Mandy Bell is the Director and Co-Founder of Australian Teacher Aide, an organisation that provides online professional learning for schools, with a focus on supporting the professional growth of education support staff. Over a decade ago, Mandy designed the business model for Australian Teacher Aide, becoming an early adopter of online business strategies. She is responsible for both strategic planning and day-to-day operations, ensuring that the organisation meets its mission of empowering educators to help students succeed. At EliteX, we are proud to have Mandy Bell as part of the edition: Transformational Women in EdTech, 2025.
Mandy Bell | Director and Co-Founder | Australian Teacher Aide
Mandy’s journey into the education technology field was not initially planned but rather the result of a series of career decisions that led her in this direction. She worked extensively in the training sector, developing strong relationships with schools through apprenticeship and traineeship programs, and later in business development where she learned the challenges schools face in providing professional growth opportunities for education support staff. Along the way, Mandy attended various courses that equipped her with business technology skills, opening her mind to the potential of online learning models. Before founding Australian Teacher Aide, she applied these skills to assist small businesses in increasing their online visibility. This expertise, combined with the experience of her co-founder, Stella Liliendal, in education support training, laid the foundation for Australian Teacher Aide.
“Technology opens up opportunities for learning, making education more accessible and impactful.”
Mandy’s involvement with technology and education escalated during her time working as a senior business development officer for a large registered training organisation (RTO), where she focused on securing and managing education-related contracts. One of the significant contracts she oversaw was the delivery of education support training to schools throughout Queensland. During this time, she gained a deep understanding of the role of teaching assistants and the lack of professional development options available to them, especially in remote areas.
In 2013, Mandy attended a workshop that introduced her to online business models. She learned about website design, sales funnels, and webinar-based training delivery, which peaked her interest in the possibilities of online education. Mandy pursued further training to refine these skills and eventually left her job to consult with small businesses on digital strategies. In 2015, she and Stella Liliendal launched Australian Teacher Aide with a clear vision: to create an accessible, high-impact professional learning platform for educators. They built the business around three key principles—online delivery for accessibility, live web events for engagement, and a membership model to foster a professional community.
One of the early challenges faced was gaining recognition in the education sector, which had traditionally focused on the professional learning needs of teachers and leadership. Through persistence, she and co-founder, Stella, have helped schools recognise the value of supporting education support staff and the impact this has on student learning outcomes. Today, more schools are investing in professional development for teaching assistants, and adopting evidence-based teaching strategies to enhance their effectiveness.
Technology has played a crucial role in expanding access to education. It facilitates global learning, supports students with disability, and fosters professional communities. Mandy Bell recognised these advantages early on and built Australian Teacher Aide with the goal of making professional learning available to all schools, regardless of their location. By leveraging online platforms, her organisation connects educators with experts from across Australia and beyond, offering valuable insights without the constraints of in-person training. She has also developed a high performing team, who also all work remotely.
“Patience and belief are key when driving change in education.”
The EdTech industry has evolved rapidly over the past decade. When Mandy Bell first introduced her online model, many metropolitan schools still preferred face-to-face training. However, the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the shift toward online learning. Schools had to adapt quickly, and online education became more mainstream. More recently, artificial intelligence has emerged as a transformative force in education technology. While it presents new challenges, it also offers opportunities for greater efficiency. Mandy and her team use AI to streamline their operations while maintaining a strong focus on expert-driven content.
Throughout her career, she has drawn inspiration from her husband, who has been a successful owner of many farming enterprises. His support provided her with the confidence to pursue her entrepreneurial goals. She has also worked with business and mindset coaches, learning from their experiences and insights.
In late 2024, Australian Teacher Aide published the Australian Teaching Assistant Professional Standards (ATAPS). Over three years, the team collaborated with industry experts from various education sectors to create a framework that defines the professional growth expectations for education support staff. This project was led by Stella, and made possible through the innovative approach that Mandy took to creating the Australian Teacher Aide business model 10 years ago. Now hosted on the thriving EdTech platform that is Australian Teacher Aide, the standards are expected to have a lasting impact on how schools manage the performance and professional growth of teaching assistants.
Mandy sees great opportunities for women in EdTech, particularly for those willing to adapt quickly to technological advancements. AI, in particular, presents new possibilities for innovation. She believes that staying focused on core objectives while embracing useful technologies is key to success in the field.
Balancing work and personal life in the EdTech space can be challenging. Technology is wonderfully enabling but it also creates a constant connection to work, and discipline is necessary in order to completely ‘switch off’. Over recent years, Mandy has established a more sustainable work schedule, and now works an eight-day fortnight. Her team also enjoy flexible work arrangements. Whilst they all work remotely, Mandy meets with the team each day to ensure everyone is focused and on track to complete tasks and meet work goals. Wins are celebrated, intentions are set, and problems are solved during this short daily ‘huddle’. In many ways, the ‘dream team’ feel more connected and more supported in the EdTech working environment.
For young women interested in EdTech, she advises staying informed about new technologies without losing sight of their goals. The fast-paced nature of the industry can be overwhelming, but focusing on tools that align with specific objectives will lead to success. Lifelong learning is a fundamental part of her approach. Having spent years in the training sector, she values continuous development. However, with the constant influx of new technologies, she remains selective about what to adopt. Her team also benefits from external expertise, as they work with technology consultants to stay up to date with industry trends.
“We built Australian Teacher Aide to ensure all educators, no matter where they are, have access to professional learning.”
Looking ahead, Mandy hopes to further expand access to professional learning by integrating technology into new areas. With the launch of ATAPS, she envisions developing a software application to make professional development even more accessible to educators. Through innovation and strategic planning, she remains committed to the mission of Australian Teacher Aide, to empower educators to help students succeed.
