ES Staff in the Spotlight

Of our 186 staff at Wantirna College, we have 111 teaching staff and 75 education support staff (ES). Primarily the role of our ES is to support teachers and students to achieve the best possible educational outcomes for students. Their jobs vary greatly, with some providing direct support to students in the classroom and some focused on maintaining our beautiful grounds and buildings, whilst others are in the General Office ensuring payments for camps, excursions and programs are processed accordingly. 

Our school couldn’t operate without the valuable work they do which is often not as visible as the work our teachers do.  However, it is just as vital in ensuring we provide the best possible opportunities for our students. This term, our Staff in the Spotlight will shine a light on the valuable work our ES do and the people in these roles who support our students and teachers.

This week we are spotlighting Nerilee Fletcher. 

Nerilee works in our front office as the Human Resources Manager and is responsible for making sure the staff get paid! 

What is your role?

Human Resources (HR) Manager

How long have you worked at Wantirna College?

11 years

Briefly describe your role and responsibilities.

I am responsible for processing new staff appointments, all terminations, transfers, leave, time in lieu, and work cover, and ensuring staff are paid correctly.

How does the work you do support students and/or teachers?

I make sure all staff requirements such as leave and salaries are correct so staff can focus on our students without being burdened with HR and administration responsibilities.

What is the best thing about Wantirna College?

Definitely the people. I work with a great bunch of people in the office who are always willing to help each other out. The students at Wantirna are fantastic too. Polite and courteous.

What is the most challenging aspect of your role?

Deadlines. Sometimes it's hard to juggle everything and constant re-prioritising is essential in my job, especially with pay critical work.

If you hosted a dinner party and had to invite three Wantirna staff, who would they be and why?

Andrew Lewis and Peter Cameron because they make me laugh a lot. And one of the nurses as I might need medical attention from laughing so much.

If you were the boss of Wantirna College and had an unlimited budget to spend, what would you spend it on and why?

A built-in swimming pool because I believe it is essential for all Australians to know how to swim. We could also use it for some 'fun in the sun' special occasion days as a treat for everyone.

What’s your ideal holiday destination?

Somewhere warm but not too hot with a lot of history. I've always wanted to go to Graceland too.

What do you think is the biggest issue facing young people today?

Social media. I think it's sad that people don't communicate face to face with each other as much as in previous times. There is also a lot of rubbish on the internet.