2025 recipients announced!
We are thrilled to announce the recipients of the 2025 National Teacher Mentorship, supported by the Australian Government and Teachers Mutual Bank.
Thank you to all teachers who applied from across Australia, who shared with us their unique challenges and ambitions. We are, as always, in awe of the work you do.
The following teachers will be joining us for specialist training at Bell Shakespeare HQ, Pier 2/3 Walsh Bay, in February 2025. On return to their school they will receive support and mentoring from the Company for one year. Congratulations from all of us at Bell Shakespeare - we can't wait to work with you.
2025 National Teacher Mentorship recipients:
Nicole Allen, Young High School NSW
Jenny Blow, Sunshine College, Melbourne VIC
Joanne Corlett, Champion Bay Senior High School, Geraldton WA
Sam Crook, Gulgong High School NSW
Andrew Dabner, Brunswick East Primary School VIC
Sian Edeson, Woodroffe Primary School NT
Blythe Ellis, Collingwood English Language School VIC
Daynah Elford, Rooty Hill High School NSW
William Fitzgerald, Kingston High School TAS
Rebecca Graham, Wingham High School NSW
Kelly Green, Allegra School, Coffs Harbour NSW
Felicity Harley, Melville High School NSW
Sian Harrington, Hawker College ACT
Lucy Harris, Thuringowa State High School, Condon QLD
Amy Johnson, Kingston State College QLD
Ahrain Kidman-Schier, Goroke P-12 College VIC
Stephanus Krynauw, Bunbury Senior High School WA
Ewan Macdonald, Baimbridge College, Hamilton VIC
Whitney McCarthy-Cole, Downlands College, Toowoomba QLD
Rachel Vonk, Newman Senior School WA
Kenneth Nixon, Cairns State High School QLD
Meghan Pfeiffer, St Philips College, Alice Springs NT
Ellen Rees, Hobart College TAS
Alexandria Rix, Cranebrook High School NSW
Jo Scales, Montrose Bay High School TAS
Joanne Severino-Risso, Broken Hill High School NSW
Karen Sutherland, Chaffey Secondary College, Mildura VIC
Natalie Webb, William Carey Christian School, Prestons NSW
Louise Willson, Centenary Heights State High School QLD
Keer Zhang, St John's College, Dubbo NSW
Proudly supported by Teachers Mutual Bank and the Australian government.
Every year we welcome 30 teachers from across the country to Bell Shakespeare HQ in Sydney. We train them over four intensive days in innovative Shakespeare strategies, active learning principles, and teaching techniques to engage all learners across all year levels. Then, on return to their schools, we mentor teachers for the remainder of the year, providing support, guidance and resources as and when they need it.
It’s designed to strengthen your Shakespeare teaching arsenal, but teachers tell us the value of the mentorship program extends far beyond that.
It’s a program that allows teachers to engage deeply with their own learning and reflect on their practice; to be looked after so that for a few days, they can be a student again. It’s a program that reignites passion for teaching. It creates networks of support in a profession that can wear you down. The strategies we teach can be applied to any text, far beyond Shakespeare’s plays.
100% of alumni teachers reported that the mentorship program has had a positive impact on their teaching practice. Each year our mentorship recipients range from early career teachers to those with decades of experience, and all have found the experience valuable and transformative in different ways.
We’re looking for the next 30 teachers who are ready to take up this opportunity to level up in their teaching. If this sounds like the program you need, and you can demonstrate the unique needs of your school and community, we encourage you to apply.
KEY DATES
- Group 1 training at Bell Shakespeare HQ: 18 – 21 February 2025
- Group 2 training at Bell Shakespeare HQ: 25 – 28 February 2025
Please note, these dates are not inclusive of travel to and from Sydney.
WHO'S IT FOR?
To be eligible candidates must:
- be an English and/or Drama teacher from Australian primary and secondary schools, at any stage of their teaching career;
- be able to demonstrate a case for need for the program;
- be able to clearly demonstrate the potential value of participation in the program to the applying teacher and their school community.
Teachers from regional and remote schools, and schools with diverse student populations, are strongly encouraged to apply.
See full terms and conditions here.
WHAT IS INCLUDED?
- Four days specialist training at Bell Shakespeare HQ in Sydney, including associated travel and accommodation;
- Mentoring from Bell Shakespeare artists and staff for one year;
- Access to Bell Shakespeare resources and education programs;
- Support with the creation of a unit of work, including feedback;
- Connection with a national community and support network of like-minded teachers; and
- Ongoing relationship and connection with Bell Shakespeare post-mentorship year.
WHAT IS THE COST TO THE SCHOOL?
All travel, accommodation and Professional Learning expenses are provided. Breakfasts, lunches and one dinner are provided for the week of training. The only cost to the school is one week of relief teaching while the participating teacher is in Sydney for training.
HOW TO APPLY
Applications for the 2025 National Teacher Mentorship have now closed. To register your interest in attending the 2026 National Teacher Mentorship, fill out this form and we will be in touch once applications open.