Leveraging networks to provide guidance to early-career microbiologists: the Australian Society for Microbiology...

In Australia, most mentoring programs are organization-based, rather than discipline-based. To address the need to support our early career microbiologists, we leveraged the professional membership of the Australian Society for Microbiology (ASM) to develop and evaluate the performance of a mentoring program. The ASM Mentoring Program (ASMMP) was a national 6-month program in which 33 mentor-mentee pairs were matched and met monthly from June to December 2023. Over 80% of respondents agreed ASMMP was a beneficial, rewarding experience and would recommend the program to a colleague. Mentees reported a sense of improved career planning, networking skills, and a better working relationship with their line manager/supervisor. Most mentors reported a sense of fulfilment from being able to support and guide their mentee. Overall, ASMMP was a manageable and cost-effective strategy for the ASM to support the professional development of early career members while addressing an unmet mentoring need.