MFG Staff 2022
MFG LEADERSHIP 2022
Positions of responsibility
NEW STAFF 2022
Peter Schneider
Hi everyone! I am so excited to start at MFGSC this year as an English teacher after teaching across different schools for the past eight years. I love linguistics and am fascinated by the idea that ‘the language we use reflects who we are’. I am looking forward to moving to Geelong to be closer to family and the beach. When I’m not teaching, I enjoy mountain bike riding, walking our dog – Frankie, cooking, coffee and gardening.
Nicolle Brigden
I am a teacher-librarian and English/EAL teacher and enjoy working with students at all year levels to develop their literacy, analysis and critical thinking skills. I also taught VCE Extended Investigation at my previous school and am thrilled to be able to support the introduction of this fantastic new subject to the MFG curriculum in 2022. I have three daughters as well as two crazy Labradors and when I'm not taking care of them, I love to do yoga or read. I am very much looking forward to joining the team at MFG next year.
John Kingma
I have been teaching music from Years 7-12 at a school in Melbourne with a huge instrumental music program for the last 8 years and am excited about starting at MFG in 2022. For the last 15 years I have also been an active performing musician, playing double and electric bass in various jazz bands, rock bands and orchestras. I believe one of the most rewarding things you can do in life is learn an instrument and I’m really passionate about providing students with opportunities to learn and grow through music lessons and musical ensembles. In my spare time I love road cycling, surfing and good coffee.
Stephen Bisinella
Hi! I’m Stephen Bisinella and am excited to be a part of the great MFG community. I will be teaching VCAL after a long career at Grovedale College teaching English and Humanities. Ensuring that students are confident, independent, and well-equipped to launch into their post-school life is a role I am looking forward to. Outside of teaching I enjoy day trading on the stock market, speculating in cryptocurrencies, gardening, cooking Thai food and spending time with my beautiful Burmese cats.
Linda Harris
I am Linda Harris and I am very happy and excited to be joining the MFG community. I have been teaching in various settings for many years, and have worked in regional and city schools and TAFE colleges. Most recently I have been teaching VCE English and VCAL units at Craigieburn Secondary School. I am teaching English at MFG and am looking forward to working with each student to help them reach their goals.
Leah Higginson
Hi, I’m Leah Higginson and I am so excited to be joining the Matthew Flinders teaching team for this year. As a recent graduate from the master’s program at ACU I feel very grateful to be spending my first year in the inclusive environment being built at MFG. I teach Humanities and English and have a passion for politics and the media's power and influence in society. Outside school hours I am an avid traveller, skier and snowboarder and have a passion for the mountains, films, and trivia.
Lauren Goulden
Hi my name is Lauren Goulden and I’m the new Learning Mentor at Matthew Flinders! I have worked in the education setting for numerous years and I am excited to work at Matthew Flinders and getting to know students, staff, families and wider community.
I have 4 kids and love spending time with my family and friends. I love going for drives down the coast, watching movies, and gardening.
Haziel Armstrong
My name is Haziel and am very excited to be joining the team at MFG as a learning mentor! I have been an integration aide for almost 3 years now, and have been loving the role. My favourite parts about the job are getting opportunities to build rapport with the students and observing their academic progress. When I’m not working, I love writing songs, playing guitar and piano, and singing.
Tes Lapham
My name is Tes Lapham and I am very excited to be part of the PE teaching team at Matthew Flinders for Term 1.
I moved to the Bellarine Peninsula in 2020 with my husband and two primary school aged children, and absolutely love living here. I love teaching and have worked in various primary and secondary schools. I currently work at La Trobe University as the PE Coordinator for pre-service teachers. I also work as a Physiotherapist and enjoy linking the outside world to my teaching.
I am passionate about PE, sport and health. My main interests include cricket, tennis, soccer, mountain bike riding and running. I also love playing the drums and travelling within Australia and overseas. I am looking forward to my time working at Matthew Flinders!
Alice Senkic
Hi. My name is Alice Senkic. I started at Matthew Flinders part way through last year as a Learning Mentor. I have a teaching background in Humanities/History and English, and have ventured back into education after raising two children.
In my spare time I enjoy being creative. I do a little sewing, some baking, painting, and crafting. I also have a passion for mid century vintage and I am enjoying decorating my new home with my local vintage finds. I’m looking forward to continuing my mentoring role in the year ahead.
James van Kan
Hello! I’m James van Kan.
This is my seventh-year teaching, and I’m super excited to be here at MFG.
This will be my third-year teaching Mathematics full time, and I love to try to figure out different teaching approaches for all students.
When I don’t teach I love to go to Comic Cons, watch Netflix and learn about weird facts of our Universe.
Did you know that you can fit every planet in our Solar System between the Earth and our Moon? And still have room to spare!
Amanda Lucas
Hello Matthew Flinders GSC community! I am really excited to be joining the teaching team in 2022. A bit about myself... I have taught in the UK, NZ and Australia for more than 20 years. I was also a tour guide on overland trucks in Africa and the Middle East for 2 years... and so you can probably guess that I love travel and adventure, have travelled to more than 50 countries and have LOVED teaching Outdoor and Environmental Studies (PE, Health and Enviro Sci too) for the last 18 years at Melbourne Girls College.
My passion is finding out what turns on curiosity and a desire to learn in each individual student... and the result is sometimes quite unexpected and exciting! I look forward to working with MFG students who have struggled with learning over the last 2 years of covid impacted classes and supporting the teaching staff to create individual learning plans for these students.
I am excited to teach OES to the year 11 class, which allows me to share my passion for everything outdoors... The photo is in the Amazon jungle in Ecuador on a fast boat down the Napo River to Yasuni National Park. If you want to quiz me on my travels... please ask... I have also taken 2 student trips to Laos/Thailand and Galapagos Islands.
See you at school.