ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Who is the teacher or mentor who made a difference to your life? And what does it really take to make a difference to someone else's?
As we approach World Teachers’ Day 2026 on October the 30th, Talking Teaching celebrates the remarkable influence of teachers and the relationships that shape our profession.
Host Dr Sophie Specjal is joined by Dr Amanda Samson, Lecturer at the University of Melbourne's Faculty of Education, and Hayley Dureau, Assistant Principal at Mentone Girls’ Secondary College and doctoral researcher at the University of Melbourne.
Together, they explore the power of mentoring, from the small moments of encouragement that stay with us for a lifetime to the responsibility of nurturing the next generation of teachers.
But mentoring is about more than generosity and good intentions. Who gets to decide what makes a great teacher? How might unconscious bias influence who feels welcomed, supported and encouraged to succeed? And what happens when mentors move beyond offering guidance to actively creating opportunities for others?
Drawing on research, professional experience and personal stories, Sophie, Amanda and Hayley explore:
The mentors who shape us: Why the people who believe in us can influence our lives and careers long after the moment has passed.
Unconscious gatekeeping: How our assumptions about what makes a 'good teacher' can unintentionally limit opportunities and diversity.
Mentoring, coaching and sponsorship: The importance of knowing when to guide, challenge, encourage and open doors.
The power of small moments: Why listening, noticing and making time for someone can be transformative.
Preparing future teachers: How schools and universities can work together to support teacher candidates, early career teachers and future leaders.
Mentoring in practice: What mentors, mentees and school leaders can do to build stronger, more intentional and reciprocal relationships.
This conversation is both a celebration of teachers and an invitation to reflect on our collective responsibility for the future of education.
One question to take away: Who made a difference to you, and have you ever told them?
This World Teachers’ Day, reach out to a teacher, mentor or colleague who helped shape your journey. A simple thank you might mean more than you realise.
Explore the research and resources
Talking Teaching | University of Melbourne, Faculty of Education
https://education.unimelb.edu.au/talking-teaching
Becoming a Mentor Teacher | Faculty of Education
https://education.unimelb.edu.au/community/mteach-partnership-schoolsandcentres/become-a-mentor-teacher
Strong Beginnings | Preparing future teachers
https://education.unimelb.edu.au/news-and-events/news/2026/strong-beginnings-grant-to-strengthen-teacher-readiness-and-classroom-practice
UniConnected | Connecting students, schools and opportunities
https://education.unimelb.edu.au/community/uniconnected
Talking Teaching brings together research, policy and practice through conversations with leading educators, researchers and thinkers shaping the future of education.
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