Safeguarding Children

Our Commitment
Resources
School Student Protection Contacts

Our Commitment

Catholic Education Diocese of Cairns is actively committed to fostering communities of safeguarding that recognise and uphold the dignity and rights of all children. We encourage open communication whereby families and communities are informed of relevant issues and participate in decisions about the safety of children.

It is particularly important to us to look for avenues to empower children to have a say and be listened to. We actively seek to become and remain informed of the causes and signs of child abuse and neglect. When we receive information about concerns or witness any matter relating to abuse of a child, we respond appropriately and report any such concerns to the appropriate authority. This includes contacting the police immediately where there may be immediate risk of harm to any person, especially a child.

Every person within Cairns Catholic Education who comes into contact, or works, with children seeks to uphold the dignity of all children and commits to establishing safe and supportive relationships. Cairns Catholic Education has documented policies and procedures to reduce risks to children and build a strong culture of safeguarding. All priests, brothers, sisters, staff and volunteers are expected to follow these policies and procedures and contribute to the culture of care and protection of all children. Each school has at least two Student Protection Contacts to whom students can report any inappropriate staff conduct towards a student/s that they feel is inappropriate.  

We plan, organise and review all activities involving children, proactively considering potential risks and strive to ensure risks are reduced, and eliminated where possible. Everyone is encouraged to communicate any area of concern or where you think our approach may need improvement. Anyone who brings forward a suspicion, concerns, knowledge or allegation of current or past abuse of a child to Cairns Catholic Education will be responded to sensitively, respectfully, actively and in a timely manner, in line with our lawful obligations and our own Complaints Handling Policy. We regularly undertake internal and external auditing of our safeguarding policies and practices to make sure that they always support a culture and practice that puts the safety of children at the centre of our thinking and action.

We listen to the voices of children as we constantly strive to remain vigilant and make improvements.

Criminal offences include:

  • Failure to Report Offence:  all adults must report sexual offending against children to the police unless they have a reasonable excuse (i.e. the offence has already been reported).  
  • Failure to Protect Offence: adults in an institutional setting (e.g. a school, church or sporting club) must protect children from the risk of a sexual offence being committed against them.  The law attaches a criminal penalty to wilful or negligent failures to do so.

Children need the adults around them to take action to protect them from sexual abuse.  The new offences target behaviour that ignores or hides the sexual abuse of children. 

Resources

Support, information and advice for victims is available from:

Find more information about:

Documents

Websites

Office of the eSafety commissioner

Family and Child Connect

Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs

Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse – Final Report

Student Protection Contacts

A Student Protection Contact is one of at least two people nominated in each school, in compliance with the Education (Accreditation of Non-State Schools) Regulation 2017 (regulation 16 (3)), to whom a student can report behaviour by a staff member that the student considers inappropriate.

The Principal is always one of the school’s nominated Student Protection Contacts.  Other Student Protection Contacts are selected based on the Principal’s assessment of their appropriateness for the role, taking into consideration their position within the school, availability, skills and willingness to participate in specialised training.

Catholic School Authority

Catholic Education Services – Diocese of Cairns
Catholic Education Services – Diocese of Cairns

Director of Catholic School Authority

William Dixon
Director

Governing Body

Roman Catholic Trust Corporation for the Diocese of Cairns

Director of Governing Body

Fr Kerry Crowley
Diocesan Administrator

School Student Protection Contacts

St Therese’s School,
Bentley Park

135-167 Robert Road,
PO Box 529
Bentley Park QLD 4869
Ph 4081 3400

www.stthereses.qld.edu.au

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Kathy Fleming
Principal
Tegahn Maitland
APA
Donna Barlow
APRE

St Augustine’s College,
Parramatta Park

251 Draper Street
Cairns QLD 4870
Ph 4052 9111

www.sac.qld.edu.au

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Glen Seivers
Acting Principal
Glen Seivers
Principal
Frazer Rigby
Deputy Principal
Frazer Rigby
Deputy Principal
Heath McKenzie
Head of Physical Education
Heath McKenzie
Head of Physical Education
Brett Toombs
Director of Boarding
Brett Toombs
Director of Boarding
Mrs Renee Luff
Senior Girls Residence
Mrs Desiree Price,
Junior Girls Residence

