MentorHer Overview
MentorHer is a three month program that facilitates mentorships between emerging, early career, or those looking to shift into a new area in the screen industry, and experienced practitioners. The initiative offers support and guidance to help further careers within the screen industry.
We encourage applications from diverse backgrounds and from all areas within the industry including games, distribution, cinematography and composition. Our definition of women includes anyone with female experience –past or present– and is trans-inclusive and non-binary inclusive. Anyone who feels addressed by the term is welcome to apply.
Applications for 2020 Mentees and Mentors are now open. To apply fill out either the Mentee or Mentor form.
It is possible to apply as both a Mentor and Mentee if you have capacity. Although all efforts will be made to match applicants, applying does not guarantee a placement.
If you have any questions please read our FAQ’s below. If you still have unanswered questions you can contact us at MentorHer@wiftaustralia.org.au
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ’s)
GENERAL
Who can apply?
MentorHer is a three month program that facilitates mentorships between WIFT female identifying financial members who are emerging, early career, or those looking to shift into a new area in the screen industry. This includes women who are re-entering the industry after a break as well as those entering the industry after a career elsewhere.
Does it cost anything?
To cover our administrative costs in delivering MentorHer we charge a $20 Mentee application fee upon submission. There is no cost or fee for Mentors.
Do I have to be a member?
Mentee application is offered to WIFT Australia financial members only. You can join here.
If you are not sure if you are a member or if your membership has lapsed, you can email us at admin@wiftaustralia.org.au and we will check for you.
Mentors do NOT have to be members. We encourage applications from women, men and non-binary people from all areas of the industry.
What time frame will it cover?
This is a 3 month mentorship structure.
Our application portal opens on Monday 17th February and closes on Monday 9th March. If you are able to be matched, you will be notified by Monday, March 30th.
We will put you in touch to arrange the first (ideally) face-to-face meeting in April. You’ll then arrange a meeting, call or a Skype together in May and a final one in June.
The Mentorship officially ends there, but it can evolve into something more regular or ongoing or even a working relationship - it is up to you.
Will Mentors and Mentees need to be in the same location?
We'll do our best to match participants according to needs.
We know that some people prefer to be matched outside of their locations, eg. you live rurally and find it hard to network outside of your current community, while other prefer to be in the same location.
There will be Mentors/Mentees working in remote locations or for whom travel is difficult. These people may require a long distance relationship using communications channels such as telephone, video conferencing or Skype. We do encourage that the first meeting be in person where possible.
Please do be aware that, although we will strive to meet your requests, this may not be possible in every case.
How does the matching happen?
Questions within our application forms include those around background, location, experience and preferences around genre and form. Mentees will also answer where you see yourself in 5 years and who inspires you. Your answers will help us to get a good picture about what your MentorHer needs and wants might be.
WIFT Australia will carefully assess all Mentor and Mentee applications according to the answers to the questions within the forms. We will be working hard to seek matches that best fit the Mentee/Mentors needs, wants and capacity.
When will I know if I have been able to be matched?
We will be informing all applicants of the outcome on Monday, March 30th. If we are able to match you, we will let you know on that day. We will follow up by introducing you to your Mentor/Mentee via email.
Despite our best efforts, we know that we will likely not be able to match everyone. If this is the case we will thank you for your application and offer to keep you on a list for any future opportunities.