Leadership and Governance ProgramDiversifying boards–Your cultural advantage

Application form

January 2017

Confidential

Personal details

Title Mr Mrs Ms Dr

First name       Last name      

Position title      

Organisation/community

     

Contact details

Street       Suburb       Postcode      

Telephone       Mobile      

Email address      

Ethnicity Country of birth

English language proficiency

Excellent Very good Good Average

Language spoken at home

     

Professional experience

Your qualifications      

Professional background      

Current profession/job      

Briefly describe your employment history

     

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Additional information

Have you served on any board or management committee? If you have, please list in chronological order including status (for example, current or past)

     

Are you aware of, or have read, the OMI publication Diversifying Boards—Your cultural advantage: A guide to pursuing aboard role publication? Yes No

Commitment and interest

Why do you want to be involved in this program?

     

What do you consider to be your area of expertise/interest?

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Have you participated in a mentoring program before? If so, please indicate the name of the course/training, whether as mentor or mentee, type of program and duration, etc.

     

What do you expect from your participation in the program?

     

Are you committed and available to actively participate in the program (three half-day training sessions and a 12 months mentoring program)?

Yes No Not sure

Please note that this program is expensive to deliver (provided to you free of charge) and has a limited number of places. Please do not register unless you are able to fully participate.

Preferences

Do you have any particular preferences regarding a possible mentor?

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(Gender, level of experience, geographic location, etc.)

     

Terms and conditions of participationPurposeThe purpose of the Leadership and Governance Program for members of culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) communities is to encourage their greater representation on public, private or not-for-profit (NFP) sector boards and committees. The program aims to: build the capacity of CaLD community members equip members of CaLD communities with information, knowledge and skills to

enable them to apply for and participate on relevant boards and committees facilitate engagement of CaLD communities in government decision-making

processes.

The program comprises three components: the Diversifying boards—Your cultural advantage: A guide to pursuing a board role

publication a governance training program based on the ‘Diversifying Boards’ guide a mentoring program to support graduates of the training program.

The governance training is delivered through two half-day workshops (on Saturdays) in April 2017.

The workshops are designed to assist participants to develop the knowledge, understanding and skills to nominate for public and private sector boards and committees, and to participate fully in civic life as leaders and active citizens in Australian society.

Drawing on the publication, the workshops include information on the different types of boards and how they work; how to prepare for board meetings; meeting-room behaviour and norms; and understanding obligations and relationships.

The workshops also address ways to assess skills, how to identify and apply for board roles, and provides links to free resources.

Participation criteria

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Program applicants must meet all of the following criteria. You must:

1. be from a CaLD background2. have appropriate professional skills and qualifications for membership of boards or

committees3. have an appropriate level of English language proficiency4. be committed and available to participate in all aspects of the program including all

three training sessions and the 12 months mentoring program5. be interested and willing to actively seek participation on a board or committee.

Objectives of the OMI Mentoring ProgramThe principal objective of the OMI Mentoring Program is to support OMI Governance Training participants in their learning, and to provide guidance and assistance in their journey to nominate for and secure places on a board or committee.

‘Stepping Up to the Challenge’ Mentoring ProgramIn the context of the OMI Mentoring Program, mentoring is a relationship between an experienced board member selected by OMI and a mentee who has completed the OMI Governance Training Program. The mentor provides guidance and assistance to the mentee in their journey to seek out, nominate for and secure places on a board or committee.

The mentee within the context of this mentoring program is seeking information and knowledge about the workings of boards within the public, corporate and public sectors.

The ‘Stepping Up to the Challenge’ Mentoring Program is a structured program that takes place over 12 months. Mentors and mentees are matched, trained and sign an ‘OMI Partnership Agreement’ outlining the two fundamental principles of the partnership: Confidentiality and Mutual accountability.

Mentorship will be monitored by OMI and the experience formally evaluated at the end of the 12 months period. The monitoring will be conducted through confidential separate ‘check-in’ conversations with both mentees and their mentors.

The process of the mentoring will follow a semi-structured format, in a group and (if required) as a one-on-one relationship between the mentor and the mentee.

