Careers Archives - Ģ��Ƶ

Paige Rae – Class of 2016

Bronte Stead — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 00:31:56 +0000

I attended Ģ��Ƶ from 2010 to 2016. One of my favourite subjects at Ģ��Ƶ was Art with Miss Gillard. It provided a creative outlet that was a refreshing break from subjects like English and Maths. I also really enjoyed classes with Mr. McCallum—his sense of humour and ability to make lessons fun, especially during the pressures of VCE, made a lasting impression. Lastly, Ms. Evans had a huge influence on me, particularly in helping me grow as a leader. Thanks to her guidance, I had the honour of becoming College Captain, which was a defining moment of my time at Ģ��Ƶ. This role allowed me to transition from being a student to taking on more adult responsibilities, leading a team, and seeing projects come to life.

After finishing at Ģ��Ƶ, I launched my own womenswear label, which was successful but ultimately didn’t align with my long-term goals. I then transitioned to a role as a diamond consultant at Diamond Exchange on Collins Street, where I developed strong communication and problem-solving skills. This experience led to a promotion as Assistant Manager.

During my time at Diamond Exchange, I dealt with some significant health issues, which eventually led me to a dietitian. That experience sparked my interest in nutrition, and I realised it was the career I wanted to pursue. At 21, I started a Bachelor of Health Sciences, majoring in nutrition and exercise science. After completing my undergraduate degree, I moved to Melbourne to pursue a Master of Dietetics while working at Nutrition Plus alongside Melanie McGrice.

I graduated last year and have recently finished my graduate year as a clinical, community, and food service dietitian at Colac Area Health. I absolutely love the work I’m doing now.

My biggest piece of advice is not to put too much pressure on figuring out your career path right away. Opportunities will arise, and it’s okay to explore different paths. I never imagined in school that I would end up as a dietitian, but taking time off after high school helped me discover what I truly wanted to do.

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Lejla Makas – Class of 2006

Bronte Stead — Fri, 28 Nov 2025 01:47:25 +0000

I started at Ģ��Ƶ in Year 7 in 2001 and graduated in Year 12 in 2006 and have such fond memories of my time there. I was fortunate to be part of a year level full of kind and supportive girls. While we all had our own friendship groups, there was a lovely sense of unity across the year — everyone got along and looked out for one another.

I genuinely enjoyed school and learning. Two teachers who really stood out to me were Ms Tolan, who taught Chemistry, and Mrs Curran, who taught Maths Methods. Their passion for their subjects was inspiring, and their influence, definitely helped shape the path I chose after school.

When I finished Year 12, I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do. I’d been working part-time at an accounting firm during school and thought Commerce might be the right direction. After a year at university, I realised it wasn’t for me. I thought back to the subjects I’d loved at Ģ��Ƶ — Chemistry and Maths — and decided to change universities and enrol in a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering, which I completed in 2011.

Going from an all-girls school into a male-dominated engineering degree was a big change, but it helped me grow in confidence and taught me how to challenge stereotypes early in my career.

I started out as a Graduate Process Engineer in consultancy, designing and improving water treatment plants, refineries, and other industrial operations. Later, I moved into site-based work with a petrochemical company and became one of the first female operators in that role. That experience was incredibly empowering and reminded me that you can achieve anything with the right mindset.

Since then, I’ve held a range of roles — from running fuel terminal operations to working in the Safety space. I now lead a national team focused on Personal Safety, Process Safety, Environment, Learning & Development, and Emergency Management within the downstream petroleum sector — the space between the refinery and the service stations we all visit to fuel our cars.

Among everything I’ve done, my proudest achievement is being a wife and a mum to two amazing children, now aged 7 and 4, who continue to inspire me every day.

If I could give my younger self — or any young woman reading this — one piece of advice, it would be: back yourself and give things a go. The worst that can happen is you discover something’s not quite right for you, and you pivot. That’s okay! Surround yourself with people who support and encourage you, and who’ll lift you up when you need it. And don’t be afraid of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Maths). These careers offer incredible opportunities and give you skills that can take you just about anywhere.

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Student Achievements

Bronte Stead — Fri, 14 Nov 2025 00:00:26 +0000

Jorja B, Lilly F and Matilda W of Year 8 dedicated their time and efforts to creating a video game to compete in the Australian STEM Video Game Challenge. They needed to embed��the theme “Journey” and design all the sprites, tiles and backgrounds as well as the music. Team was essential, taking responsibility, meeting deadlines,��and communication were key to finishing. The group made it through to the second round and received excellent��feedback to support their growth and development. Coding the game was shared by all,��and they unlocked some very cool ways to achieve the effects they wanted.

Here is a link to their game !

