From the Executive

Staff Leadership Development

In 2022, our College Principal Dr Paul Shannon, prioritised the leadership development of our Staff by introducing the new role of Director of Leadership and Coaching. Mr David Sutton was appointed to the position in Term 3 and has been predominantly working with the members of the College Executive Team and the College Leadership Team. He will imminently commence work with the Middle Leaders, consisting of Faculty Heads and Year Level Coordinators. Mr Sutton began by introducing a Reflective Practise Leadership Program, designed to develop an understanding of individual leadership styles. Program participants completed a DISC assessment, which is a psychometric assessment tool focused on the four main personal styles: Dominance, Influence, Steadiness and Conscientiousness. The tool aims to build personal leadership-style, awareness and improve communication and understanding between respective team members. After unpacking the survey results and reflecting on the findings, participants were then invited to construct their own leadership-focused questions to seek feedback from their colleagues. Consequently, it is anticipated that the feedback will heighten self-awareness, affirm successes, and identify opportunities for improvement. We look forward to working with David on developing our leadership skills and behaviours which will ultimately impact the growth and trajectory of the College.

Introducing Mr David Sutton, Director of Leadership and Coaching

I am currently a Registered Teacher (VIT) and a Registered Clinical Counsellor (Psychotherapy and Counsellors Federation of Australia). In Melbourne secondary schools, I have enjoyed working at Whitefriars College, St John’s College, St Joseph’s College, St Bernard’s College and now Mazenod College. I also spent three years teaching at Nauiyu, a remote Aboriginal community located on Malak-Malak land on the banks of the Daly River in the Northern Territory, and I continue to visit there regularly. My previous roles in education include, Teacher (Economics, Accounting, Business, Geography, Ethics, Religion and Society, Religious Education), Student Counsellor, Deputy Principal Students, Faith Development Coordinator, Religious Education Coordinator and Acting Principal.  At the beginning of Term 3 this year I commenced work as the Director of Leadership and Coaching here at Mazenod College.

Between working in schools, I spent ten years in the homelessness sector working at Corpus Christi Community, Greenvale. Started by Mother Teresa, Corpus Christi is a residential community for men with backgrounds including experience with homelessness, addiction and often significant mental health issues. I started there with my family as a live-in volunteer leading to working for many years in a leadership role encompassing working with the residents and a team of people towards gaining accreditation for the community as a registered Aged Care facility.

At Mazenod this year I was delighted to facilitate the Executive Team retreat in January.  Soon after I began working with a number of members of the Executive Team, as well as some others in Positions of Leadership, in what I call a Reflective Practise Program. The Program engages the person in a twelve-month process of reflecting on their experience in the exercise of their leadership role. It also utilises a psychometric tool (DISC) to provide further information on their personal leadership style and then moves to co-constructing a process looking to gain feedback from colleagues that is both relevant and authentic.

Working three days a week in the Director of Leadership and Coaching role, the offering of this program will be gradually extended to other staff as well as using the DISC tool to support the effective working of various teams across the College, beginning with the Leadership Team.

Some other things I have enjoyed being involved in include lots of sport coaching and playing (footy and cricket) and committees, ten years on the Board of Jesuit Social Services, particularly as Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee, and time on the Advisory Council of Regina Coeli Community for women experiencing homelessness.

Mrs Joanne Noone

Dean of Staff