From the Principal

Dear Parents, Students and Friends of St Virgil’s College,

BlendED 

I am pleased to share some exciting news about a new educational initiative within Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA). Following the success of BlendED Victoria – formerly St Joseph’s Flexible Learning Centre – EREA has established a new national subsidiary: EREA BlendED National Ltd.

BlendED is a dual-engagement program designed to support young people who are currently disengaged from school and their communities. It offers a flexible online learning environment, complemented by in-person group and individual wellbeing support. The goal is to help students overcome barriers to participation beyond their homes, while continuing their education in a way that suits their needs.

I have been working closely with the BlendED team and I am delighted to announce that BlendED national has been officially approved by the Office of the Education Registrar and endorsed by the Hon. Minister for Education Jo Palmer. As a result, the first BlendED online school will open in Tasmania in Term 1, 2026.

After careful consideration, St Virgil’s College will be welcoming BlendED Tasmanian staff to our Austin’s Ferry Campus next year. BlendED staff will be co-located with us, which will create opportunities for shared professional learning and engagement. The BlendED team will be based on the first floor of the Hessian Wing (Administration Block) and it is important to note that students enrolled with BlendED will not be attending our College or using our campus facilities.

We are grateful to EREA and the BlendED National team for leading this important initiative. It will provide a meaningful educational pathway for young Tasmanians who are currently disconnected from traditional schooling.

I will provide updates as further information comes to hand but look forward to welcoming BlendED staff to our Austins Ferry campus in the new year. 

Staffing Update

Head of Religious Education

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Talea Paraskevas as Head of Religious Education, effective from 2026. Ms. Paraskevas has been a dedicated teacher of senior Religious Education and has collaborated closely with Mr. Venter in curriculum development. We extend our warm congratulations to Ms. Paraskevas and wish her every success in this important leadership role.

Vocational Education & Training Coordinator

Congratulations to Richard Cowlard on his appointment as VET Coordinator, commencing in 2026. Mr. Cowlard has successfully completed his Certificate IV in Workplace Assessor Training and will be delivering Certificate II in Sports Coaching next year. Mr. Cowlard with retain his position of Head of Hession House in 2026 and we look forward to the valuable contributions he will bring to the VET program.

Year 6 Teacher

We congratulate Mr. Hudson Arkley who has been appointed to the part-time (0.4 FTE) Year 6 Teacher role commencing in 2026. Mr. Arkley is currently a Learning Support Officer at the Junior School and is completing his Bachelor of Education. Mr. Arkley is a current student of the St Aquinas Cadetship Program and is an old boy of the College. Mr. Arkley will bring a wealth of knowledge of our students and has set a great example of what it means to be an Old Virgilian via his support and leadership of the Polished Man initiative. Please join with me in congratulating Mr. Arkley on this significant appointment. 

Recruitment Update

Interview panels are currently underway for the following positions:

• Head of the Arts

• Psychologist/Counsellor/Social Worker

Best wishes for the week ahead.

Jon Franzin

PRINCIPAL