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“It has been a great experience, and from it, we have all gotten closer to each other, even though there were hard moments. This game taught us so many skills on how to code and how to solve the issues. I am so grateful that we were given this opportunity.” – Lilly

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“This experience was amazing but also stressful. I had a great time working��with Lilly and Matilda to create this wonderful game. I learnt how to go into depths of coding and detailing everything that happened. We had lots of issues but were able to solve them.”��– Jorja

Rachael Congues
Teacher

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Maria Deronjic – Class of 2018

Bronte Stead — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 23:57:12 +0000

I graduated from Ģ��Ƶ in 2018, and looking back, some of my fondest memories are the lifelong friendships I formed, many of which remain strong to this day. Of course, our year group’s banter with teachers also stands out. My favourite classes were always Chemistry and Biology. From a young age, I was captivated by science, and it was clear to me that my future would be in this field.

A special shout-out to Miss Tolan, who was hands-down the best Chemistry teacher I could have asked for. The science methods I learned from her continue to guide me in my studies. Ms. Driessen also left an incredible impression with her knowledge of Biology. I am incredibly grateful for teachers like Doc Nolan, Mrs Cromer, Mr Madden, Mrs Rush and Mr. Brownen,��who continually challenged me to push the boundaries of my knowledge.

After graduating from Ģ��Ƶ, I pursued a Bachelor of Science with a major in Human Biology. Following that, I took some time to travel and work before returning to academia for my master’s, which I’m currently working on. My research focuses on breast cancer, specifically investigating how manipulating metabolism could slow the progression of the disease. I’m in the process of writing my thesis, which will be approximately 40,000 words!

In the future, I hope to secure a position in a lab, take a well-deserved break, and do some more traveling. Eventually, I plan to return to my studies and complete my PhD. Recently, I was honoured to receive an award at a research showcase, where my presentation earned the highest score among 100 submissions, even competing against doctors and professors with over 10 years of experien

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Celebrating Our Alumni 2025

Bronte Stead — Fri, 31 Oct 2025 03:45:38 +0000

Celebrating Our Alumni: Returning, Reconnecting, and Inspiring the Next Generation

One of the great strengths of Ģ��Ƶ lies in our alumni community, a network of past students whose values, stories, and spirit continue to inspire. This year, we were grateful to welcome so many of our Alumni back to Ģ��Ƶ, each returning with a unique story, a generous heart, and a passion to give back. Their involvement reminds us that being part of Ģ��Ƶ doesn’t end at graduation, it’s a lifelong connection.

Inspiring the Next Generation
This year saw a number of Alumni return to inspire current students through talks and special events.

Tiffane Levick captivated our senior French students with her stories of studying, working, and living in France, a living example of how language can open doors to global adventures.
Libby Leissner returned to share her passion for music, motivating our young musicians to follow their creative dreams.
Emma Day, College Dux of 2009, inspired everyone at our Awards Evening at the end of 2024 with her reflections on her journey since leaving Ģ��Ƶ, before presenting an award to one of our high achievers.
Laura Dillon encouraged our students to think globally and act locally as she spoke about sustainability and her work in creating a better future.

Building Connections and Celebrating Community
Our heartfelt thanks go to Ailie Malthouse, Fiona Hassell, and Helen St John, who have contributed their time to our Community Relations Sub-Committee and the organisation of our annual reunion. Their efforts help maintain the bonds that make Ģ��Ƶ such a vibrant, connected community.

We were also delighted to welcome Jordan Chisholm, College Captain of 2020, who returned to sit on the interview panel for our 2026 College Captains. Having a recent graduate involved in this important process was a wonderful way to link past student leadership with the next generation of Ģ��Ƶ leaders.

Celebrating Women and Leadership
At our International Women’s Day Breakfast, Loretta Hart moved us with her wisdom and energy, leaving the community feeling uplifted and empowered. We were also delighted to welcome Natalie Grisenti and Saskia Frake, who shared their own stories of growth, challenge, and success since leaving Ģ��Ƶ, inspiring our students with their honesty and courage.

Cultural Reflection
During Reconciliation Week, Jiealla Guttie-Galpin joined us for our reconciliation assembly, reminding us of the importance of respect and walking together in reconciliation.

Creativity and Expression
Our senior Art students were privileged to have Anna Egberts open their recent exhibition, sharing insights into her career in art and design and encouraging students to embrace their creative potential.

Guiding Future Pathways
We were thrilled to see so many recent graduates Bonnie Skabla, Maddi Ellison, Poppy Perkins, Brigitte Tsatsalmas, Anastasia Napiza, Emily Bradley, Eva Miller, Elliotte Betts, Olivia Rowe, Ella Chamberlain, Sophie Brady, and Ava Drennan, return to speak to our Year 10 students about life after Ģ��Ƶ. Their reflections on their first years beyond life at Ģ��Ƶ offered practical insights and reassurance for those soon to take their own next steps.

