Staffing 2026

Staffing Update – Preparing for 2026

As we begin planning for the 2026 school year, I would like to share an update on staffing.

Staff Not Returning in 2026.

We extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to the following staff members who will not be returning next year:

• Emily Decis – Emily will be moving to Debney Meadows Primary School. We thank her for the dedication and care she has shown during her time at Aberfeldie Primary School.
• Jen Doumas – Jen will be taking a year away from teaching to pursue an opportunity with the Disability Inclusion Team. We wish her all the best as she broadens her impact in this important area.
• Hannah Alexander – Hannah will be taking a year of leave to work at Seaholme Primary School. We appreciate her contributions and hope this new experience is rewarding.
• Danielle Hart – Danielle will be moving to Burnside Primary School, where she will be taking on a STEM teaching role, a passion for Danielle. We are grateful for her commitment to our school community.
• Melati Cordell – Melati will be returning to her host school, Williamstown Primary School, after spending Semester 2 on loan to Aberfeldie Primary School. We thank her for her support and flexibility during her time with us.
• Belinda Hudson – Belinda is making a sea change and relocating to Geelong, where she will be joining a brand-new school Yirrama Primary School. We wish her every success in this exciting next chapter.

Each of these staff members has worked tirelessly at Aberfeldie Primary School, contributing to our culture of excellence and supporting our students with dedication and care. We are incredibly grateful for their commitment and professionalism. We wish them all the very best in their next chapters and hope they carry the spirit of Aberfeldie with them wherever they go.

New Teaching Staff Joining Aberfeldie in 2026

We are delighted to welcome the following new staff to our teaching team:

• Emily Hendy - Emily comes to us from Strathtulloh PS with rich experience in explicit teaching and School-Wide Positive Behaviour Support.
• Danielle Shaw - Danielle comes to us with a strong background in the Science of Learning after teaching at an international school in Singapore and many years as a teacher and leader at Brunswick North PS
• Brianna Noonan (Auslan/Library Specialist teacher) - Brianna brings extensive experience as both a classroom teacher and specialist educator, along with strong leadership in Auslan programs. She also has a solid background in School-Wide Positive Behaviour Support (SWPBS).

Returning Teaching Staff in 2026

We are also pleased to welcome back the following staff members in 2026:

• Emma Beckett – Returning from parental leave in Term 2. We look forward to welcoming Emma back to APS and the leadership team.
• Ashlee Naylor – Returning from parental leave. We are delighted to have Ashlee rejoin the team and bring her expertise back to APS.
• Emily Lidgerwood – Returning to Aberfeldie Primary School after spending the past few years teaching in the UK. We are excited to have Emily back and look forward to her sharing the knowledge and experience gained overseas.

New Education Support Staff

We are pleased to welcome the following people to our Education Support team for 2026:

• Emma Keenan – Emma has been working as a casual ES staff member throughout Term 4, and we are excited for her to continue as part of the APS team in 2026. Her positive relationships with students and staff have already made her a valued member of our community.
• Caitlin Attard will also continue working as an Education Support next year. Caitlin joined our ES team in Semester 2 this year and is excited to continue to support many of our amazing students. 
• We also have two additional ES positions that are currently being finalised.

As always, staffing is a dynamic process, and we will continue to keep our community informed of any further updates. Thank you for your ongoing support as we prepare for another exciting year at Aberfeldie Primary School.