reflecting on own communication strengths and tendencies, and practising the communication skills that underpin an effective mentoring relationship. 
    • Exploring the impact of the dominant culture, gender stereotyping and gender dynamics in the workplace on career progression and experiences. 

    Second 1.5 hours (mentees only)

    • Individual and group reflection on individual approach to career navigation thus far. 
    • Identifying personal and professional aims and aspirations for the Program. 
    • Identifying mindsets and actions required to make the most of the Program experience. 
    • Responsibilities of mentee in driving mentoring relationship. 

  • Mid-year workshop (1.5 hours)

    Date: Monday 21 July 2025
    Time: 10.00 am - 11.30 am
    Location: Union House Function Room 2, North Terrace Campus

    This session provides an opportunity to discuss the mentoring program so far, re-evaluate mentoring goals, and workshop strategies to address specific barriers to career progression and fulfilment.

  • Completion workshop (2 hours)

    Date: Monday 24 November 2025
    Time: 10.00 am - 12.00 pm
    Location: Union House Function Room 2, North Terrace Campus

    The first hour is for mentees only; the second hour is for both mentees and mentors. 

    First hour (mentees only)

    • Reflect on learnings, actions taken and skills developed as a result of Program participation. 
    • Begin to craft an ongoing Development/Action Plan to maintain progress, deepen learnings

    Second hour (all participants)

    • Share individual learnings (both mentors and mentees) - particularly in relation to gender-based obstacles and challenges to career fulfilment/progression - and celebrate diverse successes. 
    • Gather collated/anonymised feedback about obstacles to career progression and fulfilment for academic women. This information will be used to inform future initiatives for Adelaide University, and refine the AMW program.

Eligibility

  • Mentees

    Eligibility to participate as an AMW mentee:

    • Level A-C academic staff member on a fixed term or ongoing contract (employed until at least 31 December 2025) at the University of Adelaide/Adelaide University who identifies as a woman or gender diverse. We welcome applications from all campuses and will do our very best to find mentors for all those who are accepted into the 2025 program.
    • Available to undertake the mentoring program between March and November 2025.
    • Willingness to attend all in-person sessions (preference will be given to participants able to attend the Foundation Workshop).

    Apply now

  • Mentors

    Eligibility to participate as a mentor:

    • Any gender
    • Level C-E academic staff member on a fixed term or ongoing contract (employed until at least 31 December 2025) at the University of Adelaide/Adelaide University.
    • Available to engage in mentoring between March and November 2025.
    • Willingness to attend all in-person sessions (preference will be given to participants able to attend the Foundation Workshop). 

    Apply now

How to apply

Applications for mentors and mentees are open from Monday 20 January 2025 and approximately 30 of each will be accepted. 

Applications close on Friday 7 February 2025.

As part of the application process, mentees can identify up to two people they would prefer not to be matched with, as well as any preferences around the gender of their mentor (this information will remain confidential).

Mentee application form

Mentor application form

Anna Lee

Facilitator

Workshops are facilitated by Anna Lee from Leed Consulting and Hacks for Her. 

Anna has extensive experience in supporting women to navigate their careers in complex and fast-changing environments.

While she knows that social and cultural change are key to diminishing the role of gender in career identity, opportunity, experience and trajectory, she also believes that equipping women with the skills to navigate workplaces that were designed for and by men is both pragmatic and necessary.