Staff Story

130 years on

Staffing a school such as Santa Sabina College is no small endeavour. There are nearly one and a half thousand young people we look after – 1400 students (boys and girls) aged from six weeks (in our Early Education Centre Mary Bailey House) to 18 years old (Year 12). Then there are two campuses comprising eight hectares of land, buildings, facilities and gardens in Strathfield and 97 hectares of bush, buildings and outdoor education facilties at Tallong. There are teachers, heads of department, the College Principal and four deputies, learning support officers, lab assistants and librarians in the front line, interacting with students on a daily basis. Then there are other professionals looking after IT, student health, marketing, communication, property maintenance and the collection of school fees…overall we are a diverse staff of 370, full- and part-time.

This is a far cry from our opening day in January 1894, 130 years ago, when our total enrolment was seven girls aged between 11 and 14 years old, housed in one building (Rosary Lodge) and taught by six Dominican Sisters.

Santa Sabina now has five distinct campus areas: Mary Bailey House (for the babies and toddlers), Santa Maria del Monte (for Prep to Year 4), Gioia House (Years 5 & 6), the Santa Sabina campus for Years 7-12 and Tallong for Outdoor Education, retreats and other activities for students and families. Looking after the students in Years 7 to 12 are 13 teaching departments or faculties. A sprinkling of our teachers have been working here for more than 30 years, while many more are new this year. A large number of staff are ex-students of the College, fondly returning to their alma mater and imbued with the strong sense of community and service each graduate takes with them into the world. There are four professional departments staffed by non-teachers and beyond this are outside suppliers such as visiting priests for our Chapel services, Midford who run the Uniform Shop, Bon Apetit for the canteen, BNP security guards to keep us and our facilities safe after hours, cleaners, the child care workers who work before and after school at OOSH, ex-students and other sporting heroes coaching sports teams after hours. Looking after everyone are the volunteer members of the Board of Governance and its committees. Supporting our great endeavours are the voluntary P&F Association and Ex-Students’ Association Committee members. Over and above as well as within, there are the Dominican Sisters who walk quietly amongst us, shining their light upon us and sharing their intellects, insights and counsel.

All of us have passed our Working With Children Checks and are trained annually in First Aid and in Child Protection and the vast majority of us have at least one (but most often more) university qualification. The teachers love continuing to learn – in 2024 there are 30 Action Research Projects underway.

It all adds up to a warm, diverse and highly qualified community of educators and other professionals whose number one purpose is to educate, nurture and support our incredible community of learners, in whom we take such pride.

Reflecting on the impact the Santa Sabina staff have had on their journeys, our high achieving Year 12s from 2023 had this to say:

As a person who loves the humanities, my teachers have been so crucial in developing my ability to think deeply and critically. But by far the most notable thing about the teachers at Santa Sabina is that they were committed to my growth as an individual, not just as a mark. In all of my subjects, my teachers helped me to not only achieve my best academically, but also to grow into the best version of myself as a learner.

Ella Curran
(ATAR 99.85)

The support of my senior teachers in particular gave me the means and confidence to work towards reaching my goals.

Cece Addabbo
(ATAR 99.85)

Santa Sabina has inspired me to exceed limitations, lead by example and explore varied perspectives. All of my teachers were phenomenal and helped me to achieve my aspirations.

Rosanna Cartwright
(ATAR 99.70)

The unwavering support and dedication of my IB teachers and community created an environment for me to pursue my goals and improve as a student and person.

Sophia Abdallah
(ATAR 99.70)

My class teachers, Homeroom teacher and my Head of House all gave me the mental and academic support I needed to achieve my goals this year. They provided me with content, resources and people to talk to in times of stress and worry and I will be forever grateful for them.

Alannah Tannous
(ATAR 99.50)

The teachers at Santa are fantastic and their incredible support, both academically and pastorally, helped me not only achieve, but go beyond the goals I set. My teachers were always there to go through feedback and help me improve, but more importantly emphasised the importance of progress over perfection and an all round balanced lifestyle expanding beyond school which allowed me to achieve what I set my mind to. 

Emma Carroll
(ATAR 99.35)

Victoria Harper
Publications and Marketing Officer