By Nalini Klopp

Through pairing Bachelor of Medical Science (Laboratory Medicine) (BMSLM) graduates with students on placement, the Industry Partner Mentoring Program (IPMP) allows early-career alumni to give back to their community by sharing their recent experiences and insights with current students navigating similar paths.

Currently in its first year, the program empowers students to achieve their career goals, fostering a supportive environment for personal and professional advancement in the field of laboratory medicine, with the aim to enhance skills, boost confidence and help students prepare for future roles.

Mentors provide insights into the industry, helping students navigate challenges and make informed career decisions. The personalised guidance from alumni allows students to accelerate their learning and development.

For alumni, mentoring provides a rewarding sense of accomplishment and the opportunity to reflect on a mentor’s own journey. Mentors play a crucial role in shaping the future of the industry and supporting the next generation of medical scientists. – Nalini Klopp, Director, Graduate Career Readiness, Flinders University

As a recent medical graduate, Hannah Gapps (BMedSc(LabMed) ’23) knows how much becoming a mentor could help students going through their placements.

“I know that if I had had the opportunity to have a recent graduate help answer questions and guide me through what I should be getting out of my placement experience, I would have utilised it,” she says.

For early-career alumni like Hannah, mentoring is not only about giving back; it also supports professional growth by enhancing leadership and communication skills and encouraging personal reflection. Guiding mentees provides a rewarding sense of accomplishment and personal achievements, while also playing a crucial role in shaping the future of the industry and supporting the next generation of medical scientists.

Hannah’s mentee, Rosie Holmes, found the program to have been a massive help throughout her placement.

“It’s been great to have someone close to my age who has similar experiences to me, to talk about aspects of my placement, whether good or bad – although I’ve had very little bad to say so far! I hope to be a mentor myself next year, after I have graduated.”

If you would like to become a mentor in the program, you can contact lara.escane@flinders.edu.au, or to find out about other opportunities to be a mentor across the university, contact the alumni team on alumni@flinders.edu.au.