Awards celebrate mentorship in education

THE recent achievements of two Bacchus Marsh College teachers helps illustrate the value of mentorship in education.

Stephanie Hutchison and Dianne Sherwood have been named nationally among just eight recipients of the Jane Hansen 2025 Teach for Australia Alumni Awards for their working partnership.

Announced yesterday, Thursday 6 November, the awards come amid recent Australian Teacher Workforce data findings that mentorship is particularly beneficial for teachers.

Assistant principal Dianne Sherwood and teacher Stephanie Hutchison began working together in 2024.

Ms Sherwood mentored and worked alongside Ms Hutchison, a second-year associate at the time, to help the secondary school’s Year 12 English class reach its full potential.

While Ms Hutchison’s mentoring experience saw her encourage one student to become the first in their family to go to university, Ms Sherwood reflected on how rewarding it was to coach her colleague through the year.

She said their goal is “to funnel that success back into the school in terms of encouraging students to reach for their full potential.”

“I guess we see our students through a very strength-based lens,” Ms Sherwood said.

“For me it’s less about a personal achievement and more about celebrating the success of our students and really highlighting what’s possible.”

Ms Hutchinson said becoming a Teach for Australia alumni and participating in the mentorship program was very professionally fulfilling.

“It’s incredible,” she said.

“It’s a pathway that just opens doors for you, but for me it’s very much about the kids at the end of the day.

“Di and my partnership has always been with the children in mind. We started developing our partnership in 2023 and last year we were integral to the growth of the VCE cohort.

“But it really does come down to those kids who were ready and really wanted to grow and achieve their best.

“I think if we can help build our children’s confidence in their own ability it will open doors for them, whatever pathway they choose.”