The Navigator Mentorship Program Indonesia is a group mentoring initiative designed for all Monash University alumni currently residing in Indonesia. It connects newly graduated Monash University alumni as mentees, with experienced alumni mentors in a structured group setting. This program offers mentees valuable insights, industry perspectives, and guidance to help them navigate their paths.

The first Navigator Mentorship Program Indonesia, launched in 2024, successfully facilitated meaningful connections, supported mentees' professional and personal development, and provided mentors with the opportunity to help shape the next generation of leaders.

Program Objectives

• Strengthen the Monash University alumni network in Indonesia.
• Facilitate meaningful connections between mentors and mentees.
• Support the professional and personal development of mentees.
• Enhance industry knowledge, leadership skills, and career strategies.

The program will run for a maximum six weeks, with:

• Group mentoring model: the program will involve alumni mentors.
• Mentoring sessions: there will commencing once a week.

For mentees, the program helps:

• Confidential support as a sounding board for ideas and challenges.
• Identify areas for professional growth and developing strategies.
• Access to new networks.
• Increase your confidence.

For mentors, the experience enables them to:

• Provides a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction by contributing to the growth and development of others
• Encourages the exploration of different perspectives and innovative approaches
• Demonstrates and develops your leadership.
• Develops your skills in coaching, modelling and listening

Eligibility Criteria Mentors:

• Monash University alumni,experienced professionals or industry leaders.
• Willing to share knowledge and guidance.
• Available for regular mentoring sessions.
• Committed to fostering a collaborative and supportive environment.

Become an Effective Mentor:

• Supportive of the needs and aspirations of the mentee.
• Willing to spend time performing mentoring responsibilities.
• Respected in the community and profession.
• Communicates openly and clearly.
• Comfortable providing constructive feedback.
• Has a genuine interest in helping others succeed.
• A respectful, inspiring and positive attitude.
• Demonstrate empathy: it's not about fixing your mentee's problems or offering immediate solutions. We encourage you to create a safe and supportive space where your mentee can feel heard, understood, and empowered to make their own decisions.
• Keep the relationship professional: maintain appropriate boundaries.

Roles & Responsibilities Mentors:

• Assist your mentee in identifying personal and professional growth.
• Commit to meeting with mentees.
• Set the time equally and fairly for all members of the mentor group.
• Be active in giving feedback to mentees.
• Share your thoughts based on your previous experience.
• Filling the after program survey.

Navigator Mentorship Program Indonesia offers two group mentoring streams for alumni. Recent graduates can join sessions focused on career planning and development, while mid‑career alumni can take part in discussions on workplace leadership and industry insights. The program helps alumni build strong connections, gain practical guidance, and achieve their professional goals.

Eligibility Criteria Mentees:

• Monash University alumni.
• Early to mid-career (manager) professionals seeking mentorship.
• Committed to actively participating in the program.

Become an Effective Mentee:

• Positive outlook and attitude.
• Eager and open to learn proactively.
• Patient, responsive and respectful of mentor’s role and time - commit to the time set up.
• Comfortable receiving objective feedback.
• Comfortable being stretched out of a comfort zone.
• Set realistic expectations: your mentor is invested in helping you cultivate your skills and accomplish your goals but does not have a magic wand to get you there. As a mentee, you must set attainable goals and practice discipline to achieve them.

Roles & Responsibilities Mentees:

• Provide the mentee’s assessment to be review by mentor
• Commit to meeting with a mentor.
• Respect other mentees, as this program is conducted through group mentoring.
• Be proactive in requesting feedback.
• Filling the after program survey.

From 2024 The Navigator Mentorship Program

Mentors:

• The diverse experiences shared by mentees, many of whom have 2-3 years of work experience, offered me unique insights as I embark on my own career journey. The combination of online discussions and an in-person networking event enhanced my learning, enabling me to expand my network and gain varied perspectives.
• Thank you, Monash University, to provide this opportunity to learn and connect with my fellow alumni. As an industry practitioners that requires constant interaction and understanding of public interest, it's great to learn from the perspectives of my mentees. This session is a lesson learned for me as well, and I hope it is the same for the mentees that I met along the way.

Mentees:

• A 10/10 program. Really appreciate how Monash care about their alumnis and create a program to keep their alumnis engaged. The mentors choice are also very excellent as they are actual experts in their field.
• This has been an incredibly insightful and eye-opening experience. Learning from mentors deeply immersed in the industry, alongside fellow mentees with years of experience, has opened the door to meaningful conversations and invaluable lessons. It’s a perfect environment for a fresh graduate to grow, ask questions, and gain knowledge from diverse perspectives.
• I’m incredibly grateful that Monash has established this mentorship program in Indonesia. It has allowed me to connect with fellow alumni and gain valuable insights from their personal experiences—insights that are often difficult to find elsewhere. This program has not only helped me explore my future aspirations but also given me practical guidance on achieving them.

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Testimonial: Trinity Woodman and Cheryl Batagol

Trinity Woodman was in her final year studying the Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Science, Economics and Applied Mathematics when she joined the Betty Amsden AO Alumni Mentoring Program. She wanted a mentor who could support her in deciding what career path would suit her passions and interests when she graduated. She was matched with Cheryl Batagol, who is the Chair of the Environment Protection Authority for Victoria and was keen to provide a helping hand to others and give back to the community.

Trinity and Cheryl met every few weeks and had an immediate connection. At their first mentoring session, Cheryl helped Trinity formulate three goals for the year:

• To connect with industries and understand their similarities, differences and her interests in each.
• To develop a 5-year career plan.
• To get a job.

During the program, Trinity and Cheryl discussed Trinity's interests, potential career paths, decision making, work-life balance, management and interview techniques. Cheryl introduced Trinity to her contacts in different industries who were happy to talk to Trinity about their organisation, its values, culture and where she could fit in. Cheryl recognised Trinity had strong leadership potential and helped her confidence grow.

"I see Trinity as an outstanding leader though she does not necessarily recognise this. I wanted to her to see that leadership is not a position in an organisation, rather it is achieved through developing capabilities and exercising those capabilities every day in every situation," Cheryl said.

With Cheryl's help, Trinity successfully secured a position in the Victorian Public Service's Graduate Program, where she will be an analyst in the Department of Treasury and Finance. Trinity sees this as a good fit for her and she is looking forward to her future there.

"I now see work in the perspective of achieving an ultimate purpose rather than as a career path for achieving a salary. Through developing my skills, networks, and capabilities I hope to eventually change something big for the better," Trinity said.