Action plan for review recommendations
by Ted Briggs AE
The IPEd Mentoring Program for editors was started as a pilot program by the Canberra Society of Editors (CSE).
Since late 2012 it has grown from a CSE project to become an IPEd program in 2015 and has now expanded to New Zealand. Until recently, it has operated from Canberra with the original joint Chairs (Elizabeth Manning Murphy DE and Ted Briggs AE), continuing in that role. They have been assisted by branch coordinators in Australia and New Zealand. Mentorships are organised that offer the opportunity for members of CSE and IPEd at all levels to improve their editing skills with professional oversight and feedback from experienced editors.
In July 2020, IPEd’s board requested a review of the program to identify ways to better support the volunteer team of co-coordinators, branch coordinators, mentors and mentees, and invest in the growth and future of the program.
The review was conducted by Tay Winchester, IPEd’s Project Officer, over August and September. The review covered survey feedback (branch coordinators, mentors), consultation with the coordinators, existing process documents and databases, and other mentoring programs (CIEP, ASA, Editors Canada).
The review found that the program has a solid foundation of good process, commitment from its committee and participants and support from IPEd and its members, but the administration of the program is manual and operates with little direct IPEd support. The key recommendations encourage operational support for the program in the same way that other programs have received administrative support from IPEd staff. This will enable the strategic direction to develop with more ease and focus, with the potential for the Mentoring Program to have a far greater scope.
The recommendations include:
- Keeping the flexible model, which promotes accessibility. More structured or intensive mentoring program types could be developed for specific areas.
- streamlining processes, using IPEd systems and staff resources
- developing a cross-promotional marketing strategy to raise the profile of the program
- developing an engagement strategy for mentor-to-mentor peer support
- identifying lower-cost or ‘mini-mentoring’ options, but continuing to charge a fee for all formal mentoring arrangements.
An action plan is in place to implement the recommendations of the review.
In other news, Elizabeth Manning Murphy DE has stepped down from her role as a Co-Chair of the standing committee. Elizabeth will remain involved in the program in program advisory capacities. Ted Briggs AE continues as Coordinator, and Kate Horgan (ACT) has stepped in temporarily as a joint Coordinator.
Shannon Kelly has stepped down as NSW Branch Coordinator. We thank Shannon for his enthusiasm and dedication to the program over several years. And we are very pleased to welcome Maureen Shelley to the committee to take over from Shannon.