Mentoring program

This free program pairs experienced businesses (mentors) with small businesses (mentees) to help identify new ways to address safety, provide insight into the challenges facing the industry, exchange knowledge and ideas, as well as creating a supportive network of peers.

What does the program involve?

If you are motivated and ready to invest your time to make safety a workplace priority, you will find the SafeWork NSW Mentor Program is a great fit. The program generally runs for three to six months with mentors and mentees investing time for a mentee workplace visit, creating an Action Plan and check-ins to track progress. They are also invited to attend SafeWork supported events.

• Site-Visits: Mentors will visit their mentee’s workplace to provide tailored safety advice to the business. Site visits and check-in interactions have a flexible timeframe and approach.
• Action Plan: Mentees, with guidance from their mentor, will develop an Action Plan, identifying safety issues and solutions for their business. Mentees must be willing to invest their time to work on actions recommended by their mentors.
• Networking Events: Mentors and mentees are invited to networking events including a program launch and end-of-year wrap. These are great opportunities for paired mentors and mentees to catch up, work on action plans and interact with other businesses and safety professionals.
• Safety Rebate: The small business rebate gives up to $500 back to small business owners who buy and install eligible safety items to address a safety problem in their workplace.

Am I eligible?

Mentees are selected from small business, with up to 20 full-time employees operating in NSW. Mentees must be the business owner, or official representative with decision-making authority in the business. Mentees must be motivated. Safety improvements will save time and increase productivity, so the upfront investment of time in the mentor program is a good business decision.

Mentors are experienced business professionals with expertise in workplace health and safety from large businesses operating in NSW. Mentors have an advisory role, to share knowledge and insights, and provide accountability and encouragement for mentees to improve workplace safety. In addition to assisting a mentee, mentors can hone their leadership skills, enjoy the opportunity to network with other industry professionals at events and stay current with industry resources and initiatives.

Learn more about the benefits realised by our previous mentors and mentees in our mentor program e-book. It’s provides great insight into how your business could benefit from participating in the program. You can also listen to the experiences of people in previous years in our short videos below.

How to apply

Interested in participating in the program as a mentor or mentee? Places are limited, so we encourage you to apply online now. For more information on the program and its benefits, please download the mentor program brochure, call 13 10 50 or email mentorprogram.business@safework.nsw.gov.au.