St Monica’s College,
Cairns City

177 Abbott Street
Cairns QLD 4870
Ph 4042 4800

www.stmonicas.qld.edu.au

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Leanne Webster
Principal
Mrs Alison Krause
Deputy Principal

Our Lady Help of Christians School,
Earlville

18 Balaclava Road
Earlville QLD 4870
Ph 4280 7200

www.olhoc.qld.edu.au

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Brendon Napier
Principal
Karina Brady
APA
Jaimee Hislop
PoL Diversity Prep-3
Bethany Greene
PoL Diversity 4-6

Holy Spirit College,
Edmonton

189 – 191 Bruce Highway
Edmonton QLD 4869
PO Box 591, Manunda 4870
Ph: 4052 9100

www.holyspiritcollege.qld.edu.au

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Lucas Felstead
Principal
Jamie Toll
Teacher
Jamie Toll
Teacher
Toni Jones
Head of Campus

St Michael’s School,
Gordonvale

58 Mill Street, PO Box 64
Gordonvale QLD 4865
Ph 4258 4100

www.stmichael.qld.edu.au

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Jacqueline Jackson
Principal
Jacqueline Jackson
Principal
Emma Voyzey
POL – Learning & Teaching
Emma Voyzey
PoL – Learning & Teaching
Cat Roach
PoL Diversity
Cat Roach
Teacher
Brianna Hardy
Teacher
Brianna Hardy
Teacher
Kelly Evans
Learning & Teaching
Kelly Evans
Learning & Teaching
Justine Hind Finance Officer
Justine Hind
Finance Officer

St Francis Xavier’s School,
Manunda

5 Atkinson Street,
PO Box 565
Manunda QLD 4870
Ph 4037 9900

www.xaviercairns.qld.edu.au

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Narelle Harney
Principal
Narelle Harney
Principal
Natasha Dineen
Teacher
Natasha Dineen
Teacher
Terry Geraghty
Teacher
Terry Geraghty
Teacher
Gemma Cowan
School Officer
Adrian Baranyi
Position of Leadership – Engagement

Holy Spirit College,
Manoora

13 Moignard Street
Manoora QLD 4870
PO Box 591, Manunda 4870
Ph: 4082 1900

www.holyspiritcollege.qld.edu.au

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Lucas Felstead
Principal
Mike Graham
Head of Campus
Mike Graham
Head of Campus

MacKillop Catholic College,
Mount Peter

1 MacKillop Road, Cnr Mount Peter Road
PO Box 1027 Edmonton 4869
Mount Peter QLD 4869
Ph 4081 7600

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Janelle Newman
College Principal
Caitlin O’Meara
Deputy Principal – Primary
Sarah Coleman
Deputy Principal – Secondary
Anna Harris
Assistant Principal – Students
Wayne Duda
Position of Leadership – Engagement
Kate Wilkinson
School Counsellor – Primary
Natasha Krauss
School Counsellor –Primary and Secondary
Ashlee Meerten
School Counsellor – Secondary
Lee Staddon
Acting Head of Year 7
Michael Johnstone
Head of Year 8
Adam Vander Zant
Head of Year 9
Gianni Balatti-Hill
Head of Year 10
Kate Buchanan
Head of Year 11

Mother of Good Counsel School,
North Cairns

394 Sheridan St,
PO Box 22N
North Cairns QLD 4870
Ph 4053 9700

www.mogc.qld.edu.au

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Katherine Boot
APA
Katherine Boot
Principal
Geraldine Simpson
APRE
Geraldine Simpson
APRE
Simon Grubb
APA
Rachel Wing
Wellbeing Support Teacher

St Joseph’s School,
Parramatta Park

11 Loeven Street
Parramatta Park QLD 4870
Ph 4038 5100

www.stjosephscairns.qld.edu.au

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James Roberts
Principal
Marita Brown
Assistant Principal
Marita Brown
Assistant Principal
Robyn Chambers
Assistant Principal
Robyn Chambers
Assistant Principal
Alex Laffin
Counsellor

