Mentor Guide: Supporting the Next Generation of Shiatsu Practitioners
Welcome
Thank you for considering a mentorship role with the Australian Shiatsu College. Your willingness to open your practice space, share your expertise, and contribute your time reflects something at the heart of our tradition — the understanding that the growth of each practitioner strengthens the whole profession.
This guide explains what mentorship with ASC involves, what we ask of you, and what you can expect from the students you work with. We’ve kept it practical and straightforward, because we know your time is valuable.
If anything here raises questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out:
Email: info@australianshiatsucollege.edu.au Phone: 03 9387 1161
What Is the ASC Mentorship Program?
ASC students completing their Level 2 Diploma in Shiatsu and Oriental Therapies are required to undertake a mentorship component as part of their logbook requirements. This is a significant and carefully considered part of their training — one that no classroom or supervised clinic can fully replicate.
The mentorship relationship is simple in structure:
- The student comes to your clinic space and treats you as their client
- You receive a professional shiatsu treatment from an advanced student
- Afterwards, you share your honest, experienced observations with the student
- The student reflects on your feedback as part of their logbook
That’s it. There are no forms to fill in, no reports to write, and no administrative burden on your end. Your contribution is your expertise, your time, and your honest professional perspective.
Why This Matters
Working in your environment, receiving treatment from a developing practitioner, and offering feedback from a seasoned professional perspective gives students something genuinely irreplaceable:
- A real clinical space (not a training room)
- A recipient who understands Shiatsu from the inside
- Feedback grounded in years of professional practice
- The experience of adapting to a practitioner-client dynamic outside of college
For you, it’s an opportunity to contribute to the future of the profession in a direct, meaningful way — and to receive a quality treatment in the process. Many experienced practitioners find the mentorship relationship professionally enriching, offering fresh perspective on their own practice through the lens of an emerging practitioner’s work.
In the spirit of En — the recognition that meaningful connections strengthen our professional community — we are genuinely grateful for every practitioner who steps into this role.
Who Can Be a Mentor?
To ensure students receive feedback that genuinely supports their development, ASC has established criteria for mentors:
Eligibility Requirements
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Qualification | Diploma-level qualification in Shiatsu (preferred). Where a Shiatsu practitioner is unavailable — particularly for remote students — an acupuncturist or qualified East Asian/bodywork therapist may be approved by ASC |
| Experience | Minimum 3 years’ professional practice (5+ years preferred) |
| Professional membership | Current membership with a relevant professional association |
| Insurance | Current professional indemnity and public liability insurance |
| Other certifications | Any legally required certifications current (e.g., First Aid; Working With Children Check if relevant to your practice) |
A Note on Non-Shiatsu Mentors
For remote students who genuinely cannot access a Shiatsu practitioner in their region, ASC may approve a qualified acupuncturist or East Asian/bodywork therapist as an alternative mentor. This requires written approval from the College before sessions begin. If you’re in this category, please contact us to discuss your situation — we want to support students in regional areas to find high-quality mentors wherever possible.
Credential Verification
ASC may ask you to provide evidence of your qualifications and insurance at any point during the mentorship arrangement. This is a straightforward process and simply ensures our records are complete for compliance purposes. We’ll contact you directly if we need anything.
What Does a Mentorship Session Look Like?
Mentorship sessions are designed to fit comfortably into your professional environment. Here’s what to expect:
Setting
Sessions take place in your clinic space. This is deliberate — it gives the student the experience of working in a real professional environment, and it’s more convenient for you. Students are responsible for traveling to you and setting up appropriately for the session.
Session Structure
ASC maps mentorship sessions at approximately 2 hours as a nominal planning guide. In practice, sessions may be shorter or longer depending on your availability and how the conversation flows. A typical session might include:
| Phase | What Happens | Approximate Time |
|---|---|---|
| Arrival and intake | Student greets you, conducts a brief health intake and treatment planning discussion (as they would with any client) | 10–15 min |
| Hands-on treatment | Student treats you as their client — full shiatsu treatment | 60–90 min |
| Debrief and feedback | You share your observations, impressions, and professional feedback | 15–30 min |
| Reflection time | Student may take a few minutes to note initial reflections before leaving | 5–10 min |
There is no rigid script for any of these phases. We trust your professional judgment. The student will lead the session; your role is to be present as both recipient and observer, and then to offer honest, considered feedback afterwards.
