The Committee for Melbourne is a private, not for profit, non political network of leaders drawn from major corporations, institutions and organisations across Melbourne’s business, scientific, academic and community sectors. The Committee for Melbourne works with government, business and the broader community to champion ideas to enhance Melbourne. The Future Focus Group is an intensive, two year, young leadership program run by the Committee for Melbourne. Through the Future Focus Group program, individuals are asked to form syndicates with others and develop a project that will improve Melbourne.
This is our project and our syndicate leaders are as listed on the front page. Further information on our syndicate leaders is included in Section 6.
‘Opening Doors – Engaging Melbourne’s Skilled Migrants’ is a mentoring program designed to assist skilled migrants in their efforts to secure employment by increasing their professional networks and understanding of work life in Melbourne.
The program is based on a ‘buddy’ system where regular meetings take place between the skilled migrant and a ‘buddy’ mentor from a similar profession. The ‘buddy’ mentor will provide advice and information on relevant topics and issues in regard to their profession and will introduce the skilled migrant to key networks and associations.
The program will also provide an opportunity for Melbourne’s professionals to learn about work life in other countries as well as skilled migrants' settlement experiences.
The program has been established by Dr Melissa Permezel, Ms Angela Schooneman, Ms Melissa Reynolds and Mr Stuart Weir who are participants in the Committee for Melbourne’s Future Focus Group program (www.melbourne.org.au).
The program has two key aims:
(a) to provide mentoring, support, advice and where possible, work experience opportunities, to newly arrived skilled migrants to strengthen their capacity to participate in Melbourne’s work and community life
(b) to provide leaders of the future with opportunities to engage and share experiences with similarly skilled people from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds, to encourage an understanding of differences and the value of diversity in order to enhance their own abilities, businesses and contributions to Melbourne.
The initial phase of the program is to conduct a pilot project which:
• provides mentoring support to newly arrived skilled migrants
• provides mentoring opportunities to professionals from a range of industry backgrounds
• provides an opportunity to test the program concepts as a prerequisite for a more substantial program
• provides a vehicle to establish the degree of broader interest in the program to secure long term funding and a greater mentor base.
In the long term, the syndicate aims to:
• have a well recognised, efficient, effective and sustainable skilled migrant mentoring and engagement program supported by a diverse range of organisations across Melbourne
• be recognised by all levels of government and promoted in the diversity management literature, websites and associated programs as a key opportunity for skilled migrants and a positive program through which cultural exchange occurs.
The program provides a mentoring opportunity to a 'skilled migrant' on a one on one basis involving some or all of the following activities over a 4 month period:
(a) regular fortnightly meetings with a mentor to discuss a range of issues, including the mentee's profession, work life in Melbourne, the range of professional networks, how best to market skills and experiences in a CV or job interview context etc
(b) a tour of the mentor’s workplace
(c) an invitation to attend a professional development function or industry seminar
(d) an invitation to a work related social event
(e) discussion of any work experience opportunities within the mentor’s company or an associated firm.
The program also provides support for both the mentor and mentee through:
(a) cross cultural training and discussion of the role of a mentor and mentee
(b) clear guidelines about roles and responsibilities
(c) ongoing support throughout the period of the program.
For 4 months. This time frame is the minimum required to establish the working relationship and trust desired for a successful mentor/ mentee partnership. It is recommended that over these 4 months, fortnightly 1-2 hour meetings at the mentor’s workplace be held, unless otherwise specified.