A Message from the Principal

Post Cyclone Kirrily

I hope that our College families are safe and well following Cyclone Kirrily. I am grateful to report that despite the challenges posed by the cyclone, our College remained operational with power intact, ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our boarding students. We are extremely fortunate that there was no damage to facilities, and any damage sustained was minor, primarily affecting some of our tropical plants .However, I understand that some families may still be facing difficulties in the aftermath of the storm. Please know that our doors are open, we are here to support you in any way we can, and please don’t hesitate to reach out if you or your daughter need assistance.

Living and Learning with Courage and Heart

We began 2024 with a launch of our College Theme – Living and Learning with Courage and Heart. This theme will further amplify our College Mission, Vision, and Values. Inspired by Catherine McAuley, a brave and courageous woman of purpose who dared to imagine a brighter future for young women through an excellent education. Our 2024 Theme is a guiding philosophy that will encourage us to approach every aspect of our journey with resilience, with bravery, and with compassion. We have set a bold challenge to embrace the spirit of courage as we set high standards for ourselves and others, relentlessly pursue excellence and help make a more positive and heart driven impact on the world around us.

I am confident that, with Living and Learning with Courage and Heart as our guiding theme, the academic year will be one filled with inspiration, innovation, growth, and shared accomplishments amplifying all that is great in this community and fueling the development of new ideas, innovation, and creativity to take this community beyond 2025.

Principal Formal Review

I am now in my 5th year as Principal of this beautiful College and throughout January and February this year, the Board, with the assistance of an external consultant, will carry out a formal and extensive review of my performance of Principal since 2020. This is very much part of my contract of employment as well as being a vital and important part of my professional growth journey. Students, staff, and families will be contacted and I thank everyone who is able to take part to know that I am looking forward to identifying key areas of strength and areas of opportunity for further development, so I can continue striving to improve in my leadership and service of this College community.

Master Plan Review and New Strategic Plan Development

Once the Principal Review is completed, the College Board, Principal and College Leadership Team will review the College Master Plan and then lead the design and development of our College’s next Strategic Plan. This will involve community consultation across all stakeholders, and I thank everyone for being part of such an exciting process to dare to imagine the possibilities and set a courageous and aspirational vision for the next phase of the College’s journey.

Staffing Updates

Due to a surge in enrollments this year, along with promotions, relocations to the Southeast or interstate, and shifts in circumstances, we’ve experienced several staffing adjustments. We bid farewell to some valued team members while welcoming new additions to our community.

We recently farewelled the following staff and thank them for their dedicated service to our College:

  • Maria Franettovich – Director of Students
  • Rebecca Langford –Teacher
  • Jodie Roberts – Teacher
  • Jade Stanley – College Nurse

We welcomed back the following staff from leave:

  • Cameran Triffett – Deputy Principal
  • Harriett Veukiso – College Chaplain & Teacher

We celebrate some internal staff promotions:

  • Isabel Pyper – Joined the College leadership Team as the Director of Marketing & Communications
  • Camille Flores – Dean of Pathways
  • Elissa Gileppa – HOD Hospitality & Functions
  • Shari Finlay – Acting Director of Students (While recruitment for the Director of Students role in undertaken)
  • Jess John – Acting Head of Powers House
  • McKye Turner – Acting Head of Principalities House
  • Lara Hansen – Acting Head of Dominations House
  • Dot Rush – School Officer – Inclusive Education
  • Meredith Palmer – Part-time Hospitality Teacher

We welcomed some new middle leaders and teaching staff to our College:

  • Belinda Coombe – Head of Faculty – Science
  • Kaitlin Borgeaud-Moo – Science Teacher
  • CJ Lancashire – Science Teacher
  • Dana Leviston – English and Humanities Teacher
  • Tracey MacBeth – Humanities and Religion Teacher
  • Sam Kelly – Mathematics Teacher for Semester 1, 2024

We welcomed some new Teacher Aides to our Inclusive Education Faculty:

  • Avril Horden
  • Naomi Klein
  • Tabea Ireland

We welcomed some new Administration Officers:

  • Belinda Saltmarsh – Pastoral & Wellbeing Administrative Support
  • Jodie Murray – Student Receptionist

New Instrumental Music Teacher for our growing program:

  • Jessica Winton – Strings specialist

Boarding Supervisors:

  • Autumn-Rain Stephens Daly
  • Bree Chester
  • Lillian Yarrow

We are also looking forward to announcing a new College Nurse and Hospitality Aide soon to our College community, followed by a new Director of Students to join the College Leadership Team.

I wish our community well for 2024 and look forward to leading and serving this courageous and heart-empowered place.

Amber Hauff

COLLEGE PRINCIPAL