Your Role: Giving Feedback
This is the heart of what you offer. After the treatment, the debrief conversation is where the mentorship becomes most meaningful.
What Good Feedback Looks Like
You don’t need a framework or checklist — just your honest, experienced perspective. Some things you might naturally reflect on:
About the treatment itself:
- How did the student’s technique feel? Was pressure appropriate, contact confident, pacing considered?
- Were there moments where you felt something working well — or where you felt something missing?
- How did the student’s touch change throughout the session? Did they settle in? Did they lose focus at any point?
About the practitioner presence:
- How did the student’s presence feel — grounded, anxious, mechanical, intuitive?
- Did they seem to be listening with their hands, or executing a routine?
- Did they adapt when they encountered something unexpected (tension, sensitivity, feedback you gave during the treatment)?
About the intake and communication:
- Did the student ask useful questions before beginning? Did they create a sense of safety and professionalism?
- How did the post-treatment debrief feel from your end — did the student seem genuinely curious about your experience?
Constructive framing:
- Students are at an advanced stage of their training, but they’re still developing. Honest, direct feedback — including what wasn’t working — is exactly what they need and what you’re uniquely positioned to give.
- Balance is helpful: acknowledge what was strong, and be clear about what needs development.
- Speak from your own experience as the recipient: “When you moved to the lower back, I noticed…” is more useful than a general assessment.
What You Don’t Need to Do
- No paperwork. You don’t need to fill in any form or sign anything.
- No assessment. You’re not marking the student or making a pass/fail judgment. You’re offering professional feedback as a colleague and experienced practitioner.
- No structured report. Your feedback is verbal. The student records their own reflection in their digital logbook after the session.
The Student’s Logbook
ASC students maintain a digital logbook that records all their hands-on work throughout their diploma, including mentorship sessions. After each session with you, the student will log:
- The date and location of the session
- Your details as mentor (name, qualifications, years of experience)
- Their own observations and reflections on the treatment
- What they took from your feedback and how they plan to apply it
You don’t need to sign anything or access the logbook. The student is responsible for their own recording. If ASC ever needs to verify a session occurred, we may contact you directly — but this would be straightforward and rare.
Session Frequency and Duration of the Relationship
Melbourne/Local Students
- 5 mentorship sessions with the same practitioner across the year
- Sessions spaced approximately every two months
- This spread is intentional — it allows the student to develop between visits and for you to observe their progression over time
Remote Students
- 10 mentorship sessions with the same practitioner across the year
- Sessions spaced approximately every month
- Remote students have less access to intensive in-person learning, so mentorship plays a larger role in their development
Flexibility
Life happens. If a session needs to be rescheduled or the arrangement needs to change for any reason, please communicate with the student directly and let us know if anything significant changes. There’s no penalty for adjusting timing as long as sessions are completed within the academic year.
If the Mentorship Isn’t Working
Occasionally, despite good intentions on both sides, a mentorship relationship isn’t the right fit. This is a normal part of any professional pairing process, and the student won’t be disadvantaged if the arrangement changes.
If you need to discontinue:
- Let the student know as early as possible and finish any already-scheduled sessions where practical
- Contact ASC to let us know so we can support the student in finding an alternative mentor
- Any sessions already completed count toward the student’s logbook requirements — nothing is lost
If you have concerns:
- If you observe anything that raises safety, professional conduct, or ethical concerns, please contact ASC promptly via info@australianshiatsucollege.edu.au or 03 9387 1161
- We take all concerns seriously and will follow up appropriately
Important Boundaries and Protocols
No Payment or Gifts
Mentorship arrangements with ASC students are a professional skill exchange only. Students may not pay you for your time or offer gifts of any kind. You receive a treatment, and in return the student receives the invaluable benefit of your professional feedback. This is the entirety of the exchange.