St Andrew’s Catholic College,
Redlynch Valley

185-205 Redlynch Intake Road,
PO Box 150
Redlynch QLD 4870
Ph: 4039 5200

www.standrewscc.qld.edu.au

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Ian Margetts
Ian Margetts
College Principal
Paul Ford
Paul Ford
Head of College – Secondary
Theresa Redgwell
Head of College – Primary
Tony Almond
Tony Almond
Assistant Principal Wellbeing & Diversity
Rebecca Russo
Rebecca Russo
Middle Leader – Wellbeing & Engagement

Newman Catholic College,
Smithfield

Panguna St
Smithfield QLD 4878
PO Box 831, Smithfield QLD 4878
Ph 4281 6790

www.newman.qld.edu.au

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Lauretta Graham
Principal
Lauretta Graham
Principal
Yvette Bacic
Executive Assistant to the Principal
Dan McMahon
Leader of Pastoral Care – Year 8
Sam Hughes
Leader of Pastoral Care – Year 9
Chris Di Lucchio
Leader of Pastoral Care – Year 7

Holy Cross School,
Trinity Park

Reed Road
Trinity Park QLD 4879
PO Box 1026, Smithfield 4878
Ph 4050 6300

www.holycross.qld.edu.au

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Sarah Hamilton
Principal
Sarah Hamilton
Principal
Jacinta Roberts
APRE

St Gerard Majella School,
Woree

63 Anderson Road
Woree QLD 4868
PO Box 12131 Cairns DC 4870
Ph 4280 7300

www.sgmcairns.qld.edu.au

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Kelly Sheppard
Principal
Belinda Porter
APRE
Alyce Cahill
Student Counsellor / Wellbeing
Lisa Doherty
School Officer / Wellbeing
Simon Taylor
Year 3 Class Teacher
Ann Blakeney
Year 2 Class Teacher

St Mary’s Catholic College,
Woree

53 Anderson Road
Woree QLD 4868
PO Box 259E Earlville 4870
Ph 4044 4200

www.smcc.qld.edu.au

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Kerry Manders
Principal
Leah McBryde
Assistant Principal Junior Secondary
Justin Brennan
Assistant Principal Senior Secondary
Sophie McQueen
Head of Year 12
Lucy Fitzpatrick Head of Year 11
Christina Borzi
Head of Year 10
Andy Winter
Head of Year 9
Libby Schuring
Head of Year 8
Narelle Brook
Head of Year 7 

Holy Spirit College,
Cooktown

Cnr Hope and Burkitt
Cooktown QLD 4895
Ph: 4252 9100
PO Box 591, Manunda 4870

www.holyspiritcollege.qld.edu.au

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Lucas Felstead
Principal
Sila Pati
Head of Campus

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart School,
Thursday Island & Hammond Island

Normanby Street, PO Box 544
Thursday Island QLD 4875
Ph 4213 0050

www.olsh.qld.edu.au

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David Graham
Principal
Briohny Jones
Briohny Jones
Acting APRE
Christine Benjamin
Acting Indigenous Liaison Officer
Peta Mawn
Acting Leader of Diversity
Michelle Nolan
Deputised Teacher – Kerriri/Hammond Is.

St Augustine’s School,
Mossman

24 Grogan St, PO Box 327
Mossman QLD 4873
Ph 4099 7500

www.staugs.qld.edu.au

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Kym Bennett
Principal
Liz Ottone
APRE
Lynelle Broekhoff
Middle Leadership – Learning and Teaching

St Joseph’s Parish School,
Weipa

Boundary Road, PO Box 1409
Weipa QLD 4874
Ph 4214 6600

www.stjosephsweipa.qld.edu.au

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Katherine Porter
Principal
Julie Dore
Acting APRE
Melanie Turner
Middle Leader Diversity
Melanie Turner
Middle Leader Diversity
Tiffany Barber
Leader Learning & Teaching

