NIBA College has extended its professional mentoring program to Victoria, two years after establishing the scheme in NSW.

The program matches industry veterans with young professionals to foster their personal and professional development.

NIBA is calling for applications from young professionals and potential mentors in Victorian brokerages, insurance offices and associated businesses.

Participants will attend weekly meetings with their industry partner in addition to three program workshops, beginning in September before culminating in a final presentation in early December.

NIBA E-learning Development Co-ordinator Caroline Campbell told insuranceNEWS.com.au “great support” for the NSW program since its establishment in August 2008 led to the decision to extend the program to Victoria.

“Mentors are often quite surprised at what they get out of it,” she said. “This gives them a chance to impart some of their knowledge. It’s about handing the baton over, in a way.”

Ms Campbell says the program is likely to start on a small scale in Victoria and then spread by word of mouth, with about 30 participants taking part in the latest program in NSW.

She says there is potential to extend the scheme beyond NSW and Victoria to WA, with NIBA members in SA and Tasmania also expressing interest in the scheme.