Students Mentoring Staff
Program Overview
Connecting Equity Students and Staff
The Students Mentoring Staff program supports students and staff to form meaningful one-to-one relationships where the student is recognised as the expert in what it’s like to be a Deakin student.
The Office of the Dean of Students has several key initiatives aimed at improving the student experience for students with a disability, medical or mental health condition. The Students Mentoring Staff program is an opportunity for staff members to directly engage with the student experience. We invite all Deakin staff members to express their interest in participating.
Expressions of interest are now open for T1 2025 Students Mentoring Staff program.
How the program works
The Students Mentoring Staff program matches students with a disability, medical or mental health condition to a staff member at Deakin University in a 1:1 relationship. Staff mentees are mentored by their matched student to better understand life as a Deakin student, and work through feedback and guidance on how they can better support students in their role.
The program stipulates a minimum of three, and up to five 1-hour online meetings between the staff member and student. Students are recognised for their important role in support equity and staff development by receiving a $50 gift voucher for each of the three meetings ($150 in total). Students and staff have the option to be matched with a staff member outside of their immediate course or area of study, to ensure confidentiality.
The Office of the Dean of Students sends staff mentees optional activities or topics to follow during the meetings, or staff can use these meetings to discuss topics that are of interest to them, for example:
- Showing the student mentor learning materials, such as PowerPoints and rubrics and asking for feedback;
- Asking for student guidance on a scholarship of teaching and learning research idea (e.g., research topic or interview protocol);
- Discussing issues or challenges the staff may be facing with student accessibility or engagement.
After each meeting, we also ask staff mentees to complete a mandatory post-mentoring form, where they can share with us their reflections from the meeting and any feedback they’d like to pass along. All feedback will be collated into our annual student voices summary.
ADCET Accessibility in Action Award
We are thrilled to announce that our Equity-First Students as Partners: Students Mentoring Staff program has been honoured with the prestigious 2024 Accessibility in Action Award from the Australian Disability Clearinghouse on Education and Training (ADCET). This award celebrates our commitment to creating an inclusive and supportive environment for all students and staff at Deakin University.
Receiving this award is a testament to the hard work and commitment of our student and staff partners. It acknowledges the innovative approach we take to inclusivity and the positive impact it has on our university culture. We are deeply grateful to ADCET for this recognition and to our students and staff for their continuous support and collaboration.
Student and Staff Testimonials
In 2023 we were proud to welcome 85 student mentors and staff mentees to the program. Students delivered 173 meetings with their staff mentors over Trimester 1 or 2.
Ryan Summers (Bachelor of Psychological Science) and Brianna Laird (Bachelor of Cyber Security) successfully participated as student mentors in Trimester 1 2023. Hear about their experiences and the advice they have for future students and staff in the program.