A FINAL call is being made for mentors and mentees for round three of the Drought Resilience Leaders Mentoring Program.
The program would suit people involved in farming and looking for some trusted advice around their career, farming and personal resilience goals and potential mentors interested in supporting the next generation of rural and regional leaders by sharing their experience and knowledge
They would be part of a national network of mentees and mentors working together to respond to the impact of drought and our changing climate.
Applications close on April 19.
More than 400 people have already signed up to become a mentor or mentee as part of the program, which is an initiative of the Australian Government's Future Drought Fund and designed to strengthen the future of regional communities through capacity building and collaboration.
Now, the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation (ARLF) is offering another opportunity for farmers, people in agriculture and with industry experience to join the program and connect others, share advice, and tackle common challenges together.
As industry leadership manager at Sheep Producers Australia, mentor Melissa Neal has been matched with mentee Meg Kennett – a Marcus Oldham student and former farmhand from Walcha, NSW.
Together, Melissa and Meg will work over six sessions to test new thinking and approaches to managing the challenges of drought.
"When I found out about the drought resilience mentoring program, I was extremely excited as I not only had the potential to find a mentor but one that also had a passion for rural Australia and drought resilience," Meg said.
"I hope to be able to develop networks and be a part of collaborative conversations focused on drought resilient strategies throughout the mentoring sessions and alumni opportunities."
Melissa said she's been "so lucky to have had great mentors over the years", who provided her with opportunities, new perspectives, and different ways of seeing the world.
"At the end of the day people drive agriculture and rural communities and the more we can have great relationships with great people, the better," Melissa said,
"All you need to be a great mentor is to have an interest in people and be willing to share stories and experience that you have had along the way – encouraging a mentee to be their best is a fabulous opportunity that you don't get every day.
"You can have confidence the program will match you with the right person for your interests and skill sets."
Round three applications are now open and the ARLF is encouraging anyone who is interested to apply for this national mentoring program.
ARLF manager mentoring Kristy Frahm said feedback received from the program participants has been really encouraging.
"The mentoring learning sessions which have been held so far have seen a fantastic response from participants," she said.
"Two of these monthly conversation–style webinars have been hosted by program coach Maree McPherson with special guests, The Unbreakable Farmer Warren Davies and Australian Resilience Centre director Paul Ryan.
"Topics relating to personal resilience and resilient leadership were discussed and we were absolutely thrilled to see the level of interest and discussion during these sessions.
"It's wonderful to know networks in the agriculture sector are growing through this program as people connect from all corners of Australia and from a broad range of agricultural industries and regions."
Apply today via https://rural–leaders.org.au/drought–resilience–leaders–mentor–program.