Governance Mentors – Inaugural Training

Governance Mentors is a new initiative developed by Volunteering Western Victoria. The program aims to strengthen the capacity of the not-for-profit sector, by pairing mentors with community organisations.

The program has been developed over the past two years, with a steering group developing a model that incorporates measurement and evaluation. Governance Mentors reached an important milestone, with the first training session being conducted.

We prepared the marketing plan for Governance Mentors, identifying opportunities for growth and development. To support the plan, I participated in the training session, with the aim of becoming a mentor within the program.

The training session guided participants through the practice of mentoring, with a focus on providing advice, and reinforcing good governance principles. A mentor aims to provide advice and assist organisations in working towards achieving their aims.

Unlike other programs, Governance Mentors involves working with boards or the committee as a whole, rather than specific individuals. This approach reinforces good governance by demonstrating the role of the board or committee as the decision making authority. In this regard, mentors are available to provide advice, rather than being nominated board or committee members of an organisation.

The program is being progressively rolled out and demonstrates the ongoing growth of an initiative that is underpinned by a marketing plan.