Helping young people in the construction industry reach their full potential.

Peak industry groups Master Builders Association of NSW and the Royal Australian Institute of Architects (NSW Chapter) have united to provide a mentoring program in the Building, Construction and Design Industry. This is a further initiative that will help small businesses grow and achieve their full potential.

The peak Industry Partners are committed to developing essential skills and fostering small business entrepreneurship through effective delivery models and the use of innovative technologies.

The desired outcome is to bring about a cultural shift and increased confidence levels for those in small business to move from survival to greater sustainability through the Constructive Mentoring program.

What is Mentoring?

Mentoring means different things to different people, but it is generally regarded as a practice where one person helps another person to grow and develop new skills and attitudes through a process of self-learning. This process is guided and encouraged by the mentor, who gives examples from their own experience and the benefit of their expertise. The exchange is informative, not instructive. Having a mentor builds confidence and is often the catalyst for personal and professional development.

A formal mentoring arrangement focuses on specific objectives. Different types of mentoring suit different situations, for example mentoring could be used for knowledge transfer, career development, personal development or professional development.

A formal mentoring arrangement allows the mentor and mentee to agree on objectives, contact arrangements, discussion topics, how and when to review the arrangement and what to do if the arrangement no longer suits either party.

Usually mentoring is much more informal and happens every day when we take an active interest in another person's development, through encouragement and support. This encouragement and support often happens randomly, in conversation.

Ultimately, however, mentoring is a relationship. The MBA and RAIA's Definition of mentoring developed for the Constructive Mentoring Program is a relationship of trust established between two people, the mentor who listens, encourages, guides, and counsels, and the mentee who asks for help, is open in their communication, and one with a willingness to learn and share.

Mentor Profile

Mentoring is about conversation. An effective mentor by definition needs to be a good communicator, who knows how to listen and give sufficient time for the conversation to move from general to specific. The mentor then needs to know how to identify the underlying issues, discuss options and allow the mentee to own the decision making process. The mentor's role is multi-purpose.

A mentor acts as a source of information and insight, and as a counsellor for problem solving or career/business planning. They give feedback, facilitate self-directed learning and give encouragement. This is particularly helpful when their mentee is working in an unsupportive environment.