Information for mentors

Eligibility criteria

The mentee's immediate supervisor or manager is an ideal mentor, provided they meet the eligibility criteria. An eligible mentor can be working full-time, part-time or be retired, and must:

• be of full CPA or FCPA status, or a full member of a professional body which is a member of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) 
• be a member in good standing with CPA Australia or of a professional body which is a member of IFAC

It is also preferable that your mentor has some experience in supervision, management or mentoring and has the ability to evaluate and provide direction. CPA Australia strongly recommends that your immediate supervisor or manager acts as your mentor, provided they meet the eligibility criteria. However, this may not be possible in some situations.

Full members of IFAC are accepted by CPA Australia as eligible mentors. For a full listing, refer to the IFAC website.

The role of the mentor

The mentor must:

• act as a sounding board
• share knowledge and experience
• help the mentee to select appropriate areas of work within the technical skill area
• assist and guide the mentee in the collection of appropriate workplace evidence
• sight the mentee's workplace evidence
• sign off on each skill in the logbook as it is demonstrated
• sign the practical experience requirement update form upon completion of the mentoring relationship

Note: the role of the mentor is not to tutor or coach the Associate member through the professional level. CPA Australia offers support on the professional level in many ways including forums, study groups and workshops.

Confidentiality and privacy

As a mentor, you will be required to sight your mentee's workplace evidence to determine if they have satisfactorily demonstrated various skills in their chosen areas of work. If you are outside the mentee's workplace, you must treat sighted workplace evidence confidentially.

The Associate member has access to the evidence of knowledge form which is designed to assist with these kinds of situations. The Associate member may also be able to black out confidential details which would allow you to sight the actual evidence. Discuss these options with your mentee if this situation arises.