Sacred Heart School Advisory Council

School Advisory Council Members

Father Uday Marneni (Parish Priest), Carolyn Goode (Principal), Felicity Bryant (Assistant Principal), Debbie Worm (Secretary), Julie Murrell (Chair), Maria Nigro,  Kelly Hines, Nikki Shearer, Katelyn McIntyre, Lachlan Scott, Minda van Eyk & Kate Wheelhouse.

Members can be contacted by emailing: info@shtatura.catholic.edu.au This will then be passed on.

Below is a list of Frequently Asked Questions which provides more insight into being a member of the Sacred Heart School Advisory Council:

1. Do I need a specific skill set to become an Advisory Council member?

No. The most important contribution to the Advisory Council is being a parent and/or guardian, motivated to be involved and engaged with the Sacred Heart community. The individual motivation is to be focused on the whole school community, with an interest in the strategic direction and growth for those who seek an education at Sacred Heart, and to be willing and open to a common purpose, understanding and sharing of ideas. 

2. What is the commitment?

The tenure of membership is for a three-year term.  During this period, the commitment requires attendance at two Advisory Council meetings per term, in weeks 4 and 8, over the course of the school year. The meeting is currently held on a Tuesday evening from 6:15pm to 8:30pm.  The meeting agenda and preparation reading is emailed one week prior to the meeting. There is time required to read through the material in order to actively participate in the meeting. At times there may be projects that require consultation and involvement of Advisory Council member(s). This involvement would be a voluntary commitment. 

3. Do I need to be Catholic to become an Advisory Council member?

No. There does need to be an openness to learning about Catholic education and a commitment to actively support the Vision and Catholic Identity of Sacred Heart.  To refresh, Sacred Heart Catholic School is an educating community of living witnesses working in partnership with families, inspiring strength through faith and love.

Central to the mission of Sacred Heart is an unequivocal commitment to fostering the dignity, self-esteem and integrity of children and young people and providing them with a safe, supportive and enriching environment to develop spiritually, physically, intellectually, emotionally and socially. Sacred Heart promotes the safety, wellbeing and inclusion of all students. 

At Sacred Heart we believe in: 

In celebrating our Catholic faith in a life-giving community of witnesses who serve God and society;

In fostering open and supportive relationships with families as the primary educators of their children;

In educating the whole child in a learning environment where teamwork and collaboration are central so that each child becomes a valuable contributor to society;

In providing a curriculum, which cultivates effective lifelong learners through commitment to informed, current teaching and learning practice; and

In building relationships based upon mutual respect, trust and care in an environment of justice, equality, compassion and hope.

4. As an Advisory Council member can I make changes to the operational management of Sacred Heart?

No. The Sacred Heart School Advisory Council is the leading consultative and advisory group for the principal, as an active forum for parent and community participation, providing support and advice, principally in strategic planning and school improvement. As outlined in the CES Limited Governance Charter, Advisory Council members do not have decision-making powers. The Sacred Heart School Advisory Council is intended to: Provide a voice for members of the school community; Actively support, in collaboration with the local parish, the Vision and Catholic Identity of the College; Provide input into and support for strategic planning and directions; Provide input and contribute advice in the processes of school improvement and school review; Support the Principal in meeting his/her responsibilities and accountabilities for educational outcomes, effective stewardship of resources, and annual reporting; Actively support the principal in the encouragement of parent/guardian engagement; Support the ongoing sustainability of the Council and its members in its succession and learning.