Introducing our new staff!

We are pleased to introduce to you our new members of the Emmaus staff team.

Brooklyn Park 2023 New Staff

Kimberlee Gurren - Junior School Teacher

I have just moved here from Queensland and have been enjoying worshiping at a few different churches so far. Teaching is my passion. I feel so blessed to be a part of the Emmaus family and look forward to getting to know the school more. I also enjoy singing, music and exploring Adelaide on the weekends with my husband and our two dogs.   

Kirrilee Collins - Junior School Teacher, Year 3/4

I currently worship and am heavily involved in the children's ministry program at CityLight Church. When I'm not at school I love spending time with my husband and four beautiful children at the beach and at the River Murray. I love to explore new places in Australia in our camper trailer, and all things outdoors in God's magnificent creation. I am passionate about health and fitness, and love water-skiing, boxing and have recently taken-up ultra-marathon running! 

Emily Sanders - Junior School Teacher, Year 3/4

I attend the Christian Family Centre, Seaton. In my spare time I love trying out new recipes and hosting dinner parties! I am really passionate about developing a safe, loving classroom environment for my students and seeing them unlock their full God-given potential. 

Tiana Cambareri - Junior School Teacher, Year 5/6

I currently attend and worship at Seeds Uniting Church in Aberfoyle Park. In my spare time, I enjoy lots of different fitness activities such as basketball, badminton, boxing, hiking and swimming. I also like to relax by reading and creating small crochet projects.

Chelsea Potter - School Librarian, Brooklyn Park

I currently worship at Blackwood Hills Baptist Church. In my spare time, I enjoy getting lost in a good book, sewing, writing letters, and spending time with family and friends. I also love being a Youth Leader at my church, and I am passionate about seeing young people come to know Jesus and grow in their love for Him and His Word. 

Kiro Mikhael - OSHC Director, Brooklyn Park

I pray and serve at St. Mary and St. Bishoy's Coptic Orthodox Church in Cowandilla. I love to spend my spare time reading, playing music or at the gym! I am also very passionate about sports and promoting physical activity to our students.

Amanda Ruddock - ELC Educator

My name is Amanda Ruddock and I am joining the Emmaus Early Learning Centre as an Educator this year. I worship at Edge Church Findon with my husband and two children. In my spare time, I find myself spending many hours following my children and their sporting aspirations, but I enjoy walking and being outdoors. We have an energetic puppy that needs lots of walking, which keeps me on my toes.

Chelsea Harris - Junior School SSO

I worship and volunteer St Michael’s Lutheran Church in Hahndorf. My son and I love to go camping. In my spare time I like to play netball and touch footy.

Sharyn Keating - Junior School Teacher, Year 2

I attend TKS (Total Kingdom Solutions) Church in Belair and have been involved in ministry for the past 10 years. Prior to this, I lived and attended a CRC Church in New South Wales. The loves of my life take up all my spare time. I have a husband, Paul, four adult children, two children-in-law and three grandchildren. The eldest grandchild is beginning ELC this year. Other than that, I love spending time with my friends and extended family (who live in NSW), meeting for coffee chats and sometimes bushwalking. I also love to travel and experience cultural differences; finding a way to connect with others is of the highest priority to me. When I’m alone, I watch a lot of SBS World movies and documentaries about world events.

Brooklyn Park New Staff Throughout 2022

Ellice Kalialaha - ELC Teacher

I currently attend worship gatherings at Edwardstown Baptist Church where I serve in the kids' ministry. My spare time is spent going on outings with my husband and our two girls (aged three and five), seeing family, and I also love making time to catch up with friends, both new and old. 

Geordie Maddocks - ELC Educator

I currently attend Enjoy Church in Melrose Park. I enjoy camping and the outdoors. In my spare time, you’ll see me at the beach, op shopping and finding new spots for a picnic. 

Kim Sabine - ELC Administration

I currently attend Coast and Vines Church in Willunga where I also volunteer in the Children's Team. I have two very active boys, aged eight and nine, who keep me busy in my spare time. I enjoy going to the gym, going on walks and camping with my family. 

Holly Kearvell - Enrolment Officer

I am a part of Edge Church at our South Campus. I have an incredible three-year-old daughter and very little spare time! When I do find some, I read fiction novels and crochet. I love bright colours and sweet potato fries.

Naomi Ali - Music Teacher F-2 

South Plympton 2023 New Staff

Anna Briggs - Middle & Senior Teacher

My name is Anna Briggs, and I am a Dance, Drama and English Teacher at Emmaus. My family and I worship at Influencers Church in Paradise. In my spare time, I enjoy visiting the theatre, reading, cooking, gardening, and spending lots of time at the beach!

Bahaa Ghobrial - Middle & Senior Teacher

My family and I are part of the Coptic Orthodox Church. I have been teaching Design and Technology for 16 years at various schools as well as other subjects. I am excited to be joining Emmaus Christian College in 2023. Both of my children attend the College.

Debbie Ellis - Middle & Senior Teacher, Year 7 Pastoral Coordinator

I attend Trinity Church, Woodcroft with my husband and two children, who are 19 and 17-years-old. I enjoy reading, snorkeling, watching movies, relaxing on the beach and photographing my family as they surf in my downtime. I love sports, particularly netball, and managed the U23 Indoor Netball State team in 2022 at the National Championships. 

Georgina Lampard - Middle & Senior Teacher

I gather with Outpost Uniting Church, McLaren Vale. I love playing netball with my local club, and spending time with my family and friends.

Karen Austin - Middle & Senior Teacher

Hello everyone! My family and I currently worship at Burnside Uniting Church. Australian Indigenous Arts, including the visual, written and performance kind, have been both a field of research and passion for me over the past decade. I am also a keen gardener and home renovator, and while these things keep me quite busy, I can always find the time to read a heart-wrenching book or two or to see a good movie. 

