Westpac Launches Mentoring Program

(left to right) The Westpac Group’s Head of Organisational Mentoring Sandy Blackburn-Wright, The Westpac Group's Chief Executive Gail Kelly, Wyanga Aboriginal Aged Care Program representative Millie Ingram, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Chief Executive Officer Mike Wilson, Queensland Rural Women’s Network Co-President Georgie Somerset, The Hon Tanya Plibersek MP

Banking group, Westpac has launched an Organisational Mentoring Program aimed at cementing long-term partnerships with the Not for Profit sector through the mutual exchange of skills and expertise.

Developed by Westpac’s Sustainability and Community team, the Organisational Mentoring Program was launched by Chief Executive Officer Gail Kelly.

Kelly said Westpac is proud to have developed a program which provides tangible benefits by building long-term partnerships which drive continuous improvement, innovation, collaboration and long-term sustainability.

Also at the launch, the Governor General, Quentin Bryce, who has long been a champion for the NFP sector through her work with women, indigenous Australians and youth, welcomed the Organisational Mentoring Program and applauded the move to improve sustainability in the sector.

The Governor General said Australia’s Not for Profit sector provides support and wellbeing to so many disadvantaged communities and individuals and increased support and skills transfer initiatives such as the Westpac Organisational Mentoring Program, are vital to ensure the continued growth and success of the NFP sector.

The Organisational Mentoring Program originally piloted in 2008 partnering with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).

Following the success of the initial pilot, Westpac expanded the program and now has mentoring partnerships with almost 50 NFP organisations, Indigenous organisations and social enterprises.

JDRF CEO Mike Wilson says there have already been long term beneficial changes to the organisation with mentors helping to work on leadership, HR approaches and culture to reduce the high levels of employee turnover and create a great place to work.

Wilson says that currently employee attrition has dropped from 40% to just 9%, year on year revenue has increased despite the global economic crisis, and employee engagement has improved dramatically – now sitting at 91% and in line with global best practice.

For more information on Westpac's organisational mentoring, click here.