(Sept 2007)
This report provides some general information on mentoring and the use of mentoring models in a variety of industry sectors both within Australia and overseas. The report suggests that a formal mentoring model aligned to other workforce development strategies may be beneficial for the Australian upstream oil and gas industry.
The upstream oil and gas industry applies exacting standards to all areas of operation. In areas such as occupational health and safety, risk management, technical specifications and workforce development, the oil and gas industry applies the highest standards and expects employees, contractors and suppliers to accept and maintain these standards.
Mentoring programs for the upstream oil and gas industry need to satisfy the same rigorous standards that apply to all other areas of operation. Formal mentoring programs for the oil and gas sector will need to recognise and incorporate the following elements:
- Be initiated and implemented from within the sector
- Be an integral part of the industry’s normal workforce development practices
- Use as a foundation for mentoring practice a formal training program accepted throughout the sector
- Recognise ‘mentoring’ as a normal work activity
- Allocate ‘mentoring time’ as a formal part of work activity
- Provide formal recognition and reward for mentors
BGA developed the oil and gas mentoring model and produced this report for the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA) as part of a national project examining the shortage of skills in the oil and gas industry.