STATEMENT FROM EDMUND RICE EDUCATION AUSTRALIA COLLEGES LTD CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, MR CHRIS WOOLLEY

16 August 2024

Dear St James College Community,

I am delighted to be able to share that Ms Andrée Rice has been appointed as the next Principal of St James College, Spring Hill, commencing in January 2025. Andrée’s appointment follows a competitive selection process.

Andrée has extensive experience in leading schools which are known for being richly diverse and genuinely inclusive. Andrée is in her sixth year of Principalship, commencing at Our Lady’s College, Annerley in 2022, and prior to this was Principal of Xavier Catholic College on the Tiwi Islands in the Northern Territory for three years. Andrée has also previously served for 13 years as a Deputy Principal at Brigidine College and Stuartholme School. Andrée has demonstrated that she is a leader passionate about building school cultures that enable equity and excellence for all.

Andrée’s commitment to social justice and education focussed on equity and excellence for all students was nurtured in the year she spent volunteering in Melbourne with the Jesuit and Mercy auspiced Companions Volunteer Community early in her career. Following this, Andrée completed her Diploma of Education at the Institute of Catholic Education (Melbourne) and later pursued further studies including a Master of Arts (Theology) which was the result of winning the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Social Justice Scholarship.

Andrée has led significant change and improvements during her time at Our Lady’s College, over the past three years, including:

• Increased enrolments and a third stream into Year 7.
• A new model of parent engagement.
• A partnership with the University of Queensland through the Critical Thinking Project.
• A Middle Leadership Development program.
• A College Leadership Team coaching program.
• A Tiwi Immersion program.
• The introduction of Auslan as an ACARA accredited language.

In her application, Andrée highlighted:

"St James is a school I have always been attracted to because of its multinational demographic and the impressive and compassionate way it welcomes and celebrates individual strengths, identity and difference. I have heard people share with awe, stories about Jimmies’ students touching the crest on their way into school. The college’s current emphasis on flexible pathways, student voice, global learning and cultural identity, align with my belief that education must be student-centered, community-orientated and outwards/future-facing. I see limitless potential for this community to be a lighthouse school in inner-city Brisbane for inclusion, equity and excellence”.

I would like to again extend my heartfelt thanks and appreciation to Ms Ann Rebgetz for her outstanding leadership at St James College over the past six years. In welcoming Andrée, we are also looking forward to showing our appreciation and gratitude for the contribution that Ann has made, at the end of the school year.

Finally, I thank the Selection Panel which supported me with this process, including, Andy Kuppe, Director and CEO of Victorian Schools Ltd (EREA), Dale Morrow, former Principal of St Rita’s College, Trevor Goodwin, Principal of Iona College and Helen Donovan, St James College School Advisory Council Member.

St James is famous for the way it welcomes new people into their community, and we look forward to welcoming Andrée as she begins her role as Principal in January 2025.

Live Jesus in our Hearts. Forever.

Yours Sincerely

Chris Woolley
CEO EREA Colleges Ltd