Diane Pashen
Bellbird Park State Secondary College, QLD
Yagara
Teaching Fellow
Diane Pashen is a proud Wiradjuri woman and student-focused education leader committed to redefining excellence in public education for First Nations students. Her leadership is grounded in high expectations, strong academic outcomes, cultural inclusivity, equity and evidence-informed practice.
At Bellbird Park State Secondary College, a school of over 1,800 students with 54 different languages, Diane has led the creation of a co-designed, co-led and co-taught Yagara Language Revival Program, partnering with First Nation Traditional Language Owners and Elders to strengthen student identity, belonging and cultural connection. The program has been nationally recognised, receiving The Educator Australia’s Best First Nations Program Award in 2025 and Curriculum Innovation Award in 2026.
Diane leads with a strong belief that students should be both strong academically and strong in their culture and identity. She uses student voice, cultural connection and high expectations to ensure students feel a strong sense of belonging while being supported to achieve their academic potential.
Through First Nations Success Teams and whole-school improvement, Diane has driven significant gains in First Nations student achievement, narrowing the A–C achievement gap and supporting students to exceed State and Regional targets.
Her leadership is driven by a moral imperative to challenge what is possible for every student and create educational systems where young people can discover their strengths, know who they are, and pursue their dreaming path.