The Sydney Early and Mid-Career Academic Network’s (SEMCAN) Good Mentor Awards honour one of the most important relationships in academia. Having a mentor has the power to shape not only one’s career, but their confidence, worldview, and ultimately, future. A Good Mentor Award is a well-deserved honour for a career-changing role, with 10 standout researchers chosen as this year’s winners.

SEMCAN has been in existence since 2017 and first started exploring mentorship in 2019 when they hosted our first event related to Mentorship called Making Connections, followed by a Mentorship Hack-a-thon in 2020. The Good Mentor Awards has been an annual event since 2021, growing from 40 applications in 2021 to an incredible 180 in 2025. 

Led by SEMCAN’s Dr Marnee McKay (FMH), Dr Mehala Balamurali (Engineering) and Dr Soojeong Yoo (School of Architecture, Design and Planning), the incredible effort of reviewing hundreds of mentorship applications was also thanks to Associate Professor Andrew Grant (Business), Dr Himal Kandel (FMH), Dr Alistair Senior (Science), Associate Professor Dalia Nassar (FMH), and Dr Lukas Opacic (Law).

Among the winners, the Faculty of Medicine and Health’s Dr Rebecca Raeside was nominated by three separate colleagues who each attested to the power of her support in their academic lives. Over the course of nearly 3000 words, their nominations spoke to Rebecca’s collegiality and commitment to making research a space for both friendship and ideas.

Paying it forward

Like many, Dr Raeside learned how powerful mentorship could be by having experienced it at its best. She speaks with deep respect of Associate Professor Stephanie Partridge and Professor Julie Redfern, who modelled not authority, but generosity.

Associate Professor Partridge has mirrored the mentor she sees in Dr Raeside by nominating for an award. “[Rebecca] makes everyone in the team feel welcome, especially junior staff, youth advisors and peer facilitators at the Youth Well Lab,” she says. It is this circular nature of mentorship that ensures the benefits extend beyond just individuals being mentored.  

“Exceptional availability and support”

Dr Raeside’s approachability is just one of the many qualities that her Research Assistant, Mariah Issa, mentioned in her nomination. Dr Raeside’s approachability is just one of the many qualities that her Research Assistant, Mariah Issa, mentioned in her nomination. “She regularly sets aside dedicated time each week to discuss my progress, while also remaining approachable and responsive to informal queries at any time,” says Mariah. “Her willingness to pause her own tasks to assist me reflects a genuine commitment to my development.”

As Dr Raeside says, it doesn’t take much planning to be available. “Most of my mentoring relationships have developed organically, through everyday conversations and just being open and approachable,” she says. “I’m always up for a chat and love sharing what I’ve learned or helping others work through a challenge. It’s often those casual, yet genuine connections that lead to the most meaningful mentoring relationships.”

In practice, this means mentoring happens when it is, quite simply, possible; on walks, across lunch tables, through phone calls at difficult moments. It is shaped by authenticity and common ground. One of her earliest mentees, Allyson Todd, began as a research assistant and is now working on her PhD. Allyson recalls that from the beginning, Rebecca never treated her questions as interruptions. “She creates an open and supportive environment where I never feel there’s a question I can’t ask,” she says. Reliability, she adds, is one of Rebecca’s defining traits: “Whether in person, over the phone, or online, she always makes time.”

Practical knowledge

It can be difficult for those starting out to know where to begin, so having others light the way is the hallmark of good mentorship – and Dr Raeside is never withholding of her support. “She regularly shares relevant conferences, introduces me to new contacts, and provides the autonomy to contribute to multiple research publications,” says Mariah. “This level of trust and initiative has empowered me to build my academic network and gain valuable experience in presenting and publishing research.”

Mariah recalls Dr Raeside’s advice when she encouraged her to attend a recent Digital Health Conference. 

Encouraging autonomy

A good leader enables others to become aware of their own leadership potential, which both Mariah and Allyson repeat make Dr Raeside a standout mentor. “What sets her apart is her unwavering commitment to preserving my autonomy,” says Mariah. “She ensures that any opportunity I pursue aligns with my values and interests, never imposing but always empowering. Her mentorship has given me the confidence to take ownership of my future, while knowing I have someone genuinely invested in my success."

As a co-author of 18 peer-reviewed articles, six of which Dr Raeside was senior author, Allyson says that Dr Raeside has demonstrated powerful leadership and guidance, helping her navigate complex and challenging situations.  

“I experienced a challenging situation with a more senior colleague that created tension within a collaborative research project," says Allyson. "Several expectations weren’t met, and key research processes were overlooked, which impacted progress and team dynamics. As a research assistant, I found it difficult to address the issue alone and it impacted my wellbeing. Rebecca supported me in navigating these conversations with clarity and professionalism and a strong understanding of university systems. She encouraged me to document concerns, focus on shared goals, and approach the situation constructively. Her reassurance helped me feel confident in setting boundaries and seeking support.”

Motivating and inspiring

Above all, Rebecca motivates and inspires her mentees to continue to research, which is impact on the most minute level; a field cannot exist without those willing to learn and share their knowledge. “Her belief in my potential is one of the key reasons I now aspire to pursue a PhD and build a future in research,” says Mariah. “She not only encourages me to dream big, but actively helps me navigate the steps to get there.”

Advice, of course, is nothing without honesty. “She consistently helps me uncover aspects of certain opportunities that may not align with my best interests, whether due to research fit, supervisory style, or long-term career implications,” says Mariah. But it’s never cold, and for Dr Raeside, it’s not all about work. She greets the team with a big smile. She asks if they’ve slept. She reminds them to take holidays. She discourages after-hours emails. She creates work environments where wellbeing is not performative, but practiced. In doing so, she restores something rare: safety.

As Rebecca reflects on what mentorship has given her—new perspectives, deeper empathy, a strong sense of purpose—she returns to the simplest truth of all: “Success,” she says, “is seeing others grow. Especially when they become mentors themselves.” And the cycle continues.