UniMentors online training modules
| Site: | learnonline |
| Course: | UniMentors Online Training Modules |
| Book: | UniMentors online training modules |
| Printed by: | Guest user |
| Date: | Friday, 26 September 2025, 3:58 AM |
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UniMentors are UniSA students who understand the challenges of being a new student and can provide information, guidance and advice to help new students navigate uni life. |
The UniMentor program aims to:
- provide information, guidance and advice to help new students navigate uni life.
- share knowledge developed through the practical experience of being a UniSA student.
- develop individual skills.
- increase awareness of services that support learning & well being.
- provide opportunities for students to meet each other.
As a UniMentor you will have an opportunity to:
- help other students and share experiences learnt from past challenges.
- Develop interpersonal and communication skills.
- develop employability skills & graduate qualities.
- build a global network of friends.
-
become more involved in university life.
Additional rewards
- Access to professional development opportunities.
- Be recognised with certificate, gift voucher, UniSA+ points, and invitation to Opal Gala .
UniMentors are expected to:
engage with students in a friendly, understanding manner
Provide tips to new students about university life and study
Provide important links and social connections
direct students to UniSA services
UniMentors are not expected to:
spend more than 1-2 hours per week assisting their mentees
act as a student advocate
deal with distressed students
UniMentors will not:
give advice on academic matters
disclose any information gained in conversation apart from reporting concerns about a student’s welfare to their coordinator
get involved in discussions about personal issues
As a UniMentor your responsibilities will be to:
- Commit to 15 hours per semester to UniMentor program.
- Complete training & induction.
- Contact your Student Engagement Officer if for any reason you are unable to continue in the program.
- Attend x1 ‘Meet a UniMentor’ event and be involved in Orientation, inc of Campus Connect up to 10hrs
- Answer the students enquiries if you get matched with a mentee.
- Complete feedback as requested.
- Be in touch with your peers on the UniMentors Teams channel. You will be added to this channel once you complete training.
Please note that more information about how achieve UniMentor Leader Award will be shared with you.
UniSA values student volunteers and commits to providing and promoting volunteering opportunities to build students’ knowledge, skills and experience, while increasing confidence and cultural competencies.
Responsibilities as a Volunteer in UniMentor program
As a volunteer, you have responsibilities and rights as outlined below:
To provide meaningful roles that contribute to our organisation’s purpose, goals and objectives. (National Volunteering Standard 3.2)
Volunteer roles are clearly defined, documented and communicated (National Volunteering Standard 3.3)
Volunteer roles are reviewed regularly including through feedback and engagement with volunteers about their experience communicated (National Volunteering Standard 3.4)
Volunteers will be provided with relevant induction and training. (National Volunteering Standard 5.1)
Volunteers are engaged with throughout their time with an organisation or group and provided with supervision and support that enables them to participate fully. (National Volunteering Standard 5.3)
Processes are in place to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of volunteers in their capacity as volunteers, including relevant insurances. (National Volunteering Standard 6.3)
Volunteer contribution, value and impact are understood, appreciated and acknowledged with volunteers appropriately and reported back to the organisation. (National Volunteering Standards 7.2 and 7.3)
Expectations of you as a volunteer at UniMentor program:
To abide by the Code of Conduct for students.
Attend volunteer placement at agreed times.
Contact your Student Engagement Officer if you are unable to attend your volunteering role.
Update your contact details if they change.
Appreciate and respect the confidential nature of information that may be acquired during the course of your duties.
Discuss any problems with your Student Engagement Officer.
Agree to work in a safe and healthy way and not jeopardise the health and safety of others.
Abide by policies and procedures as defined by the University Volunteer Program.
Inform your volunteer coordinator of any pre-existing medical conditions or special needs of which the University should be aware of that might affect your ability to undertake certain duties.
Report any accident, incident or injury immediately to your Student Engagement Officer.
Student Support Services
As a UniMentor, students will rely on you to direct them to the appropriate UniSA services. Familiarise yourself with the services:
Wirringka Student Services (for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students)
UniSA Health Medical Clinic (LGBTIQ+ friendly)
USASA (Clubs)
Responding to disclosures of sexual harm
SASH Guide
Please familiarise yourself with SASH Guide . This document will guide you through how to respond to disclosures of sexual harm.
Remember: As a peer you are there to listen, believe, support and refer to other services that will do the rest. You do not need to be a counsellor and it is not your responsibility to fix this situation.
What is UniSA+?
UniSA+ is open to all UniSA students and recognises your excellent co-curricular efforts and is endorsed by the Vice Chancellor.
