Your Mentor and Adviser
Make new friends, learn all you need to know about getting set up for life at University and discuss your study and career goals with an experienced Academic.
Make friends through the Melbourne Peer Mentor Program
Your first year at university involves a lot of exciting, and at times challenging, change.
Getting help and advice from a more experienced student can really help you settle into your new life at university. From Orientation, you will be matched with a senior BCom student and group of fellow commencing peers, who will help you navigate your first few months. Your mentor group will provide support and friendship, and refer you to university services that can enable you to feel more connected to the wider community and help you succeed in your journey.
You will learn about:
- Support services
- Programs and events
- Clubs and societies
- Study and assignment tips
- How to look after your wellbeing and more
Meet a BCom mentor
“Throughout the program, I have had an incredible opportunity to interact, learn and connect with new BCom students. The program has been enriching through regular interactive, fun and exciting sessions with my peers. I would encourage new students to engage and participate in this advantageous program.”
- Liam Maslen
Discuss your goals through Academic Advising
In the second semester of your first year of study, you will be matched with an accomplished academic in the Faculty of Business and Economics. You will have the opportunity to identify your areas of strength and personal interests, discuss your course options and seek personalised advice from an experienced professional about what’s on offer at the University.
You will meet with your adviser several times throughout your BCom. Your adviser will check in on your progress and help you make decisions about opportunities to take advantage of during your studies, so you feel confident in getting the most from your BCom.
Ask An Academic
Your Academic Adviser is here to support you during your University journey and can help you find your place in our BCom community. Meet some of our Academic Advisers.
Meet some of our academic advisers!
Click a picture to find out a little more about one of our many academics.
Professor Angela Paladino 
Associate Professor Helen Hu 
Mr Noel Boys 
Professor Susan Ainsworth
Professor Angela Paladino
What is one thing that might surprise your students once they get to know you? I have changed careers a number of times before becoming an academic. And I love abseiling and boxing to keep fit!
What is your favourite thing about being an Academic Adviser so far? Meeting students in an informal environment and helping them to navigate career options.
What are you passionate about? The environment and innovation. Sound strange? Ask me why at our next meeting.
Department: Business and Economics
Associate Professor Helen Hu
What is one thing that might surprise your students once they get to know you? I speak four languages.
What is your favourite thing about being an Academic Adviser so far? Building better connections with my students.
What are you passionate about? I am passionate about painting.
Department: Management and Marketing
Mr Noel Boys
What is one thing that might surprise your students once they get to know you? I'm not as dull as most accountants.
What is your favourite thing about being an Academic Adviser so far? I enjoy the pastoral nature of the role of Academic Adviser. It gives me the opportunity to let students see that I care about more than just whether they pass the exam in my subject. The prospect that I may stay in touch with a student years after they graduate because of the relationship developed during Academic Advice sessions is appealing.
What are you passionate about? My family, the Hawthorn Football Club, any major sports team from Boston, Chocolate, good coffee, debunking the myth that Accounting is boring.
Department: Accounting
Professor Susan Ainsworth
What is one thing that might surprise your students once they get to know you? I'm a Professor who is also a current student (at another university). I re-enrolled in my Diploma in Modern Languages after a 3-year break because of a commitment I gave to two of the students in my academic advising group in 2020.
What is your favourite thing about being an Academic Adviser so far? Finding out how accomplished, well-rounded and extraordinary our students are. I was not so, at their age.
What are you passionate about? Making organisations and workplaces more just, inclusive and humane - addressing inequality and disadvantage through employment and education. Education has a transformative power and everyone should be able to access it.
Department: Management and Marketing
When are my sessions?
First Year
Your Peer Mentoring sessions run several times throughout Semester 1 and once in Semester 2 of your first year. Your session times and dates can be found via your student portal.
Your Academic Advising sessions begin from your second semester of study. You will receive a notification letting you know that you have been matched with your adviser and that your first advising session has been scheduled. This first session is a group session with other students where you can discuss life at university, the various pathway options you can explore and the wide range of support services available at FBE.
| Commencing semester | Peer Mentoring begins | Academic Advising begins |
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1, 2022 | Semester 1, 2022 | Semester 2, 2022 |
| Semester 2, 2022 | Semester 2, 2022 | Semester 1, 2023 |
| Semester 1, 2023 | Semester 1, 2023 | Semester 2, 2023 |
Second Year
In your second year, you will meet with your adviser twice - once in first semester, then again in second semester. These are 1-on-1 sessions with your adviser where you can discuss your personal, academic and career goals. You also have the option of scheduling an additional session in your third year, if you would like to touch base with your adviser again.
| Year 1 (second semester) | 1 x 1-hour group meeting |
|---|---|
| Year 2 | 2 x 30-minute individual 1:1 meetings |
| Year 3 | 1 x 30-minute individual 1:1 meeting (optional) |
Visit Academic Advising at Melbourne for more details on the benefits, timeline and support services available to you, as well as answers to several FAQs.
If you're an experienced student looking for information on how to be a mentor, visit Peer Mentoring.
Contact us
Your Student Life team is here to ensure you have all the information you need to make the most out of your time at the Faculty of Business and Economics.