CEO's Update

One MITS 

In 2026, amongst our 10 Year Celebrations, our organisational focus is on One MITS.   

Firstly, and most importantly, One MITS is a commitment to our students and their experience at MITS.  Whether in Year 7 or Year 12, our young people should experience the same high-expectations, daily practices and rituals, and wellbeing supports across MITS.  As we have grown in recent years, we have experienced the importance of One MITS to provide connection, belonging and community across our rich student cohort of now 87 students.  This community is an essential component in each of our students thriving and being ready to grab the opportunities of Melbourne each day. 

It is also a staff commitment: wherever we sit in MITS – school, boarding, wellbeing, kitchen, facilities or office – we share a common purpose and vision, of Confident Learners, Proud Communities and Strong Futures.  As I write this article, I’ve just returned from our End of Term assembly, and it was a great pleasure not only to see and hear students presenting with confidence, but also to have staff from across all teams on Richmond Hill joining to support students and their colleagues. 

Importantly, One MITS is a family commitment.  We often say that MITS is made stronger through the voices, advocacy and participation of our families and communities.  While most of our families ordinarily live 300km, or 3000km, away from Melbourne, we delight in welcoming them to MITS (including to stay in Warin, our Family Accommodation Space) and feel privileged to regularly visit families in their home communities.  This term I’ve been fortunate to visit Ngukurr, Elliott and Pirlangimpi, and on each visit I am reminded of the strength of our students’ home education communities, the clarity of their families’ visions for their education, and the weight of responsibility that we at MITS carry in our care for their young people away from home. 

And finally, One MITS is a community commitment.  Our organisation is built on partnerships: from Jakobi and the education team at the Royal Botanic Gardens, to our Pathways Schools, to our generous corporate supporters, such as Ernst & Young who are currently completing our annual audit.  This broad community strengthens MITS, and ensures that we can provide the very best in education, boarding and wellbeing support to our young people. 

Staff news 

As we end Term 1, we farewell Teacher Tash Gaffney, who is leaving MITS to travel around Australia with her husband.  Tash joined MITS in 2024 as part of our Year 8 teaching team, at that time based in our temporary classrooms at Richmond High School.  She has been an important part of our school team over the past two years and we have been fortunate to share significant life milestones with her, including her marriage late last year.  We wish her the very best for her next adventure. 

And in Term 2, our Head of School Michael Barnhoorn will take parental leave, in particular to spend time with his wife Kayla’s family in the USA.  While Michael is on leave, I’m delighted to share that Taylor Culpepper will step in as acting Head of School to continue the excellent work that Michael has led in Term 1 to implement our School Improvement Program. 

Term 1 Break 

I know that our MITS families will be eagerly awaiting the return of your children tomorrow, Thursday 2 April.   

I congratulate all students on an exceptionally strong Term 1 – including the 23 students across Year 7 and 8 who achieved 100% attendance this term.  In particular, I congratulate our Year 7s on completing the first, courageous term away from home.  We know that they are a source of immense price to their families and to their communities, and we hope that you enjoy a very well-deserved break with your young people in the coming weeks. 

Looking ahead, all students travel to Melbourne for Term 2 on Monday 20 April.  It is always an exciting and challenging term: as Warin (wombat season) bring shorter, colder days, we celebrate the start of the football season with Richmond Junior Football Club, senior students start to prepare for Semester 1 exams, and as a community we revel in Dreamtime at the G with our partners at the Richmond Football Club. 

I wish our whole school community a very happy and safe break, and we are looking forward to welcoming students back for Term 2.