In honour of Teacher's Aide Appreciation Week, this week we would like to share with you the profiles of some of our incredible education support staff.

Teacher's Aide Appreciation Week acknowledges and celebrates the wonderful work our education support staff do in schools every day. They are a vital part of our team and we greatly appreciate the essential support they provide in our educational environments.

At SJC we have 38 education support and teacher's aide roles across our two campuses. Their role is to support our students by assisting with their learning in the classroom and improving their participation in school based co-curriculum activities.

Any given week as a teacher's aide varies greatly - from reading and writing, mathematics to PE and attending excursions or camps. They are masters at being flexible and adapting to different situations, while supporting our students and teachers in a safe learning environment.

Full Name: Jaqueline Robinson

Role at SJC: ESO working with Year 10

Qualifications/Work/Study History: Certificate IV in Education Support

Length of time at St Joseph's College: Started in March 2021

What do you love most about working at SJC? The lovely welcoming environment.

What has been your most memorable moment in your time at SJC?

Having a student at the end of a lesson take the time to thank me for helping them, they were new to the school and had never been offered personalised assistance before.

What is 1 thing that people would be surprised to learn about you?

I have attended 5 different schools and learnt a different LOTE at each of them.

Full Name: Claire Patricia Smith

Role at SJC: ESO (contract)

Qualifications/Work/Study History:

BA Com. (triple major in Coms, PR & Prof. Writing(Journalism)). Cert IV Training&Assessment. M. Ed. by research - research topic: Communicative approaches to fostering reading for pleasure in secondary school. Author - two books published on contract (book on Aboriginal Elder Bes Murray sold 20,000+). Over 30 years experience in leadership and management positions as journalist, coms/PR leadership and library management in media, business, water industry, education and local government (previous library manager at SJC - five years). Guest speaker and author various publications.

Length of time at St Joseph's College: Five years and 10 months.

What do you love most about working at SJC?

The people.

What has been your most memorable moment in your time at SJC?

Having the entire school screaming support for their teams in a Book Relay at Brigidine Campus as an event for Lit Week.

What is 1 thing that people would be surprised to learn about you?

I've worked at Yulara Resort ay Uluru and met Prince William.

Full Name: Dion Westblade

Role at SJC: ESO Wood Metal

Qualifications/Work/Study History: 16 yrs aluminium fabricator/Glazier

Length of time at St Joseph's College: commenced January 2019

What do you love most about working at SJC?

Machining and prepping wood all year levels, teaching students to use hand and power tools.

What has been your most memorable moment in your time at SJC?

The pressure during covid period to supply and machine wood for all year levels

What is 1 thing that people would be surprised to learn about you?

I worked in a bank for nearly 9 years

Full Name: Zoe Taylor

Role at SJC: ESO in Year 8 classes

Qualifications/Work/Study History:

Diploma of Community Services and Cert IV in Child, Youth and Family Interventions. Allied Health Certificates. Disabillity Support and Behavioural Support Background.

Length of time at St Joseph's College: 1 year

What do you love most about working at SJC?

The culture within the staff and how everyone catches up and talks to each other

What has been your most memorable moment in your time at SJC?

Going on excursions with the kids.

What is 1 thing that people would be surprised to learn about you?

I have syndactyly (webbed toes)

Full Name: Vanessa Mahoney

Role at SJC: ESO, aiding in Year 11 with the VM group and managing the Hands on Learning Cafe at Brigidine Campus

Qualifications/Work/Study History:

After finishing Year 12, I began a degree in primary teaching at La Trobe but then had a change of heart 6 months in, and decided to become a chef. I qualified in Melbourne and then moved back to Echuca after 8 years and did further study to teach in the TAFE sector.

Length of time at St Joseph's College: I started at St Joes in March 2018

What do you love most about working at SJC?

I love being a part of a dynamic community of wonderful staff and students who all look after each other. I love the the rich history of our College, being a past student and working in a large team.

What has been your most memorable moment in your time at SJC?

I would say the way we all up-skilled to adapt to remote learning was quite memorable. Having catch ups with colleagues over a google meet, jumping in and out of classes online to engage with and support students, fumbling our way through was quite unique.

What is 1 thing that people would be surprised to learn about you?

I have identical twin daughters

Full Name: Regis Chakabva

Role at SJC: ESO

Qualifications/Work/Study History: Professional cricketer

Length of time at St Joseph's College: 1 year

What do you love most about working at SJC?

The staff have been very warm, friendly and kind.

What has been your most memorable moment in your time at SJC?

When a student said to me after I did 1-1 through the lesson "thank you for your help today" and I could see the sincerity in their eyes, that brought me joy.

What is 1 thing that people would be surprised to learn about you?

That I was super flexible and could swing my hands from back to front without separating them at the fingers.

Full Name: Tammy McLeish

Role at SJC:

ESO - assisting and supporting students with their educational needs. Social and emotional support.

Qualifications/Work/Study History:

Early Childhood Diploma - Education Support lV - 16 years of kindergarten assistant roles & education support roles

Length of time at St Joseph's College: Commenced work in 2023

What do you love most about working at SJC?

Beautiful community, the care and support to staff and students.

What has been your most memorable moment in your time at SJC?

Creating beautiful relationships with the students.

What is 1 thing that people would be surprised to learn about you?

I hold a level 1 certificate in Reiki, and enjoy making soy wax candles in my free time.

Full Name: Rima Mehta

Role at SJC: ESO

Qualifications/Work/Study History: Cert III Education Support

Length of time at St Joseph's College: Commenced in January 2023

What do you love most about working at SJC?

Friendly and helpful atmosphere

What has been your most memorable moment in your time at SJC?

Smiles in the morning

What is 1 thing that people would be surprised to learn about you?

My hospitality background

Full Name: Jenny Sudholz

Role at SJC: ESO

Qualifications/Work/Study History: Diploma of Education Support

Length of time at St Joseph's College: 15 years

What do you love most about working at SJC?

Supporting students to complete their schooling, achieve the best they can, and be skilled in their area of choice.

What has been your most memorable moment in your time at SJC?

Too many to count - probably watching some of the students who have really struggled, walk up and receive their graduation certificate.

What is 1 thing that people would be surprised to learn about you?

I am an amateur artist

Full Name: Joanne McMillan

Role at SJC: LSO

Qualifications/Work/Study History: Cert III - Education Support/Teachers Aide

Length of time at St Joseph's College: Started January 2020

What do you love most about working at SJC? My colleagues and building relationships with the students. The actual school (so pretty), the hours and holidays.

What has been your most memorable moment in your time at SJC?

Being told I'm a students trusted adult.

What is 1 thing that people would be surprised to learn about you?

I'm one of 6 girls in my family.

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