Kerry Davis - Middle & Senior Teacher

I currently attend Hills CFC Church in Belair. I am passionate about walking alongside young people in finding their passion in life. I have been involved in Kids Ministry for over 20 years. I also love netball – coaching netball, watching netball and supporting the Thunderbirds team! 

Nick Rodda - Middle & Senior Teacher

I am a Maths nerd, Science geek and music lover. In my spare time, I’m a fan of eBikes, Rubik’s cubes, jazz and chess. My lovely wife and I are part of Edwardstown Baptist Church where I have been involved in the worship/tech ministry for a few years.

Raquel Chester - Middle & Senior Teacher

My husband Paul and I work and worship, currently, at Holy Cross Anglican in Elizabeth. I love creating, making and building in all types of media and materials, I am not picky at all. In my spare time I sing, dance when no one is looking (and sometimes when they are...), paint, quilt and love hanging out with my family and friends. I also "enjoy" a solid weightlifting workout, if that is possible!

Laura Worley - Middle & Senior Teacher

Our family has recently relocated churches, after being a part of the Enfield Baptist Church family for over 10 years. I am most passionate about music, specifically singing and song writing, and love spending time with my husband and four young children.

Sam Furlong - Junior School SSO

I am currently faithfully leading a youth small group and serve on the Tech Team at my church. I have always been passionate about basketball and connecting with people. I adore seeing the joy of others, and through coaching basketball, my heart is filled. I also enjoy watching and playing sports, listening to music and learning new things!

Veronica Scheepers - School Librarian

I currently worship at Trinity Unley Church. I love traveling and exploring new cultures and meeting new people. Having recently returned to Australia, I look forward to exploring the best this country has to offer!

Rochelle Charles - Student Services Coordinator 

I currently worship at Edge Church, Findon. In my spare time, I enjoy being with friends around great food and coffee, enjoy a good board game, dancing and pilates .

I love worship and lead the Creative Team at my local church.  

Natalie Flack - Junior School SSO

My family and I have recently started attending Citylight Plympton and are loving the community there! Most people who know me know that I love chatting with anyone and everyone but even moreso I love reading with children and then hearing them learn to read with expression and excitement! Encouraging children to read is just one thing that I’m passionate about on this new journey here at Emmaus.

Matt Purdy - Human Resource Manager

I am part of Edge Church Findon campus, where I am actively involved in serving with our new people’s team, as well as leading a small group. My wife and I have 2 young boys, and our eldest son has recently started ELC at Brooklyn Park. I love spending time with family, and always enjoy a good cup of coffee and a chat (particularly about the latest tech, world events, and best places for brunch)! As HR Manager, I’m really passionate about people engaging in meaningful work, where they are able to thrive, and know that they are making a real difference in the lives of others.

Alexandra Haines - Home Economics SSO

Naomi Ali - Music Teacher F-2 

Hannah Knight - Middle & Senior SSO 

South Plympton New Staff Throughout 2022

Liz Hinrichsen - Head of Junior School, South Plympton

I was delighted to be able to join Emmaus at the beginning of Term 4, 2022, having taught for many years in a variety of schools. Teaching in a Christian community is such a blessing. I worship at, and have been involved in, the Christian Family Centre at Seaton for several years. As my husband and I live at West Lakes, having such a great church only a few minutes away is a real bonus. I am a passionate reader and enjoy following many sports. You may even see me on a fortnightly basis very loudly supporting an unnamed AFL team.  

Matthew Rohrlach - OSHC Director, South Plympton 

I currently worship at CityReach Marion. One of my passions is umpiring football as a field umpire. I currently umpire SANFL U18s and Reserves competitions, with an ambition to umpire at the top level. In my free time, I enjoy playing card/board games with mates, reading Christian literature and Star Wars, and also spending time with family and friends.

Amanda Argent - Student Services Administrator

I would consider CityLight to be my home church. I really enjoy spending time with my family and I love being in nature!  I also enjoy most handcrafts. At the moment I am having fun learning to crochet, knit and sew. 

Matthew Shilling - PA to Head of Junior School and Middle School

Most of our families would know me from my time in Student Services. I currently worship at Southland Church and am actively a part of our Worship Team and Young Adults group. In my spare time, I enjoy being involved in a variety of groups throughout my community, walking my dog or gardening.

Sandra De Rosa - PA to Campus Principal, South Plympton

I attend Edge Findon and have been part of the Edge family for 20 years. I love spending quality time with my family. I have three children who have just completed all their schooling and I am looking forward to the new season that this will bring. I also love going for walks and writing poetry. It is a privilege to be part of the Emmaus family and I thank you all for the warm welcome I have experienced so far.

Paige Edwards - Operations Coordinator

I attend Southland Church. I am most passionate about loving people well and seeing them step up in boldness and confidence in Christ. Coming alongside and supporting others is my greatest joy! I also love all the dogs in the whole world.

Danielle Gartner - Junior School SSO

I currently attend C3 Church in O'Halloran Hill where I regularly serve on the Welcome Team. In my spare time, I like to go on walks along the beach, bike ride and read. I enjoy worship music and being part of my church's Young Adults group.

Alanah Medhurst - Music & Instrumental Assistant

I attend Tide Church in Happy Valley. In my spare time, I like to spend time with my family and friends, visiting cafes and going camping!

Heidi Van Eck - First Aid Officer

My family and I attend Seeds Uniting Church in Aberfoyle Park.  In my spare time I love to bake, or read, or go for long walks. I also enjoy spending quality time with my family and we all love going camping in our caravan and watching movies together. 

James Aird - IT Technician