Thinking about applying for the ALIA Mentoring Scheme? In this reflective piece, mentee Jacinta Ward and mentor Martin Payne share their experiences of the program, exploring the value of a well-matched mentoring relationship, the insights gained through strategic conversations, and the lasting professional connections that can emerge along the way.

Mentee Perspective - Jacinta Ward 

When I had applied for the ALIA Mentoring Program, I had recently stepped into a new leadership role as Library Services Coordinator at Western Downs Regional Council. I oversee a service of nine library branches spread across a vast geographical region, and I was very aware that the scale and complexity of the role required a shift into high-level strategic thinking. 

Along with managing the branches, I was juggling several significant pieces of work: the development of a new Library Strategic Plan, and detailed planning for a brand new library facility as part of the future Cultural Centre. I was looking for perspective, and practical insight from someone who had already navigated similar challenges. More than anything, I wanted a mentor with experience at a strategic level, someone who understood large regional services, multiple branches, and long-term planning.  

I was fortunate to be matched with Martin Payne from Lake Macquarie, whose experience closely aligned with the strategic work I was undertaking. Martin works within a council context similar in scale to Western Downs, with multiple branches, recent new library facilities, and recently completed strategic planning work. It was a genuine 'right match' and that made a significant difference to the value of the program for me.  

Our mentoring relationship was practical. We met monthly and our conversations filled the full hour - even on days when I arrived thinking there wasn't much to discuss. There was always something to unpack, whether it was strategic planning, leadership challenges, or broader sector issues. Having access to Martin's experience, combined with his external perspective, gave me clarity and confidence.  

One particularly valuable outcome was a shift in how I think about long-term workforce planning. Conversations around ageing workforces and succession planning weren't front of mind when I entered the program, but they are now a clear and important priority in how I approach leadership and planning.  

As a result of the mentoring program, my confidence and decision-making have strengthened. I feel more assured navigating complex issues and more comfortable making strategic calls. It has reinforced the scale of opportunity within libraries, the breadth of what they can do and the importance of strategic leadership in enabling that potential. A tangible outcome of this support is that our Library Strategic Plan is now in its final stages of approval and due to be endorsed by Council later this month.  

My experience of the program was different to some others. I didn't engage heavily with the webinars, as many were geared towards entry-level roles. However, even without that component, the one-to-one mentoring relationship alone made the program invaluable.  

I'll admit, I was surprised by just how positive the experience was, particularly as I haven't always had strong experiences with mentoring in the past. This program genuinely shifted that perception. Beyond the formal structure, I've gained a trusted professional relationship and colleague I hope to continue learning from well into the future.  

I would strongly encourage anyone considering the ALIA Mentoring Program, at any stage of their career, to apply. The value of a well-matched mentor cannot be overstated, and ALIA did an outstanding job matching mentors and mentees in a way that genuinely supports meaningful, impactful relationships.  

Mentor Perspective - Martin Payne 

Being matched with Jacinta through the ALIA Mentoring Program was genuinely rewarding, not only because of the alignment between our roles, but because Jacinta brought an energetic, thoughtful and already well-developed leadership approach to the conversations. From the outset, it was clear Jacinta was not looking for reassurance or a checklist. She was looking for strategic perspective, challenge, and a sounding board as she navigated complex, high-stakes work. That level of readiness and alignment meant our discussions could go straight to the issues that matter most in regional library leadership: long-term planning, multi-branch service realities, and how to hold steady direction while managing day-to-day operational pressures. 

From a mentor’s perspective, one of the strongest benefits of working with someone as experienced and motivated as Jacinta was the chance to test approaches in real time. When I shared frameworks or lessons from my own strategic planning and facility development experiences, Jacinta engaged with them immediately. She probed assumptions, adapted ideas to her context, and reported back on what held true and what needed adjusting. That iterative loop sharpened the quality of our conversations and helped ensure the mentoring was practical rather than theoretical. It also reinforced the value of reflective practice. When you articulate why you made certain decisions in the past, you often see your own work more clearly. 

Over time, our sessions also validated many of my own experiences in a meaningful way. Hearing Jacinta describe similar challenges, such as balancing long-term strategic intent with local branch realities, leading through change, and making decisions with imperfect information, confirmed that the leadership pressures in regional services are remarkably consistent, even across different councils and geographies. Just as importantly, Jacinta’s progress underscored that clear strategic thinking and steady leadership do translate into tangible outcomes. Seeing her Library Strategic Plan move into final approval stages was a timely reminder that the slow work of strategy, consultation and clarity is worth the effort. 

Finally, I have come away from the program with a stronger appreciation for what mentoring can look like when both people are suitably aligned and committed to purposeful conversation. Jacinta’s openness, curiosity and willingness to act on insights made this a two-way professional exchange, one that strengthened my confidence in the approaches I have used and expanded my thinking about emerging priorities like workforce planning and succession. I am grateful to ALIA for the quality of the match, and I value the professional relationship that has grown from it. I look forward to staying connected as colleagues, and to continuing to learn from one another beyond the formal program.