Meanwhile, Chloe Ingles and Darcie Jones inspired our Year 12s with stories of their GAP years with the Letz Live Program working in boarding schools overseas and travelling, showing us how taking some time out can build confidence, independence, and global perspective.

Sharing Their Journeys: “Where Are They Now”
We also celebrated the incredible reflections and achievements of many more Alumni including Anna Egberts, Ava Hyland, Cherie Thierry, Colleen Delaney, Emma Day, Ella Ramsdale, Felicity Weir, Georgia Thompson, Kaitlyn Debono, Kaitlyn Schurmann, Kat Goss, Kathleen Halloran, Laura Thistlethwaite, Lejla Makas, Libby Leissner, Madeline Baker, Maree Golacki, Maria Deronjic, Michelle Winkle, Mina Haddad, Morgan Jamieson, Olivia Rowe, Paige Rae, Poppy Perkins, Stephanie Parsons, and Tiffane Levick, who each shared their stories as part of our Where Are They Now series. Their reflections continue to inspire current students, highlighting the many diverse paths that begin here at Ģ��Ƶ.

Welcoming Our Newest Alumni
We ended the year with a wonderful celebration as Yu Shin Tan and Lisa Jane Moody joined us at the Graduation Mass to welcome our graduating Year 12s into the Alumni community. Their presence symbolised the continuation of the Ģ��Ƶ story, one that we hope will grow richer with each year of graduates.

We would like to extend our thanks to all of our Alumni who continue to give back with their time, wisdom and example. Each visit, story, and act of generosity strengthens the thread that connects past, present, and future students. Together, we hope to continue to celebrate the remarkable women who remind us what it means to be part of the Ģ��Ƶ community – connecting, inspiring and remembering.

Melinda Hopper
Alumni Engagement Officer

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Teaching Excellence Program 2025

Bronte Stead — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 00:42:11 +0000

Late last year I was accepted into the Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership’s Teaching Excellence Program (TEP) for 2025. This is a year-long program that brings together educators from across Victoria to investigate evidence-based practice and to share professional expertise.

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As part of this program, I have undertaken two unique inquiries focusing on:

Embedding First Nations perspectives meaningfully within my subjects of Visual Communication Design and Art
Increasing student engagement and enrolment in our senior Art and Design subjects.

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During the program, I looked at ways of incorporating First Nations knowledge into art and design learning experiences. The objective was to embed this as an integral part of curriculum design, rather than as a separate topic. Positive outcomes included the development of classroom activities and resources that encourage cultural awareness, diverse influences and deeper creativity.

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As part of my second inquiry, I investigated how clear language and course promotion can influence participation and engagement in Arts-based subjects. I undertook three main initiatives here including reviewing subject descriptions, highlighting career pathways to students and also sharing student work publicly. The objective here was to make our Art and Design subjects more visible and more appealing to students.

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The TEP has been an inspiring professional journey that has strengthened my teaching practice. It has also connected me with a network of experienced educators and has reminded me about the importance of innovation and inclusion in education. I thank Ģ��Ƶ for supporting my participation in this program.

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Chris Scanlan
Mission and Identity Team: First Nations Reconciliation Leader

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2025 VCE Art Exhibition

Bronte Stead — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 04:32:32 +0000

A Celebration of Creativity: The 2025 VCE Art Exhibition

Last week, the Ģ��Ƶ Visual Arts Department proudly hosted our Annual VCE Year 12 Art Exhibition — a highlight on the school calendar that celebrates the creativity, dedication, and passion of our senior students.

This year’s exhibition was particularly special, marking the debut of our first-ever “Art Making & Exhibiting” Fashion Parade — an exhilarating showcase of handcrafted couture pieces designed and created by our talented Year 12 students. Each student worked with two models to present their garments as part of a curated display they designed, constructed, and styled themselves. The runway show was a thrilling success, with the audience captivated by the creativity and craftsmanship on display.

Adding to the excitement, our guest speaker, Anna Egberts, a Ģ��Ƶ alumna from the Class of 2007, shared her journey through the arts — from studying Visual Communication Design and English at Ģ��Ƶ to painting, exhibiting, and designing professionally for Geelong’s own Kaisercraft. Her energy and insight reminded everyone that creative pathways are not only viable but vibrant and full of opportunity.

Following the runway, the VCE Media students presented their short films in a cinematic showcase that transformed the Nagle Room into a glowing theatre space. The room was also home to our Visual Communication Design displays, featuring impressive architectural and product design models, and our Art Creative Practice students’ evocative bodies of work — a rich collection of paintings, sculptures, and photographs from Units 3 and 4.

The night was beautifully complemented by our Unit 3 Food Technology students, who catered the event with a spread inspired by their family recipes, reimagined into exquisite canapés and platters. Their contribution added warmth, hospitality, and a sense of shared celebration to the evening.

