As an Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA) school, the St Patrick’s School Advisory Council has as its Mission to provide a Catholic Education in the Edmund Rice tradition within the wider Catholic Church.

Further, within the ministry of Governance, EREA School Boards embrace this Mission through fidelity to the Charter and the cultural characteristics of Catholic Schools in the Edmund Rice Tradition. The EREA Governance Framework articulates the roles, delegations, authorities and responsibilities of EREA Council, EREA Board, EREA Executive, EREA Principals and EREA School Advisory Councils.

The School Advisory Council works in partnership with the Principal in order to undertake a range of delegated responsibilities aimed at providing optimum learning outcomes for all students attending the College.

The 2025 school advisory council are:

• Mrs Emily Pritchard (Chair) 
• Mr Michael Marlow
• Ms Jo Cunningham
• Mr Craig Jenkins
• Mrs Tanya Anderson
• Mr Ian Turton 
• Mrs Gretchen McKinley
• Mr Dale Pollard
• Mr Shaun Newton
• Ex-Officio Member: Mrs Amber Hauff
• Guest Member: Mr Frank Torrisi
• Guest Member: Mr Liam Casey
• Advisory Council Secretary: Mrs Lisa Locke
  
  

College Board Report 2024

2024 has proven to be a successful year for the College and I am privileged to have been the School Advisory Council Chair during this time.

At the end of 2023, Mr Adam Carter’s tenure as Chair ended, after five years in the role and eight years as an Advisory Council member. Associate Professor Kerry Manton, Mr Greg Bolton and Mr Zane Barron also stepped down from their positions as Advisory Council Members at the end of last year. On behalf of the entire College community, I acknowledge the extensive contributions of these people and thank them for the positive impact they have undoubtedly made at the College.

This year saw the growth of the College Advisory Council, in members, diversity and expertise. Mrs Gretchen McKinley, Mr Dale Pollard, Mr Craig Jenkins, Ms Jo Cunningham, Mr Shaun Newton and Mrs Tanya Anderson joined as Council members. The expertise of the Council has now expanded to include extensive experience in the areas of finance, education, law, governance, IT, risk, project management and strategy. Such breadth positions the Council incredibly well to best fulfil its duties to the College and Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA). The continued commitment and transitional support provided by ongoing members, Mr Ian Turton and Mr Michael Marlow, has been crucial and very much appreciated during this year.

School Advisory Councils within EREA work collaboratively with Principals, College leadership teams and the EREA executive to support, advise, collaborate and endorse on a range of matters, with the ultimate purpose of offering the best possible learning communities for students and young people attending EREA schools. I thank the entire 2024 Advisory Council for their continued commitment to this purpose into 2025. I also acknowledge, with gratitude, the support, input and guidance of Mr Chris Woolley, CEO EREA Colleges, and the broader EREA team.

2024 has been a pivotal year for the leadership of the College with the retirement of our principal of 10 years, Mr Chris Mayes, and the appointment of Mrs Amber Hauff as the College’s principal, commencing in 2025. Mr Mayes has led the College with vision, compassion and unwavering dedication and I thank him for the incredibly strong and stable position that the College is in as it approaches this transition. I also congratulate Mrs Hauff on her appointment, welcome her to the community and confirm that the 2025 School Advisory Council supports her and is looking forward to working alongside her for the continued improvement of the College.

On behalf of the Advisory Council, I acknowledge and extend gratitude to the 2024 College leadership team and staff members who have generously offered their time and expertise to ensure the Council remains informed of strategic initiatives being undertaken at the College.

To the graduating cohort of 2024, I congratulate you on this achievement and thank you for leading the College during this year of solidarity as brothers in spirit, united as one. I wish the incoming seniors for 2025 all the very best for a final year of high school filled with growth, purpose and happiness.

I thank every student at the College, for the attributes they bring and the contributions they make to this remarkable school. The pages of this yearbook record unique culture and community and showcase a band of brothers ready to fight the good fight, whatever that might look like.

I am fortunate to serve as the Advisory Council Chair for this exceptional College.

Certa Bonum Certamen.

Mrs Emily Pritchard
Chair, College Advisory Council