Welcome - New Staff!
Jason Atkins
St Stephen’s Catholic College is pleased to welcome Jason Atkins to our Health & Physical Education department, where he will also take on responsibilities in Sport Coordination.
Jason joins us with a Bachelor of Education (Physical Education) and a wealth of experience from his past eight years at Peace Lutheran College, where he served as Sports Coordinator and Head of House. His background in leadership, student wellbeing, and sport development makes him a fantastic addition to our team.
Reflecting on his first few weeks at St Stephen’s, Jason has found the transition positive, noting the helpful and supportive staff, though there have been many new names and processes to learn! His enthusiasm and willingness to dive into a new environment are already shining through.
Outside the classroom, Jason’s interests keep him active and adventurous. He enjoys mountain biking, basketball, sea kayaking, and collecting vinyl records.
Looking ahead to 2026, Jason is most excited about ensuring that St Stephen's students have access to quality sport and physical activity, and supporting those who wish to pursue higher levels of representation in their chosen sports. His passion for student achievement and participation will no doubt have a strong impact across our College community.
We’re delighted to have Jason on board and look forward to the expertise and enthusiasm he brings to St Stephen’s.
Martin Burke
We are delighted to welcome Martin Burke to the St Stephen’s community. Martin joins us with a Bachelor of Technology Education and will be contributing his expertise across both the Engineering and Design and Mathematics departments.
Martin brings a wealth of experience to his role, and before joining our community, he embraced opportunities to support diverse school communities spanning Charters Towers to Brisbane. Martin has found his first few weeks at St Stephen's to be “fast and furious”.
Outside the classroom, Martin enjoys an exciting blend of hobbies, including flying and woodturning. We are thrilled to have Martin on board and look forward to the knowledge, energy, and experience he brings to our students and staff.
Patrick Aloia
We are excited to welcome Patrick Aloia to the Student Diversity Learning Support team. Patrick brings an impressive blend of hands‑on experience, community connection, and a genuine passion for supporting students to his new role.
Patrick was born and bred in Mareeba and has deep roots in the community. He began his career in the construction industry, spending 25 years as a bricklayer and renderer, including time working in his family’s business. His craftsmanship and creativity also led him to start his own venture—building and selling wood‑fired ovens, a skill that pairs perfectly with one of his great loves: pizza!
After decades in construction, Patrick transitioned into the care sector, working for five years as a Disability Support Worker across Mareeba and Cairns. This experience strengthened his commitment to helping others and ultimately inspired his move into the education space.
Patrick also holds Certificates III and IV in Fitness, reflecting his strong interest in health and wellbeing.
Patrick has spent his first few weeks working closely with our Teachers and LSOs, and the experience has already made a strong impression. “The last few weeks have been amazing. I have already learnt so much from the amazing team of Teachers and LSOs,” he shared.
When he’s not supporting students, Patrick enjoys gym and fitness, collecting model cars and cooking - and especially eating - pizza!
Patrick is energised and optimistic about the year ahead saying, “I’m looking forward to the challenge of starting a new job, and I’m equally excited to reflect on everything I will have achieved over the coming year.”
We’re thrilled to have Patrick on board and look forward to the skills, positivity, and community spirit he brings to our school.
Jay Geddes
We are delighted to welcome Jay Geddes to the Student Diversity team at St Stephen’s Catholic College.
Jay joins us with a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education & Care and valuable experience from Mareeba Community Kindy, where she worked as a co‑educator supporting the delivery of a high‑quality kindy program. Her background in early learning brings a warm, student‑centred approach to her new role within our College.
Jay says her first few weeks at St Stephen’s have been “really great,” sharing that she has already had many opportunities to learn and grow professionally. She has especially enjoyed seeing the positive community spirit within the school—something she notes is strongly reflected in the way students support one another.
Outside of work, Jay loves to stay creative and active. When she can fit them in, her hobbies include sewing and crafting, going to the gym, glamping, and volunteering with Scouts.
Looking ahead to 2026, Jay is excited for the change and challenge that her new role brings and is looking forward to everything the year will offer.
We’re thrilled to have Jay as part of the St Stephen’s community and wish her all the best as she settles into her new role.
Natuna Mackay
We are pleased to welcome Natuna to our Learning Support team.