What drew you to working in a school environment, and what do you find most rewarding about your role at Oxley?
What drew me to a school environment was the opportunity to work in a place with a clear sense of purpose. Every role within a school, whether it's in the classroom or behind the scenes, contributes to the education and wellbeing of students, and I find that incredibly motivating.
One of the most rewarding aspects of my role is the project work I am involved in. I've had the opportunity to contribute to initiatives such as the 6 modular classrooms, the Junior School playground, Hoskins Hall and the installation of AV screens in the PCC and on Founders field. Seeing these projects progress from an idea to a finished outcome and knowing they will benefit students for years to come, is incredibly satisfying.
What I particularly enjoy is that project work gives me a unique opportunity to collaborate with almost every part of the College. On any given project, I might be working with teachers, Board members, Executive staff, facilities staff, contractors, architects, builders, and external consultants. It provides a wonderful perspective on how many people contribute to making a school operate successfully and allows me to build relationships across the entire community.
Ultimately, the most rewarding part is seeing students use and enjoy the spaces and resources that have been created. Knowing that the work happening behind the scenes has a direct impact on their learning and experience at Oxley makes it all worthwhile.
Tell us a bit about your journey. What led you to join the team at Oxley College?
After the birth of my third child, and as I gradually emerged from the baby haze, I realised I was ready to return to the work full-time. While motherhood is incredibly rewarding, I also wanted to rediscover the professional side of myself and regain an identity outside of being "Mum."
Around that time, I found myself reflecting on what I wanted from my next role. I wasn't looking for just another job - I wanted to work somewhere that offered a genuine sense of belonging and purpose, where I could build meaningful connections with the people around me and feel proud of what I was part of.
Not long after, the opportunity at Oxley appeared. From my very first interview, I knew it was somewhere I wanted to be. The wait to hear the outcome felt endless, but when I got the good news, I was absolutely thrilled.
Since joining Oxley, I've genuinely enjoyed coming to work each day. Work is still work, of course, but being surrounded by great people, feeling connected to the community, and knowing that what I do contributes to something meaningful makes all the difference.
In your role, how do you hope you make a difference in students’ day-to-day experience at school?
While much of my work happens behind the scenes, I hope the difference I make is reflected in the spaces, services and systems that help the College run smoothly each day. Whether it's supporting staff, coordinating projects, managing administrative processes or helping solve problems, my goal is to make things easier for the people who work directly with students so they can focus on teaching and learning.
As the Administration Team Leader, I also hope to make a difference by supporting the incredible administrative staff across the College. Our admin team is absolutely amazing, and they are often the first point of contact for students, parents and staff. They play a vital role in keeping the College running smoothly, and I see part of my role as ensuring they feel supported, valued and equipped to do their best work. By supporting those who support our students, I hope to contribute positively to the overall student experience.
Through the projects I work on, I also have the opportunity to help create spaces and resources that benefit students directly. Whether it's a new classroom, a playground improvement, upgraded technology or a refurbished learning space, it's rewarding to know these initiatives contribute to students feeling supported, engaged and excited to be at school.
Ultimately, if students can come to school each day and enjoy a safe, welcoming and well-organised environment where they can learn, grow and thrive, then I feel I've played a small part in making a positive difference.
When you’re not at work, what are some things you enjoy doing or exploring?
With a 6-year-old, 5-year-old and 3-year-old, life outside of work is certainly busy! I'm definitely a homebody at heart, and much of my spare time is spent creating a home environment that my family and I can truly enjoy. I'm always dreaming up the next project, working with tradespeople to improve our space, and asking my children what would make our home even more fun and special for them.
I'm also trying to improve my cooking skills - although that's very much still a work in progress!
Those who know me at Oxley would probably also say that I enjoy a little bit of shopping and finding a good bargain. I suspect my love of online shopping is becoming quite well known around ELVO!
While I enjoy spending time with friends and have an incredible network of people around me, if I'm being completely honest, by the time the weekend arrives my favourite place to be is at home with a good coffee, my husband and children and absolutely zero plans!
