• Often there is no support person around outside the immediate family or work environment.
• Farmers can get bogged down in the day to day activities without standing back and taking a look at the bigger picture.
• Farming can be lonely in an isolated environment

The mentee receives support and encouragement, whilst the mentor gains personal satisfaction and fulfillment from supporting others in the industry.

We believe that this kind of relationship has positive spin-offs for the industry as a whole, creating industry leaders and longevity in people who are enthusiastic and passionate about the industry.

BEING A MENTOR

Mentors are experienced people who act as role models, challengers, guides or cheer leaders. They offer support, knowledge and experience in a specific area and generally motivate, challenge and reassure the mentee. Mentors can offer mentees an insight into their successful farming career.

A mentor is required to:

• Provide a listening ear
• Have empathy for others
• Offer support and guidance
• Encourage and motivate
• Act as a sounding board
• Commit time to the relationship
• Treat all information in a confidential manner

Benefits include:

• Satisfaction of assisting another farmer to grow their business.
• Developing skills and knowledge.
• Widening one's network through the mentees and interaction with other mentors.
• Opportunity to share their knowledge, experience and skills with colleagues
• Opportunity to contribute to the industry
• Build leadership skills.
• Mentor training

BEING A MENTEE

You might be seeking a mentor because you:

• Are new to a working environment.
• Have no one to talk about your work or business.
• Are looking for a change.
• Are wanting to upskill knowledge and practical experience.
• Feel there may be something specific missing in your business.
• May be stressed, require assistance in goal setting, self appraisal or decision making.
• Are having conflicts and needing problem resolution skills.

To gain maximum benefit from the programme you need to be willing to:

• Share openly with your mentor
• Identify your expectations of relationship
• Be motivated to develop your career or business and take ownership of it
• Be open to receiving feedback and suggestions
• Be willing to accept challenges
• Be committed to working through issues
• Disclose frustrations and concerns

WHAT IS THE COST?

There is no monetary cost to be part of the programme but you do need to be able to commit some time. How you plan your regular meetings needs to be mutally agreed to. A recommendation is 1-3 hours a month.

CONFIDENTIALITY

An agreement between the mentor and mentee is signed at the start. All information divulged and given shall be confidential to the relationship.

WHAT TO DO NOW?

To join the scheme, an application form needs to be filled in. These can be obtained by contacting the programme co-ordinator or download and print out from here. Please click on the links below and save to your computer.

The completed form is to be returned to the co-ordinator.

Training in being a mentor or a mentee is offered as part of the scheme. For any more information contact the co-ordinator.

Download forms:
Application to be a Mentor
Application to be a Mentee

• Sally Lee - Co-ordinator Sheep and Beef Pilot and National Project.
• James Allen - Co-ordinator Dairy Pilot.