If you complete one semester as a UniMentor and all your responsibilities, your efforts will automatically count towards 15 hours of the UniSA+ Volunteering Challenge. If you continue as a UniMentor for another semester, your time will count towards another 15 hours of the UniSA+ Volunteering Challenge. UniMentor volunteering hours will be capped at 30 hours.
If you achieve UniMentor Leader Award in one semester, this will automatically count towards one Leadership Program in the UniSA+ Leader Challenge. No matter if you gain UniMentor Leader status in the following semester, you will only be able to claim for one Leadership Program.
We'll share more information at the UniMentor program inductions about how you can become a UniMentor Leader.
To benefit, you will need to register to be a part of UniSA+. To read more and register, visit unisa.edu.au/unisaplus.
Communication skills are vital to a successful mentor/mentee relationship. Whether you are communicating face to face, via email, phone, social media, in a group or one on one there are a number of things you need to keep in mind in order to be a good communicator.
Communication tips
Listen
Being a good listener is one of the best ways to be a good communicator.
Practice active listening. Active listening involves paying close attention to what the other person is saying, asking clarifying questions, and rephrasing what the person says to ensure understanding ("So, what you're saying is.......)
Through active listening, you can better understand what the other person is trying to say, and can respond appropriately.
Non verbal communication
Your body language, eye contact, hand gestures, and tone all affect the message you are trying to convey. A relaxed, open stance (arms open, legs relaxed), and a friendly tone will make you appear approachable, and will encourage others to speak openly with you.
Eye contact is also important; you want to look the person in the eye to demonstrate that you are focused on the person and the conversation (however, be sure not to stare at the person, which can make him or her uncomfortable).
Also pay attention to other people's nonverbal signals while you are talking.
Clarity and Concision
Good communication means saying just enough – don’t talk too much or too little. Say what you want clearly and directly, whether you're speaking to someone in person, on the phone, or via email. If you ramble on, your listener will either tune you out or will be unsure of exactly what you want.
If you will be communicating with your mentees via email there are a number of factors you need to consider in regards to writing an effective email.
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Consider your audience when selecting your language and tone
- What might influence the way you communicate with your mentee?
- What intercultural factors do you think you need to be aware of?
Ongoing email communication
- How do we engage?
- Ask questions with genuine interest
- Share (where appropriate) about yourself so as to relate to what students are saying
- Ensure that you respond in a timely fashion, within 24 hours
- Empathise with your students… ‘yes, it can be difficult’ I too remember feeling ….’
- Remember you’re not there to solve their problems, so refer on to appropriate supports as necessary
Spelling, grammar & punctuation
- Never send an email without first re-reading it! Check for spelling, grammar and punctuation mistakes as spell check is not always reliable
- DO NOT YELL (ie. Don’t write in capitals!)
- Do not use abbreviations such as text speak
- If using acronyms, first explain the acronym, ie. Education Arts and Social Sciences (EASS)
Key things to remember
- Always re-read your email before sending
- Use Bcc when sending to more than one mentee as it protects recipients from having their e-mail addresses harvested and keeps e-mail lists private
- Answer in a timely fashion
- Answer all questions asked of you
- Consider your tone
- Remember that emails are permanent
- As a UniMentor, you are representing UniSA
Some communication tips to keep in mind when interacting with your mentees.
- Embrace diversity!
- Don't judge on the basis of your stereotypes and preconceptions
- Avoid stereotyping language and language which excludes people
- Speak slowly & seek clarification
- Use clear & precise pronunciation, avoid colloquialisms
- Be patient
Recommended Trainings
As UniMentors, you are highly encouraged to complete the below trainings:
Consent and Respectful Relationships (45mins)
- Be aware of Academic Support services. Remember to not give academic advice, instead please forward them to the relevant support services.
- Be aware of Wellbeing at UniSA and Student Mental Health Framework web resources to refer students to. Remember, you are not a counsellor.
What happens next?
Live induction session
The next stage of training involves attending a mandatory live induction session. You'll meet your Student Engagement Officer and other UniMentors at the induction and your questions will be answered. Make sure you have booked into a session.
You'll receive an email that contains the links to register soon.
After the induction
After completing your induction your Student Engagement Officer will contact you and provide any additional information required for you to start your role as a UniMentor!
Support
You can contact your Student Engagement Officer if you have any questions. Here is the list of Student Engagement Officers and their contact details:
City West Robert.Cook@unisa.edu.au
City East TBC
Magill Robert.Cook@unisa.edu.au
Mawson Lakes zoe.zweck@unisa.edu.au
Note for UniMentors based at Whyalla and Mount Gambier: Robert Cook is your Student Engagement Officer. You'll be also supported by the staff members based on your campus. We'll introduce the staff members to you directly via email!
Feedback
Please direct any feedback via UniSAMentors@unisa.edu.au