The power of mentorship
Watch the mentoring case study video:
Mentoring is a powerful tool for professional growth, leadership development, and industry collaboration. However, in the natural resource management sector, structured mentoring programs have been rare.
The National NRM Mentoring Program Pilot was launched in February this year for regional NRM organisation staff from across Australia seeking to learn, share experiences and build knowledge across the natural resource management sector in a personalised way. The national program is modelled on and builds on the success of the Queensland NRM Sector Mentoring Program, which was delivered from 2024.
The 2026 national trial will run until November 2026 and is designed to provide structured support and guidance to both mentors and mentees. The program delivers structured cross-regional mentoring with measurable leadership and collaborative outcomes.
The program is not currently accepting EOIs for new participants, but interested regional NRM staff can join a mailing list for future opportunities to participate by emailing [email protected].
The national program is being delivered in partnership with NRM Regions Queensland and facilitated by Brancher.
The national NRM Mentoring program provides structured support to develop stronger career development pathways, knowledge sharing and increased leadership capability. Tailored to the NRM sector, the program encourages collaboration and equips all staff with the skills to advance their careers.
Participants are matched with their mentor / mentee using a science-based approach to ensure alignment of goals and expertise. The program includes launch webinars and workshops to set expectations, mid-point and end-point workshops to track progress and support participants, and bite-sized training sessions to develop key skills. Regular check-ins, admin support, and ongoing program management ensure that participants remain engaged throughout the process.
Before this program, no formal mentoring initiative existed in the NRM sector, leaving many professionals without structured guidance for career growth and leadership development.
Additionally, while cross-sector collaboration is essential, professionals often work in silos, limiting opportunities for cross-organisational learning.
The national mentoring program supports careers and the NRM sector. It provides:
So far, the mentoring program has received great reviews from the participants, with over 130 staff matched in mentoring partnerships from NRM organisations across the country.
Justine Graham, Principal Program Manager NRM for Local Land Services (NSW), is participating in the national pilot as both a mentor and mentee. She said the program is already proving to be a valuable opportunity.
“I’m really excited to be part of the National NRM Mentoring Program. It’s a fantastic chance to connect with NRM colleagues and support career development across our national sector. I have already met with both of my matches, and the mentoring resources provided have made those early conversations easy, structured and genuinely enlightening,” Justine said.
The national rollout builds on the successful program delivered by Queensland’s NRM sector from 2024. The success of that program can be seen in the results below and NRM Regions Australia anticipates similar results from the national trial:
High satisfaction and engagement
Professional and leadership growth
Long-term impact
“There is significant documented evidence that shows mentors get almost as much value out of mentoring programs as the mentees. This was certainly my experience last year when I was a mentor for two people through the NRMRQ program – it was so fantastic to connect with others in the sector, share experiences and grow together.”
Watch the mentoring case study video:
