Professional Mentoring Program for Early Childhood Teachers SUPPORT PROGRAM FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHER MENTORS PROGRAM DESCRIPTION – MENTOR The Support Program for Early Childhood Teacher Mentors is being offered as an extension of the successful State-wide Professional Mentoring Program for Early Childhood Teachers that was delivered on behalf of DEECD through a partnership with Victoria University and Deakin University. The Support Program for Early Childhood Teacher Mentors is structured to provide mentors with practical experience while they support one or two mentees throughout the program. Mentors attend workshops (Mentor training days); have access to a purpose built online forum and undertake personal visits or contact with mentees by mutual agreement. The workshops and online forum will enable mentors to discuss their roles and experiences with their peers and the Program facilitators. The program will create an environment that values and facilitates reflective practice, enabling the sharing and challenging of knowledge and understandings. It is envisaged that this environment will be one where all participants will feel empowered as they discuss their own practice, and in the process gain insight into their roles as early childhood professionals. To be a Mentor… Qualified and experienced early childhood teachers with good understandings and engagement with the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF) and the National Quality Framework (NQF), an interest in ongoing professional and personal development, and who have strong links in the early childhood community are sought for this program. Teachers who apply for the Program must be able to confirm the details of at least one mentee (who would be willing and give consent to participate) and it is preferable that the mentor does not work in the same workplace as the mentee. It is anticipated that the Program will attract Expressions of Interest for mentoring assistance from teachers who are new to the profession, or professionally isolated, or have had limited opportunities to be mentored, or selected soon to graduate early childhood student teachers. Mentors who have identified at least one mentee and have been accepted into the Program may be asked to support one other. Details of additional mentees will be supplied on an as needs basis and mentors will be asked to agree to and sign a confidentiality clause to ensure the privacy of mentees. It is expected that the mentor will participate in all activities as outlined in this Description for the duration of the program from 1 August 2014 until 14 November 2014. The total time commitment for mentors is expected to be the equivalent of up to four full days as outlined below:      two days of Mentor training in Melbourne CBD - Friday,1 August and Friday, 14 November 2014; an additional meeting (half day) if supporting a soon to graduate early childhood teacher; up to four visits to each mentee of at least one hour’s duration each, ie. up to eight hours of meetings during the period of the program if mentor is supporting two mentees (may be undertaken during the mentee’s working hours, or outside working hours, by arrangement with the mentee). Travel time is excluded from meeting time; completion of Program documentation(such as meeting logs, mentoring agreement) and evaluations of the Program; and engagement with a website forum dedicated to the project. Applicants for a mentor position will need to be able to meet the time commitments outlined above. Currently employed early childhood teachers who apply for the position would need to ensure that the time commitments could be met without adverse impact on the capacity of their service to deliver the early childhood program. Participation in the program as a mentor may contribute to the teacher meeting some of their professional development requirements under industrial and/or service agreements subject to employer approval. Professional Mentoring Program for Early Childhood Teachers Support is available to employers of teachers participating as mentors to cover the cost of backfilling the teacher to enable their participation in program activities at a cost of up to $360 per day. Employers who wish to support a teacher to participate in the program as a mentor and who have queries about backfill funding or other aspects of the program can contact Jenni Beahan, Project Coordinator, 03 9919 7511 or [email protected]. Mentors will receive $115 per mentee per visit / official contact to deliver the program (up to $460 per mentee based on four visits) with an additional provision for travel cost reimbursement. Mentoring will occur from August 2014 – November 2014. Three different payment arrangement options are available for mentors: 1. Mentors can be employed directly by Victoria University; 2. Mentors can elect to work as a contractor and invoice the project through provision of an ABN; 3. Should a mentor decide to perform the mentoring task as professional development approved by their employer, then this amount would be allocated to the service, minus compensation for any agreed out of hours work undertaken by mentors Further details and an application form for mentors are available on the website (see link below) or can be obtained by contacting the Project Coordinator: Ms Jenni Beahan | Project Coordinator Ph: (03) 9919 7511 | Email: [email protected] | Website: www.earlychildhoodmentoring.edu.au Completed applications should be submitted as soon as possible. The new closing date is Wednesday, 9 July (extended from Wednesday, 2 July 2014).