St Joseph’s School,
Atherton

Cnr Alice & Jack Streets,
PO Box 829
Atherton QLD 4883
Ph 4095 9000

www.stjoeys.qld.edu.au

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Rita Petersen
Principal
Rita Petersen
Principal
Mary MacCallum
APRE
Toni Iacutone – School Counsellor 

St Anthony’s School,
Dimbulah

3 Hyde Street,
PO Box 128
Dimbulah QLD 4872
Ph 4094 6900

www.sta.qld.edu.au

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Rachelle De Iacovo
Rachelle De Iacovo
Principal
Maria Ratumaibuca
APRE
Catherine Favaro
Catherine Favaro
Position of Leadership-Diversity

Mount St Bernard College,
Herberton

15 Broadway
Herberton QLD 4887
Ph 4096 1444

www.msb.qld.edu.au

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Narelle Hunt
Principal
Narelle Hunt
Principal
Stephen Godfrey
Assistant Principal Student Wellbeing
Malcolm Fahey
Deputy Principal Residential
Kayleigh Smith
College Counsellor
Kayleigh Smith
Counsellor
Sara Gorring
Counsellor

St Stephen’s Catholic College,
Mareeba

McIver Road,
PO Box 624
Mareeba QLD 4880
Ph 4086 2500

www.sscc.qld.edu.au

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Gary Conwell
Principal
Jayarani Salerno
Assistant Principal Students
Jayarani Salerno
Assistant Principal Students
Peter Graham
Guidance Counsellor
Peter Graham
Guidance Counsellor
Katharina Lane
Guidance Counsellor
Katharina Lane
Guidance Counsellor
Havva Murat Maksuti Counsellor

St Thomas’ School,
Mareeba

63 Constance St
Mareeba QLD 4880
Ph 4092 1570

www.stthomasmareeba.qld.edu.au

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Paul Rayner
Principal
Paul Rayner
Principal
Debbie Filippelli
APA
Debbie Filippelli
APA

St Teresa’s School,
Ravenshoe

6 Moffatt Street,
PO Box 249
Ravenshoe QLD 4888
Ph 4095 9050

www.stteresas.qld.edu.au

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Michael Aitken
Principal
Mrs Katie Cole
Teacher
Karina Hogarth
School Officer

St Rita’s School,
Babinda

7-13 Church Street,
PO Box 363
Babinda QLD 4861
Ph 4065 9580

www.stritasbabinda.qld.edu.au

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Michael Rowe
Principal
Samantha Benvenuti
Assistant Principal
Samantha Benvenuti
Assistant Principal

Good Counsel College,
Innisfail

66 Owen Street,
PO Box 839
Innisfail QLD 4860
Ph 4063 5300

www.gcc.qld.edu.au

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Rosa Lanzo
Principal
Brenton Pappas
Assistant Principal
Peter Hume
School Counsellor – Wellbeing
Gabrielle Doolan
Leader of Wellbeing
Jacinta Goodes
Leader of Wellbeing
Gregory Cullen
Leader of Wellbeing

Good Counsel Primary School,
Innisfail

96 Rankin Street,
Innisfail QLD 4860
Ph 4063 0600

www.gcps.qld.edu.au

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Liam Kenny
Principal
Liam Kenny
Principal
Maria Caltabiano
APRE
Maria Caltabiano
APRE

St John’s School,
Silkwood

Harold Street,
PO Box 252
Silkwood QLD 4856
Ph 4065 9530

www.stjohnssilkwood.qld.edu.au

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Linda Gaia
Linda Gaia
Principal
Debbie Daly
Deborah Daly
Acting APRE

St Rita’s School,
South Johnstone

8 Green Street,
PO Box 8
South Johnstone QLD 4859
Ph 4065 9500

www.stritascps.qld.edu.au

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Peta Bryan Principal
Jan Gallagher
Leadership – Learning & Teaching
Sinead Heaney  APRE

St Clare’s School,
Tully

13 Mars Street,
PO Box 97
Tully QLD 4854
Ph 4065 9550

www.stclares.qld.edu.au

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Karran Buzacott
Principal
Karran Buzacott
Principal
Sharon Chappel
Acting APRE
Sharon Chappel
Acting APRE
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