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First in Family mentoring program
If you're an economics student and are the first in your family to study at University, you can access professional guidance and support through mentoring.
- Economics First in Family mentoring program
- What happens next
Economics First in Family mentoring program
Applications for the 2025 program open on Monday 24 February 2025.
Being first in your family to attend university is a great achievement and a source of pride. As part of our support for students who are first in family, the School of Economics offers a "First in Family" mentoring program to assist your career as you make your way through university towards graduation. You can access this professional guidance and support through mentoring.
The First in Family mentoring program is designed to provide support to find your direction and plan your career as you near the end of your course and prepare to leave the University. Teaming up with our alumni will give you the opportunity to seek advice on what kinds of careers you can have with a degree in economics, as well as advice on skill development, CV’s, interview skills and what can be expected from working in the professional world.
You will also have the chance to meet other alumni, mentors and mentees to network and learn from each other through other School events. The program runs from April to November and you will receive one-to-one mentoring from our alumni.
How the program works
Students who successfully apply to the program are paired with our alumni mentors based on their future goals, experience, interests, and their reasons as to why they need a mentor.
Our mentors have been selected from our alumni based on their life and work experience and come from across a variety industry sectors. All our mentors have an economics background from university, showing you where a degree in economics can take you.
The program starts in April and runs through to November – it is expected that you will commit to the full duration of the program. During this time, mentors and mentees are expected to meet at least once a month. You will also have the chance to meet other alumni, mentors and mentees to network and learn from each other through other School events.
This guide contains information to help with some of the activities you will be expected to complete as part of the program, such as attending a briefing session before the program starts and reflective journaling. Throughout the program, you can always email or knock on our door if you have questions or concerns.
What's involved
During the program, you'll need to:
- attend the program launch to meet your mentor
- meet with your mentor at least once a month during the program
- attend one-on-one catch-up with the program coordinator
- submit two reflective journal entries on your experiences during the program
- attend the program's graduation event.
Key dates
Applications for the 2025 program open on Monday 24 February 2025.
Launch event
An opportunity for mentors and mentees to meet for the first time. You will get a chance to introduce yourself and have a chat about what you both hope to achieve by being involved in the program. You will also get a chance to meet other first in family mentees and mentors in the program.
Meeting with your mentor
You are expected to meet with your mentor at least once a month – you can meet more often if you and your mentor have availability to do so. You will be expected to contact your mentor and initiate the setting up of meetings at a venue that is convenient for both of you.
This guide contains some areas that may be helpful to get the conversation started but are no means prescriptive. To get the best from mentoring, you need to understand what it is that you want out of it. Do you want to know what careers are open to you? Or are you looking for guidance around what skills you need and how to develop them?
We suggest you spend some time getting to know your mentor in your first meeting. Find out more about their life and work experiences - how did they get to where they are? Your mentor will also be interested in you so reflect on how your own story and aspirations fits with their bio and achievements. Remember, it is a conversation, not an interview.
Reflective journal
Reflection is an important part of the mentoring program. You will be expected to submit two entries during the program as outlined in the dates above.
Your reflective journal is a chance to note down key information such as advice from your mentor, resources, and contacts. Reflective journals are not a description of events but more a reflective analysis of your thoughts and responses to your experiences during the program. What are your key take outs? What would you like explore further in your next meeting? Why did you react the way that you did? What experiences have caused you to have that thought?’ Be honest and open – the only person reading your reflections is the program coordinator.
We will provide advice around writing a reflective journal and some examples at your briefing session. You can also find more information by searching online.
Mid-program Catch-up
In early-October, you will be required to attend a one-on-one catch-up with the program coordinator to check in and discuss your progress in the program. It is also an opportunity for you to ask any questions or discuss any concerns you may have.
An online poll will be used for you to indicate your availability. Your mid-program catch-up is a mandatory activity.
Eligibility
To apply for this program, you'll need to:
- be enrolled in your second, third or fourth year of the Bachelor of Economics or a degree within the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences with an Economics, Financial Economics, Agricultural and Resource Economics or Econometrics major
- identify as the first in your family (parents, grandparents, siblings) to attend university.
How to apply
As part of your application, you will be asked about why you want to join the program as well as about your experiences both in and outside the University. A current CV is also required. To apply you need to complete a form which will be sent via a Canvas announcement. For more information, please contact econ.connect@sydney.edu.au.
Last updated: 05 December 2024
