Mentorship Matching Program

"The OPA mentorship is a great program for a number of reasons: 1) It's an opportunity to access a wealth of knowledge for your own career development; 2) It's a relatively easy way to give back to your profession; and 3) Most important in my mind, by sharing our knowledge with each other, we all benefit today, while creating a constantly growing foundation of knowledge that ensures the sustainability of our profession for future generations of physios and patients/clients. By participating in the mentorship program, we're all leaving a legacy for our profession!"

Kim Wolny
President
Ontario Physiotherapy Association

Are you an OPA member who is interested in?

• Enhancing your personal and professional role development?
• Expanding your professional network?
• Learning how to enhance your career and job satisfaction?
• Building your leadership capacity?
• Facilitating a career transition within the health sector?
• Developing your mentorship skills?

The Mentorship Project includes:

• Software matching of a mentee to a mentor with appropriate expertise
• Support to initiate and establish your mentorship relationship
• Access to on-line educational modules and tools which facilitate mentor and mentee interaction (June 2007)
• Ongoing participation in the program evaluation
• Attendance at a 1-day Mentorship Orientation Workshop to link mentors and mentees and to develop mentorship skills on Saturday May 26th 2007. Expenses for attending the workshop will be fully paid for the first 30 members enrolled.

"Every physiotherapist has some unique experience, knowledge, or ideas to share. The Mentorship Matching program provides an excellent venue to connect physiotherapists and leverage the cumulative abilities of our members. Mentorship doesn't have age limits or years of practice constraints. I am looking forward to participating in the program both as a mentor and a mentee."

Mark Beadle
President-Elect
Ontario Physiotherapy Association

Mentorship Matching

The Mentorship Matching Program is an online software matching program which is built on the new CPA membership database. Access is available through the member's side of the CPA website.

How are the matches made?

OPA members volunteering to mentor will use an easy four step wizard to confirm basic information and to identify practice areas in which they can act as a mentor. The volunteer mentor will complete a 200 word professional profile and will consent to the release of key professional and contact information to mentees. Members interested in receiving mentorship will search the mentorship database for mentor matches that meet their self identified requirements and professional goals. Mentees will agree to use mentor information exclusively for the purpose for which it is released. Mentorship relationships can occur via telephone, e-mail or in person depending on geography.

Mentee and Mentor Enrolment

Use this link to enter the member's only section of the CPA website.

First Time Visitors to the CPA website will need to register to obtain a username and password. Members already registered for the CPA site can provide their email address and password to access the member's only services. If you have forgotten your password CPA can re-send you your password and/or activation link. Once your password provides access enter the Members Services box at the top and then select the mentorship program box on the left hand side to initiate the mentorship sign up process.

For more information use the questions link on the CPA website or contact OPA at physiomail@opa.on.ca or by phone 1-800-672-9668.

This project is funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care Interprofessional, Mentorship, Preceptorship, Leadership and Coaching Fund