Mentorships

For Apprentices and Trainees

• I’m about to start an apprenticeship or traineeship. When do I meet my mentor?

  You will first meet your mentor at orientation. This is an informal conversation where you and your mentor get to put a face to a name and discuss each other's backgrounds and also your apprenticeship /traineeship. Your mentor will then meet you onsite within the first three days of your placement and then again within your first month.

• How is my mentor chosen?

  Each of our mentors has deep experience in the industry they’re mentoring in, so they know what it’s like to be in your shoes. You’ll be matched with a mentor who is experienced and knowledgeable of your occupation (apprenticeship or traineeship), training requirements, and also the workplace and people you are about to join. They have strong relationships across the sector which plays an important role in keeping you informed, supported, and succeeding.

• What does my mentor do for me?

  Your mentor will visit you in the workplace (or over Zoom) very regularly (every eight weeks on average) to discuss your skills growth, occupational knowledge, OHS and well-being, training, enjoyment levels, pay, and overall development in your apprenticeship/traineeship. If there are areas for improvement, they will guide you through and set a plan, and also ensure you are receiving feedback on what and where you are doing well. They’ll assist with any questions, issues or follow-ups you have (if any at the time).

  You can always contact your mentor outside of these scheduled visits by phone, text or email. Our support extends beyond the workplace.

• Can my mentor help me with meeting expectations, adjusting to full-time work, using more initiative or speaking up if I have an idea?

  Yes! Your mentor can help you navigate issues such as these or speak with your employer about an issue you may not feel comfortable addressing.

• Is my mentor evaluating me or reporting to my employer about me?

  An important part of your development is obtaining feedback from your Supervisor or Manager in relation to your performance and application. Our mentoring visits are generally a three-way conversation between themselves, you, and your Supervisor or Manager. These can be done together or separately.

  The mentor’s role is not to evaluate you. It is to ensure you have someone there to support you and provide you with valuable feedback so you are developing to the level expected, and you can meet your career goals. It is imperative that when you successfully complete your apprenticeship or traineeship you are competent in many facets and highly sought after in your chosen career pathway.

For Employer Partners

• Why do WPC Group apprentices/trainees get mentors?

  Mentors make it more likely your apprentice will complete their program successfully. Their goal is to get apprentices/trainees to successfully complete their program and to provide them with the support they need to do so. They act as ‘honest brokers’ to deal with any transitional workplace issues that may occur.

• I have apprentices/trainees starting at my business soon. What can I expect from the mentorship process?

  Our mentors and apprentices meet regularly in the early stages of their employment to proactively detect and address potential sources of stress or disengagement, such as adjusting to full-time work, settling into a new workplace, understanding OHS requirements, and meeting new people. Our proven processes help increase engagement and retention, helping you have an overall more productive apprentice or trainee.

  Our mentors visit your workplace every six to eight weeks to check in on your apprentice/trainee’s performance, safety, well-being, enjoyment, and overall development. They seek feedback from the Supervisor/Manager and facilitate discussions to ensure key messages are communicated and followed.

• What qualifications do WPC Group mentors have?

  Our mentors are carefully selected for their background in working with young people and students. They also have deep experience in the industry they’re mentoring apprentices and trainees in. Their understanding of training requirements, awards, OHS, government funding and industrial relations provide further benefit and cost savings to you and your business.

• What contact do I have with my apprentices’/trainees' mentor?

  Each apprentice or trainee you receive through WPC Group is assigned a WPC Group mentor. They are also a key point of contact for any questions or concerns you may have. We schedule formal visits in your workplace, but mentors regularly check in between these visits to communicate training reports and progress, updates to awards and pay, year level progression, changes to apprentice/trainee legislation and any other relevant information.

• If there’s an issue with an apprentice/trainee, do I talk to them or to their mentor?

  If an issue arises with your apprentice/trainee, please connect with the WPC Group mentor that you regularly see or are in contact with. They will be quick to respond and address any issue you have, whether minor or major. We are there to support you and the business. We encourage communication at any early stage of an issue so we can jointly address this before it becomes a much larger issue to work through.