Empowering Women From Diverse Communities: Peer Mentoring

This gender equity initiative supports women, including transwomen, from diverse backgrounds to form peer connections in the workplace based on shared characteristics and goals.
Unlike a traditional mentoring scheme, where one participant is typically positioned as more experienced, our peer support program focuses on fostering a safe space for sharing experiences and providing mutual support based on understanding, empathy and relatability of shared experiences. The reciprocal arrangement seeks to reduce a sense of organisational hierarchy and underscores the value of diverse perspectives regardless of a position title or seniority.

Program Benefits

We are proud of our workplace diversity, with staff coming from a wide range of backgrounds, experiences and identities. However, we acknowledge that different aspects of a person’s identity, such as cultural and linguistic diversity, age, gender and/or gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, and other dimensions, can sometimes result in differing experiences. While these aspects provide a strong basis for relatable connections, they may also expose us to biased assumptions, stereotypes, or misunderstandings.

We recognise that many facets of our diversity can be invisible or not immediately apparent, making it challenging to discover your community in the workplace.

Our gender equity initiative aims to cultivate a supportive workplace environment that promotes a sense of belonging and empowerment. Through fostering meaningful connections and peer partnerships, participants will share insights, offer and receive guidance from their peers and be able to discuss workplace challenges and goals. It is an invitation to bring your authentic self to the program and meet a new colleague.

Who can apply?

Women, which includes cisgender and transwomen, who work at Monash and who identify as members of diverse communities and are:

  • Professional HEW 4 to HEW 10 or Academic staff Level A to E;
  • Full-time or part-time (minimum appointment at 0.4 work fraction);
  • In an ongoing appointment or a fixed-term employment contract which continues until at least 31 December 2024; and
  • Based in Australia.

Who are eligible diverse applicants?

We invite applications from women, which includes cisgender and transwomen, who identify with one or more of the following diverse groups:

  • Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander;
  • From a culturally and/or linguistically diverse background;
  • LGBTIQA+;
  • Neurodivergent;
  • Living with a disability;
  • Age 60 and above and/or on a pre-retirement contract; or
  • Other (you will be able to specify on the application form)

Please contact us if you have any questions around eligibility for the program.