Mentor Tools
How Mentor Tools were developed
Mentor Tools use structured questions based on established problem-solving, reflection, goal-setting and action-planning approaches. Relevant Australian health, wellbeing and workplace guidance was consulted during development.
Consulting these sources does not mean that any organisation has endorsed, approved or partnered in the development of Mentor Tools. Mentor Tools are not clinical assessments or treatment.
Date last reviewed: pending professional reviewContent version: 1.0
The organisations and resources listed were consulted as sources of general guidance. They have not endorsed, approved or partnered in the development of Mentor Tools. No organisation logos are used.
To report a content concern, contact Man Counsellor.
Tool content register
What Is Actually Going On?
v1.0- Purpose:
- Define the real problem rather than reacting to the first explanation.
- Approach:
- Structured problem-solving; fact–assumption separation; pattern recognition.
- Sources consulted:
- Healthdirect Australia, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Safe Work Australia — psychosocial hazards
- Sources checked:
- 2026-07
- Review status:
- Reference to relevant Australian guidance — not clinically validated
- Next review:
- 2026-10
- Limitations:
- General self-guided reflection. Not a diagnosis or assessment.
Stay, Change or Leave?
v1.0- Purpose:
- Assess a job, FIFO role, relationship, living arrangement or commitment without an impulsive decision.
- Approach:
- Decisional balance; values clarification; option generation.
- Sources consulted:
- Healthdirect Australia, MensLine Australia, Safe Work Australia, 1800RESPECT
- Sources checked:
- 2026-07
- Review status:
- Reference to relevant Australian guidance — not clinically validated
- Next review:
- 2026-10
- Limitations:
- Does not direct users to end relationships or resign. Safety routing interrupts where violence is disclosed.
The Decision Stress Test
v1.0- Purpose:
- Test an important decision before acting.
- Approach:
- Decisional balance; cognitive-behavioural principles; state-dependent decision avoidance.
- Sources consulted:
- Healthdirect Australia, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Beyond Blue
- Sources checked:
- 2026-07
- Review status:
- Reference to relevant Australian guidance — not clinically validated
- Next review:
- 2026-10
- Limitations:
- No decision score is generated. Not a clinical assessment.
What Am I Avoiding?
v1.0- Purpose:
- Identify avoidance without shame and define a smallest useful action.
- Approach:
- Motivational interviewing principles; implementation intentions; behaviour-change planning.
- Sources consulted:
- Healthdirect Australia, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
- Sources checked:
- 2026-07
- Review status:
- Reference to relevant Australian guidance — not clinically validated
- Next review:
- 2026-10
- Limitations:
- General self-guided reflection. Not a treatment for anxiety disorders.
After a Mistake
v1.0- Purpose:
- Respond constructively after a setback without minimising harm or self-punishment.
- Approach:
- Reflective practice; relapse-prevention planning; accountability planning.
- Sources consulted:
- MensLine Australia, 1800RESPECT, Safe Work Australia
- Sources checked:
- 2026-07
- Review status:
- Reference to relevant Australian guidance — not clinically validated
- Next review:
- 2026-10
- Limitations:
- Does not generate contact where family violence, legal restrictions or investigations may apply.
My Next 7 Days
v1.0- Purpose:
- Turn insight into a short, realistic action plan.
- Approach:
- Goal setting; implementation intentions; self-efficacy; accountability planning.
- Sources consulted:
- Healthdirect Australia, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
- Sources checked:
- 2026-07
- Review status:
- Reference to relevant Australian guidance — not clinically validated
- Next review:
- 2026-10
- Limitations:
- Self-guided planning. Completion depends on the user; the app does not monitor follow-through.
The Conversation I Keep Avoiding
v1.0- Purpose:
- Help a user prepare for a difficult conversation without deciding the outcome for them.
- Approach:
- Communication planning; active listening; conflict de-escalation; boundary clarification.
- Sources consulted:
- MensLine Australia — communication and conflict guidance
- Sources checked:
- 2026-09
- Review status:
- Reference to relevant Australian guidance — not clinically validated
- Next review:
- 2026-12
- Limitations:
- Not mediation, legal advice or a determination of who is right.
Work Has Become My Identity
v1.0- Purpose:
- Help a user identify what work provides, what it has crowded out and one part of life outside work to strengthen.
- Approach:
- Values clarification; role balance; identity reflection; small-step action planning.
- Sources consulted:
- Healthdirect Australia — work-related stress, Safe Work Australia — psychosocial hazards
- Sources checked:
- 2026-09
- Review status:
- Reference to relevant Australian guidance — not clinically validated
- Next review:
- 2026-12
- Limitations:
- Not a burnout assessment, career assessment or recommendation to leave employment.
The Swing Reset
v1.0- Purpose:
- Help a FIFO or remote worker separate personal actions from workplace factors and choose an early response for the swing.
- Approach:
- Recovery planning; control sorting; implementation intentions; psychosocial-hazard awareness.
- Sources consulted:
- Safe Work Australia — remote or isolated work, Safe Work Australia — psychosocial hazards, Safe Work Australia — fatigue, Healthdirect Australia — sleep and shift work
- Sources checked:
- 2026-09
- Review status:
- Reference to relevant Australian guidance — not clinically validated
- Next review:
- 2026-12
- Limitations:
- Not a fitness-for-work assessment, fatigue assessment, WHS investigation or substitute for workplace risk controls.
Returning Home Without Bringing Site With You
v1.0- Purpose:
- Help a FIFO or remote worker clarify expectations and plan a more deliberate transition from site to home.
- Approach:
- Transition planning; expectation clarification; communication planning; recovery and reconnection.
- Sources consulted:
- Healthdirect Australia — sleep and shift work, Safe Work Australia — remote or isolated work, MensLine Australia — communication guidance, Relationships Australia — respectful relationships
- Sources checked:
- 2026-09
- Review status:
- Reference to relevant Australian guidance — not clinically validated
- Next review:
- 2026-12
- Limitations:
- Not relationship counselling, family-violence risk assessment or a judgement about a partner or family member.