Applications Have Now Closed

Successful candidates will be notified on October 2nd 2020.

After a very successful pilot program, the Catalyse Mentorship Program is relaunching in 2020.

The program includes training sessions, peer group support, and mentoring partnerships with both Academic and Commercial mentors. This will provide participants with opportunities to reflect on and grow their leadership capabilities, build professional skills and networks, and more effectively navigate career progression and development. It will introduce them to a range of targeted personal, professional and leadership development opportunities as well as network them with potential external funders, influential supporters and strategic counsellors (corporate, philanthropic and academic) who may be able to assist in advancing their work interests and careers.

“I think that Catalyse is a great program and would definitely encourage others to do it. It has provided an amazing opportunity to meet other people at Menzies and has also been a really great opportunity to personally reflect on where both my medical and research career are headed, to be given structured time and space to do that and also the opportunity to meet some really successful woman and get their advice.” – Bianca Middleton, Catalyse Mentee.

What is the commitment?

The formal component of the program will run from October 2020 to June 2021. The program will be delivered as a mix of virtual and face-to-face group and one-on-one sessions, with a 2-day off site intensive early 2021, dependant on COVID-19 developments and parameters. If we are unable to deliver the a face-to-face intensive, a series of ZOOM and facilitated face-to-face workshops will be delivered instead.

What are the benefits?

  • Participation in a formal mentoring program that is both multidisciplinary and cross sector, enabling you to learn from other others in your field, related fields and in alternate disciplines
  • Develop skills in leadership and management outside of a clinical focus
  • Internal and external exposure through public speaking and networking opportunities at various forums
  • Development and crafting of a Personal Mission Statement, and Bio
  • Valuable networking and leadership development opportunities
  • Increased capacity and opportunity to develop networks and peer support
  • Increased exposure to diverse opportunities and vocational progression
  • Increased skill, knowledge and capacity to foster personal and professional development opportunities
  • Identifying areas for professional growth and developing strategies to accomplish these
  • Increased confidence in abilities
  • Greater effectiveness in current role
  • Improved leadership skills

Who can apply?

  • Female health or medical professionals (academic or non-academic)
  • Any woman in northern WA, QLD or all of the Northern Territory working in health at a HOT NORTH partner (JCU, TKI or Menzies) or associated with a HOT NORTH funded project
  • WITH member. WITH membership is free of charge in 2020. Email WITH@menzies.edu.au to join the network.
  • A minimum of 3-5 years of professional experience
  • Has demonstrated they are aspiring to a leadership position in the sector in either academic or non-academic capacity
  • Has the capacity, availability and commitment to work with a mentor for the entire duration of the program
  • Has capacity to attend all ZOOM or face-to-face group sessions
  • Applicants based in QLD are encouraged to apply
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are encouraged to apply

Dr Bianca Middleton (Darwin Office) and Dr Teresa Wozniak (Brisbane Office) will provide local support in the respective Menzies offices, and Amelia Pickering will provide ongoing remote support to all participants.

CATALYSE Mentorship Program – Advancing Women Scientists in Aboriginal and Tropical Health

At present in Australia, women are underrepresented in leadership roles in STEM (science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine). This means that some of the most important industry and nation-shaping initiatives undertaken in Australia today lack leadership from some of our best and brightest hearts and minds. The Catalyse Mentorship Program aims to change that and focuses on building sustainable female leadership for women scientists working in Aboriginal and Tropical Health.

About Catalyse Mentorship Program

The program aims to champion the advancement of women in STEM and in particular women scientists working in Aboriginal and Tropical Health.

The mentee will be connected with mentors and strategic counsellors who may be able to provide support through targeted personal and professional development opportunities, provide leadership advice and guidance, and connect them with potential external networks who may be able to benefit the mentee and the progression of her career.

Are you a senior executive or thought leader in your field?

This is your opportunity to share your knowledge. You can help shape the leadership experience and upward mobility of women scientists working at Menzies School of Health Research in Aboriginal and Tropical Health.

On four occasions across a six month period in 1:1 meetings, you will connect with and support an early/mid-career scientist to reflect on and grow their leadership capabilities, share your knowledge learned from experience (successes and mistakes) and help your mentee build professional skills and networks to more effectively navigate career progressions and development.

Why focus on women scientists working in Aboriginal and Tropical Health?

Women scientists working in the space of Aboriginal and Tropical Health strive to improve the health outcomes for some of the most vulnerable and underserved communities in Australia and the Asia Pacific region.

Their work is critical to saving lives and to closing the massive gap in health outcomes and life expectancy between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and non-Indigenous Australians, and between Australians and our near neighbours in South East Asia. Through your mentoring partnership, you will have the opportunity to impact and contribute to improving these outcomes.

Current mentees include clinicians (doctors, nurses, ancillary medicine), researchers, and health policy specialists working in the following areas in Aboriginal and Tropical Health:

  • Child Health
  • Rheumatic Heath Disease
  • Aboriginal Interpreters in Top End Primary Care
  • Rural Public Health
  • Microbiology (Ear Disease and Respiratory Health in Indigenous Children)
  • Malaria Clinical Trials
  • Social Media to enhance Indigenous Tobacco Control

Interested? Learn more by downloading the program below.

Related links

Women in Tropical Health Network