This boundary protects both of you. If a student offers payment or gifts, please decline and let ASC know.
Confidentiality
Any personal information shared during intake or treatment remains confidential, as it would with any client. Students are bound by ASC’s confidentiality and privacy obligations. Students may take treatments notes for their learning, but are not asked to upload them for mentor treatments as part of their logbook recording. Please apply the same standards you would in any professional client relationship.
Your Insurance
You must maintain your own current professional indemnity and public liability insurance throughout any mentorship arrangement. ASC students are covered by College student professional indemnity insurance for approved and logged mentorship activities, but this does not replace your own cover.
Professionalism and Boundaries
We ask that all mentorship sessions are conducted in a manner consistent with the standards you apply in your own professional practice — with clear boundaries, mutual respect, and attention to student welfare. If anything feels unclear or uncomfortable at any point, please contact ASC.
A Summary of What We Ask of You
| Your Responsibilities | Details |
|---|---|
| Welcome the student to your clinic | Provide a suitable treatment space for the session |
| Receive the treatment | Allow the student to treat you as their client for the session |
| Provide honest feedback | Share your professional observations in the post-treatment debrief |
| Communicate openly | Let ASC or the student know if anything needs to change |
| Maintain your own insurance | Current professional indemnity and public liability required throughout |
| Provide credentials if requested | Supply evidence of qualifications and insurance if ASC asks |
| Uphold professional boundaries | No payment, no gifts, confidentiality, respectful conduct throughout |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to have treated students before, or have any teaching experience?
No. You don’t need teaching or supervision experience. You’re not acting as a supervisor or assessor — you’re participating as an experienced professional who can offer honest, practitioner-level feedback on a treatment they’ve received. Your years of practice are your qualification for this role.
What if the student’s technique is quite underdeveloped — do I just tell them that?
Yes, honestly and constructively. Students at Level 2 are advanced but still developing. They are seeking real professional feedback, not reassurance. The most valuable thing you can offer is your genuine, experienced perspective — including areas where they clearly need to grow. Frame it from your experience as the recipient, and where possible, offer some guidance on what you’d suggest they explore.
Can I mentor more than one ASC student?
Yes. If you’re willing and it fits your schedule, you can work with multiple ASC students, though each relationship is separate. Please let ASC know if you’re open to working with more than one student.
What if I’m a remedial massage therapist, not a Shiatsu practitioner — can I still mentor?
For local Melbourne students, ASC strongly prefers Shiatsu practitioners as mentors. For remote students where a Shiatsu practitioner is genuinely unavailable, qualified practitioners in remedial massage, acupuncture, or East Asian/bodywork therapies may be approved by ASC. If you’re unsure whether you’re eligible, contact us — we’re happy to discuss your situation.
What if the student cancels at the last minute?
We ask students to communicate promptly and respectfully about any scheduling changes. If a student is repeatedly unreliable or unprofessional in their communication with you, please let ASC know so we can address it directly with the student.
Will I be asked to do paperwork or attend any training?
No training or attendance is required. This guide is your orientation. ASC may occasionally ask for credential verification (qualifications, insurance) — this requires nothing more than sending a copy or summary of your current documentation.
What if I have questions during the mentorship that aren’t covered here?
Contact us anytime:
Email: info@australianshiatsucollege.edu.au Phone: 03 9387 1161
We’re happy to talk through anything, and we genuinely value your engagement with our students and our program.
Thank You
The practitioners who take on mentorship roles with ASC students are making a direct contribution to the future of Shiatsu in Australia. The feedback you provide — honest, grounded in real experience, and offered generously — shapes the kind of practitioners our students become.
We don’t take that lightly, and we’re grateful. Every session you give is an expression of En — the meaningful connection between experienced practitioners and those who follow in our tradition — and a gift to the profession we all love.
If you have any questions as you begin, please reach out. We look forward to supporting you and the student you work with.
Australian Shiatsu College RTO 3609
Email: info@australianshiatsucollege.edu.au
Phone: 03 9387 1161
www.australianshiatsucollege.edu.au