How our mentoring program is building close and respectful relationships

During National Reconciliation Week 2020, we’ll be profiling some of the great projects across Transport that are working in partnership with Aboriginal communities.

In 2016, Principal Opal Trainer Mark Champley was a mentee in Transport’s inaugural Aboriginal Career Development and Mentoring Program. Four years on, and around 70 graduates later, he’s an Associate for Diversity and Inclusion, helping to develop Transport’s fifth program.

Mark explains that as well as supporting the growth and careers of Aboriginal people at Transport, the program is creating unique opportunities for mentors to develop greater cultural understanding of Aboriginal culture, protocols and beliefs.

How did the mentoring program start?

The idea was to bring aspiring Aboriginal leaders from across the cluster together with senior leaders, to help them to develop their careers through a structured mentoring program. We had 16 people in the first workshop, where the mentors and mentees met each other, and then met regularly over three months, to set goals, and identify and work on strengths and weaknesses. The model has been refined since then and we’ve now run four programs.

Who can be a mentee, or mentor?

We’ve had project officers, train drivers, station staff, a bus driver – mentees come from right across Transport. And a mentor can really be anyone who has a genuine interest in sharing their own career journey and supporting a colleague. How has the program changed over time? One of the early changes that we introduced was the idea of a commitment contract (which came from a colleague, Jacqueline Linke) – so that mentor and mentee could meet one-on-one first, decide if they could work together, and then commit to a partnership for the program. That’s proved to be very effective in developing shared expectations and building strong relationships.

What’s been the biggest benefit of the program?

One of the biggest benefits that we didn’t originally plan for, has been what I’d call reverse mentoring – the way that Aboriginal people have been able to share their culture, stories and ideas with their non-Aboriginal colleagues. The program offers multiple opportunities to extend cultural experience through storytelling, visiting community, attending screenings of aboriginal films, and attending Aboriginal events.

For instance, I took my own mentor to an Aboriginal community meeting, which was a completely new experience for him. He’s left the business now, but we stay in touch, and he’ll sometimes ask my advice about issues that relate to Aboriginal people. For the fourth program, a number of the mentors went along to a boot camp run by a local Aboriginal charity group called Tribal Warrior, and ended up taking part in a yarning circle. So the influence definitely flows both ways and the shared experience helps both sides build close and respectful relationships.

How would you describe the program’s results?

Of the close to 70 people who have been mentees in the program, a third of them are now in more senior roles. There’s also lots of anecdotal evidence to tell us that it’s a positive influence. For instance, for one program, mentors and mentees went to a breakfast hosted by Elizabeth Mildwater (Deputy Secretary Greater Sydney). Apparently her message about courage and following your heart inspired one mentee to go back to her manager and accept a role that she’d previously declined, because she didn’t think she could do it.

What’s next for the program?

We’re planning another program later this year and hoping to have some of our earlier mentees back to act as mentors. It’s a fantastic program so I’d really encourage people to get involved.

The next cohort of the Aboriginal Career Development and Mentoring Program is planned for later in 2020. To express your interest or to find out more, please contact mark.champley@transport.nsw.gov.au

Tribal Warrior bootcamp session, with Transport mentors and mentees

Back Row L to R – Mentor Olga Krikelis (Sydney Metro), Mentee Natalie Carr Mundine (Sydney trains), Mentor Sudath Amaratunga (TfNSW), Mentor Christine Lithgow (TfNSW), Mentor Jacqueline Linke (TfNSW), Mentor Glenn Johnston (Group Rail), Mark Champley (TfNSW) Front Row L to R Mentee Thomas Kelly (Sydney Trains now Sydney Metro) Mentee Jinaya Walford (TfNSW)

Tribal Warrior bootcamp session held at the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence Redfern, with Transport mentors and mentees