The mentoring session can take place face-to-face, via telephone and online over the 12 months period, with the suggested duration of each session being approximately one hour.

A mandatory mentoring orientation session will be held in May 2017 (on a Saturday).

Group mentoring

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The ‘Stepping Up to the Challenge’ mentoring process will be conducted in a semi-structured group mentoring format with no more than four mentees to each mentor.

The group mentoring sessions can take place with mentees on a (preferably) face-to-face, via telephone or online basis over the 12 months period, with the duration of each session being approximately one hour.

The primary purpose of the mentoring relationship is to help to develop the mentee to step up to board responsibilities. The mentee group is therefore required to be proactive and help to create an agenda and relationship that reflect the types of governance/board goals the whole group and individual mentees would like to achieve.

Mentors are offering their valuable time to the mentees, so therefore it is the group’s responsibility to make the most of that time and, importantly, collectively set the agenda for each mentoring session.

The benefits of mentoringMentoring is an effective means of preparing OMI Governance Training recipients to step up to new board positions and participate in the work of the board. Mentoring is a complement to the OMI Governance Training Program, and is an efficient way of sharing knowledge and developing cross-functional understanding between experienced and less experienced individuals. It reduces the steep learning curve for any prospective board member and allows them to engage productively early in their board tenure.

The ‘Stepping Up to the Challenge’ mentoring program aims to create a secure, safe and welcoming introduction to board practice. The program further aims to have a win–win effect for both mentees and their mentors.

The benefits for the mentee Association with a successful role model from within the CaLD and the wider

community. Increased access to board role opportunities. Build diversity and social capital within the board structure. Expand knowledge of board leadership skills and practices. Become better orientated to board services and more empowered to engage with a

board. Opportunity to discuss issues with a respected and experienced board member. Ongoing support and encouragement. Honest and constructive feedback. Support in building a professional network. Increased confidence, heightened career aspirations and understanding of how to

take a leadership role on the board.

OMI mentee roles and responsibilities

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Role Participate in a positive mentoring experience that supports the learning journey to

nominate for and secure places on a board or committee. Establish a good relationship with the OMI-appointed mentor. Build a relationship of mutual trust and respect. Be open to feedback.

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Responsibilities Make a necessary 12 months commitment to the program. Meet for at least one hour every month for 12 months. Attend the Stepping Up to the Challenge Mentoring Orientation Training Session. Actively look for opportunities to gain membership of a board or committee.

Requirements A desire to nominate for and secure a place on a board or committee. A knowledge or desire to advance understanding of governance. The ability to fulfil the program requirements determined by OMI.

Time commitment At least one hour every month for 12 months (dates and times to be confirmed as a

group). Undertake necessary work towards securing a board or committee position.

Meeting place The mentoring sessions will be held at a place determined by the group.

Confidentiality and mutual accountabilityMentors and mentees are asked to follow the OMI ‘Mentoring Confidentiality and Mutual Accountability’ requirements below. These statements provide important guidance to both mentors and mentees regarding their mentoring relationships. These boundaries protect the rights of all mentoring participants.The requirements are: all conversations will be held in strict confidence trust, confidentiality and mutual accountability are critical components of the

mentoring relationship and will be maintained at all times active participation by the mentor and mentee is required in all mentoring sessions commitment to the mentoring relationship is an important part of all mentoring

sessions professional conduct will be maintained at all times throughout the mentoring

relationship any mentors or mentees who are having difficulty in their mentoring relationship

should contact OMI, who will discuss the appropriate course of action failure to comply with any of the above by either the mentor or mentee can lead to

the termination of the OMI mentoring relationship.

I, the undersigned, express my interest to participate in OMI Leadership and Governance Program and agree to the Terms and Conditions stated above.

I hereby declare that, if selected, I will be and will make myself available to participate in all aspects of the program, including but not limited to the two training workshops, the mentoring orientation session, mentoring meetings and the annual alumni event.

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I further agree to complete and return to OMI the relevant feedback and evaluation forms at required times and understand that I will only receive a certificate of participation if I have met all the conditions and agreements above.

Applicant’s name:      

Signature:

Date:      

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