Lucy is a mentoring program which connects women studying business, finance, accounting and law, with successful women in the public and private sectors. Applications for the 2009 Program have now closed.
What is Lucy?
Lucy is an innovative leadership program with a primary focus on undergraduate women in university studying business, finance, accounting and law. The Program inspires, motivates and educates women about the opportunities available for employment and leadership in the public and private sectors.
Over a period of weeks, mentors and students will work together on a small work related project while also attending some larger group sessions to meet and learn from other program participants. The Program will include an Introductory Information Session followed by a Work Based Activity, totalling 35 hours in the Mentor’s workplace, and organised to suit individual Mentor-Student commitments. The Final Session will review and provide an opportunity to hear about WBA outcomes and mentoring experiences. Mentor and student kits will be provided to participants outlining respective roles and responsibilities and guidance to complete the Program.
Minister’s Message
Verity Firth, Minister for Education and Training, Minster for Women:
"I am pleased to support the Lucy Mentoring Program which was developed in 2004 and has expanded to include additional urban and regional universities.
Longitudinal research indicates that the Program has had ongoing benefits for students, who have gained confidence, communication, time management and leadership skills as a direct result of being mentored. The majority of students involved in the research continue to be motivated to strive for leadership positions after completing 'Lucy.'
While women continue to be under-represented in leadership and decision-making positions, programs such as 'Lucy' make an important contribution in helping to redress this imbalance."
The Mentoring Relationship
Mentors are selected on the basis of their life and work experience in the corporate or public sectors and willingness to share their time, skills and workplace with a student. Mentors are generally senior managers and are recruited from the finance, accounting, business and legal sectors.
Second and subsequent year students are recruited through an Expression of Interest (EOI) process. Applicants indicate areas of professional interest and these are matched as closely as possible with the mentor’s area of expertise.
2009 Lucy Mentoring Program Opening Function
The opening function for the 2009 Lucy Mentoring Program was held at the Scientia on Thursday 6th August.
This year the program has grown again and 44 students are participating with 59 senior executive mentors.
Guest speakers delivered inspiring words of wisdom for our students and mentors:
Gabrielle Upton UNSW Deputy Chancellor, Associate Professor Prem Ramburuth Associate Dean Undergraduate Programs and Education, Australian School of Business at UNSW, Nicholle Lindner Senior Strategy & Business Development Principal with National Australia Bank and Yiota Kaliaropoulos 3rd year Commerce / Law student.
Distinguished guests included Richard Henry UNSW Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Danna Vale MP Federal Member for Hughes, Delegate - International Parliamentary Union.
Click here for more photos.
Information Packs and How to Apply
Applications for the 2010 program will be open in June 2010. For more information about the Lucy Mentoring Program, download our Lucy Information Packs.
Revisit the 2008 Lucy Mentoring Program
In the 2008 Lucy Mentoring Program, 40 female students studying business, finance, economics, accounting and law, were linked with 56 senior executives from numerous high-profile organisations including Deloitte, Westpac, JP Morgan and the Attorney General’s Department.
The Program was launched on 28th August with many of the students meeting their mentors for the first time. Director of NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet, Office for Women’s Policy, Gillian Ferguson, UNSW Deputy Chancellor, Gabrielle Upton and Dean of the Australian School of Business, Professor Alec Cameron were guest speakers at the opening function.
"It is a fantastic concept and a unique opportunity to experience the "real world" and start to make sense of their long term career and life plan." (2008 Lucy Mentor)
"The Lucy Mentoring Program was an incredibly rewarding experience and I am very grateful to have had this opportunity to be a part of it. I have learnt so much from this experience and have been inspired to continue to develop and improve myself. This program has made a significant difference to all the participants. Thank you to all the organisers of this program for making it happen!" (2008 Lucy Mentee)
Deloitte proudly hosted the closing celebrations on 27th November. It was a deserved finale for all participants, as it represented the coming together of female mentors and their mentees who have been inspired, motivated and educated by their 'Lucy experience'. Margaret Dreyer, Lead Partner of the Deloitte Inspiring Women Program and Professor David Dixon, Dean of the Faculty of Law were guest speakers at the closing function.
Revisit the 2007 UNSW Lucy Mentoring Program