The festivities continued on Friday, as classes paused to take a walk through and a staff morning tea inviting our wider school community to view the exhibition. It was a wonderful opportunity for staff to connect with the creative outcomes of our senior students and to reflect on how artistic practice inspires innovation, problem-solving, and imagination across all learning areas.

Overall, the 2025 VCE Art Exhibition was a resounding success — a true celebration of our students’ vision, perseverance, and creative spirit.

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Joanna Wiltshire
Learning Leader: Arts

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Year 9 Building Careers Immersion

Bronte Stead — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 22:51:07 +0000

Our Year 9 students recently took part in an exciting Building Careers Immersion at The Gordon TAFE, where they explored a range of hands-on activities designed to give them a real taste of working in the trades. Throughout the day, students tried their hand at practical skills such as carpentry, plumbing, and electrical work, while learning directly from industry experts who shared their experiences and career journeys.

A key focus of the immersion was highlighting the growing opportunities for women in trades, particularly in the Geelong region, where job growth in this sector continues to rise. Students also had the valuable opportunity to network with potential employers, building connections that could support future pathways into apprenticeships, traineeships, and further study.

The day was an inspiring and practical experience, helping students to see the wide range of possibilities available in the building and construction industry while encouraging them to start thinking about their own career goals.

Beck Barry
Teacher/Careers and Pathways Advisor

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Tiffane Levick – Class of 2006

Bronte Stead — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 05:48:00 +0000

After leaving Ģ��Ƶ in 2006, I lived on campus at Monash University in Clayton for two years, where I began a Bachelor of Arts, studying French, English, journalism and theatre. I decided to put my French to the test in 2009 and completed the third year of my degree at the Sorbonne Nouvelle. This marked the first of about ten years living, studying, and working (mostly in teaching roles) in Paris

It was in 2020 that I ended up leaving Paris and headed south to Toulouse: I had defended my PhD thesis in 2018 and was lucky enough to be offered an ongoing position as a senior lecturer at Toulouse Jean-Jaurès University. As part of my job, I teach a range of practical translation and translation theory classes, supervise postgraduate research, and carry out my own research, mainly on the representation of urban youth speech in French and English. I now have both French and Australian nationality and usually spend a month or so with family and friends in Australia over the European summer.

The skills I developed at Ģ��Ƶ laid the foundations for my career path. In the French classes I took from Years 7 to 12, Madame Lyon encouraged us to speak authentic French with a Parisian accent. In VCE Theatre Studies and English, Ms McKenzie and Mrs Hildebrand taught us to use words well and wisely. Without their guidance—and that of many other teachers—I wouldn’t be where I am today: working and living with and between languages.

Though I graduated from Ģ��Ƶ nearly twenty years ago, I often still feel like the teenage girl I was in the early 2000s, trying to figure out who she is and who she wants to be. The space Ģ��Ƶ gives students to explore their emerging identities—while encouraging them to approach learning with curiosity, to have fun both in and out of the classroom—continues to shape the way I engage with my own students: with care, compassion, and humour.

Tiffane Levick – Class of 2006

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Madeline Baker – Class of 2015

Bronte Stead — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 03:25:57 +0000

I have so many fond memories of my time at Ģ��Ƶ.��I was always motivated to learn, and felt��incredibly supported to embrace every opportunity. In Year 11, I had the privilege of travelling to East Timor – an experience I will always cherish. Additionally, I was fortunate to represent Ģ��Ƶ at World Youth Day in Poland through my role as a Liturgy Leader. Mrs Kiernan, in particular, was an absolutely incredible teacher who offered invaluable support, both in my leadership role and throughout my broader education journey. Holding a leadership position helped build my confidence and has inspired me to take on leadership positions as an adult. This has opened up so many opportunities over the years and I am very thankful to Ģ��Ƶ for encouraging me from the outset.��

My favourite subjects were Psychology, Health and Biology – these subjects were really useful in my first year of university!��Further Maths was another subject I really enjoyed. It introduced me to the foundations of statistics — something I use quite a lot in research!

Since leaving Ģ��Ƶ, I completed a Bachelor of Vision Science/Master of Optometry and worked in the public health sector as an optometrist. I later returned to academia, where I was employed as a Research Fellow and Associate Lecturer in Vision Science. In March of this year, I commenced my PhD, investigating the relationship between eating disorders and ocular health. Alongside my doctoral studies, I work part-time in policy and advocacy, in addition to my role as a Teaching Fellow at Deakin University – (you might say I enjoy being busy!). In my spare time, I enjoy walking my puppy, Maple (who is a bubbly Bichon Frise x Toy Poodle) and exploring the outdoors with my family.

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Careers Archives - Ģ����Ƶ