Ready to share your wisdom and guide the next generation of Dentists?

We are on the lookout for dentists in regional locations who would be interested in:

• Becoming an ambassador of our mentorship program.
• And a mentor to Bachelor of Dental Surgery students who are on their regional placements as part of their final year of study.

We require dentists who are passionate about mentoring, who will act as ambassadors to engage different audiences in regional locations and spread awareness about this program. The ideal ambassadors will also act as mentors.

We are hoping to gain ambassadors and mentors from the following regional locations and corresponding time periods in 2024:

 What it means to be a Regional Mentor as part of our Mentorship Program?

One mentor will be assigned and committed to 3-4 mentees at one time in their final year of study every 3 months over a 12-month period (see above locations and dates for 2024).

Aid the relationship between the mentee and local community if possible.

Attend an introductory catch up with your mentees each semester. This would take place at a local coffee shop, pub or local visitor center. A budget will be provided to purchase food and drinks.

Attend two workshop catch ups with your mentees each semester. This would take place at a local coffee shop or pub. Questions to be discussed would be provided by ADA SA. A budget will be provided to purchase food and drinks.

Negotiate with your mentees about ongoing communication.

Lead the initial meeting with your mentees.

Assist your mentee to understand their individual needs and support their career development.

Each dentist “mentor” representative will be part of a “mentor group”, which would meet virtually a couple of times a year (dates to be confirmed).

Recommended meeting frequencies for mentors and mentees in regional locations.

Please note that the below is a guide only. It will be up to the mentee and mentor to decide how they would best like to move forward with communication after the initial introduction. 

For students on placement in regional locations, checking in with each other, at the minimum, bi-weekly in the first month of the mentoring relationship is important as it will give the mentees a sense of belonging and comfort in their first four weeks of being on placement in a new place.

Following this, we recommend checking in, at the minimum, once a month for the second and third month of the regional placement period.

Bi-weekly for the first month of the mentoring relationship

• Once the mentee and mentor are paired, the mentees are responsible for making the initial contact with the mentor via email or phone.
• Week 1 – in-person group introduction at local pub, café or the regions information centre (1 mentor, 3-4 mentees) – approx. 1-2 hrs.
• Week 3 – Workshop in-person group coffee/pub catch up – can either join the metro workshop virtually or we will provide the talking points – approx. 1-2 hrs.

Monthly for the second and third month

• Week 6 – in-person dental practice visit (1 mentor, 3-4 mentees) – 1 to 2 hours
• Week 10 – Workshop in-person group coffee/pub catch up – can either join the metro workshop virtually or we will provide the talking points – approx. 1-2 hrs.
• Week 13 – final in-person single or group coffee catch up, discuss the benefits of the mentorship program and the overall placement experience – approx. 1-2 hrs.

Why become a Mentor?

Mentoring isn't just about giving back; it's about shaping the future. Your knowledge and experience can be the catalyst for someone else's success. By becoming a mentor, you can:

• Make an Impact: Influence and empower emerging talent.
• Expand Your Network: Connect with like-minded individuals and expand your professional circle.
• Enhance Your Skills: Mentoring is one of the best ways to learn and grow as a professional.
• Leave a Legacy: Share your expertise and be remembered for the positive change you bring.

What it means to be an ambassador as part of our Mentorship Program?

Ambassadors act as the representatives of the mentorship program and of mentoring to the broader public in their regional location. They will help to expand mentoring awareness to engage dental practitioners to actively be a part of this program to help empower BDS5 students on their regional placement.

There are multiple different ways that ambassadors can help share about the mentorship program to aid in engaging with dental practices in their regional locations. These include but are not limited to:

• Publishing LinkedIn and Instagram posts regarding our programs and events - make sure to tag ADA SA #
• Volunteering to help at events
• Organising meet ups in their location
• Contributing to our communications
• Referring new mentors to our programs

Where required, specific opportunities may require a budget.

Ready to embark on this fulfilling journey? Express your interest now and unlock the doors to a world of mentoring opportunities. Your experience matters, and your guidance can change lives.

If this is something you are interested in and feel that you can commit your time to, please contact the ADA SA Project Officer on [email protected] to express your interest.