Are you a new volunteer manager who would like some extra support? Or do you have years of volunteer management wisdom you are bursting to share?

Great news: Volunteering Victoria has launched a brand new Mentoring Program for volunteer managers, and applications are now open.

Mentoring is a great way to receive one-on-one support from someone who has experienced the same challenges as you; and it’s also an affordable way to develop your professional skills.

As Volunteering Victoria points out:

“[Mentoring] is often helpful at key transition points in a mentee’s career such as starting a new job, expanding duties or taking on new challenges.”

First trialled six years ago as MentorMate – Volunteering Victoria has breathed new life into the mentor program with help from their Volunteer Managers Special Interest Group – a statewide group of professionals working for the advancement of volunteer management in Victoria.

Right now, Volunteering Victoria is seeking both mentees and mentors who demonstrate a commitment to strengthening the sector through one-to-one relationships to apply to join the program.

If you’re interested, there are a few criteria that both mentees and mentors need to meet:

• A minimum of two years experience in volunteer management for mentees, and a minimum of five years for prospective mentors;
• The ability to commit to the minimum time requirements of the mentoring program (6 x 90 minute meetings between April and November 2015);
• Current membership of Volunteering Victoria;
• An ability to demonstrate Volunteering Victoria’s values; and
• A willingness to sign the code of conduct.

If you want to take part, you can get more information by downloading an information kit from the Volunteering Victoria website.

Applications are open from now until the 27^th of February and you can apply to be a mentor via the website here – and to be a mentee here.

Successful applicants will be notified by March 18 and there will be a special workshop for both mentors and mentees on the 15^th of April.