Always striving upwards
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Governance

Sacred Heart Girls’ College is a school which operates with the consent of the Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne and is operated and governed by Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools Ltd (MACS).

MACS governs and operates 292 Catholic schools in the Archdiocese to continue the mission of Catholic education to proclaim the Good News and equip our young people with the knowledge, skills and hope to live meaningful lives and enrich the world around them.

Recognising the good work of educating the young is a co-responsible task led by every member of the Catholic school community, School Advisory Councils have been established to provide a crucial point of connection between the wider school community and school leaders. 

This governance model was designed to ease the administrative burden on our schools and parishes, allow parish priests to focus on the mission of education in the parish, enable greater collaboration between schools and ensure greater consistency in school policies and procedures.

More information on MACS is available at macs.vic.edu.au.

Christopher Dalton, College Principal

Christopher came to Sacred Heart in 2007 after holding Deputy Principal positions in two Catholic girls schools.

He began his teaching career at Parade College Bundoora in 1982 and after teaching in various boys schools made the enlightened switch to girls education in the early 1990s.

Christopher is committed to Sacred Heart recognising the uniqueness of this exemplary learning community where young women are treated with respect and valued for their individuality and giftedness.

The RNDM spirit of the founding sisters provides a wonderful environment for young women to flourish in all aspects of their lives. Each young woman at Sacred Heart is supported within this nurturing community to achieve her very best.

Always striving upwards

Jenny Bilton, Deputy Principal – Staff

Jenny has worked in Catholic Education for over 35 years. During that time, she has predominantly worked in girls’ education. An all-girls environment inspires girls to feel a positive sense of agency, to be unafraid to stretch beyond their comfort zone and be motivated to lead and determine their own future. Girls’ schools challenge traditional stereotypes and expectations and they are vehicles enabling the needs of girls to be clearly heard.

At Sacred Heart girls are encouraged and challenged. They are educated holistically to be young women faithful to gospel values through the charism of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions. Jenny considers it a blessing to be part of the Sacred Heart Girls’ College community, to work with students, staff and parents in providing an excellent Catholic education.

Julie Swanson, Deputy Principal – Learning & Teaching

Julie has been an educator in numerous Catholic Girls’ Schools for her entire teaching career and has held a variety of leadership positions. She joined Sacred Heart Girls’ College as Deputy Principal Learning & Teaching in 2019. She is passionate about all girls education and how this environment empowers them to become active, resilient and future ready citizens willing to face the future with confidence and optimism.

Julie is committed to ensuring the learning experience provides students with opportunities to develop the skills, dispositions and knowledge in order to be successful and engaged learners. For her it is the students themselves that make Sacred Heart special - their enthusiasm for all aspects of their learning, their dedication to their academic pursuits and their warmth for all members of the community.

Always striving upwards

Carmel Feeney, Deputy Principal – Students

With over 35 years’ experience in education – early intervention, primary, specialist and secondary settings, Carmel is a passionate educator. Working with young people is enlivening and building relationships is the basis of her work. Carmel believes that recognising the dignity, contributions and hopes of individuals and teams leads to a shared wisdom, encourages voice and builds a sense of agency for each person.

With a passion for learning, Carmel has completed Masters of Education studies in learning diversity, student wellbeing and educational leadership. Carmel believes it is important to be an informed and reflective faith leader – reading widely and engaging in parish life. Carmel also enjoys the personal pursuits of time with family and friends; netball, gardening, reading and pets.

Working with Sacred Heart students is enlivening – whether it be in the classroom, with student leaders, developing College community events, working with students who need additional wellbeing support or a friendly “hello” in the corridors. The students are diverse and engaging – they bring enormous energy. In a world of gender inequality, educating and empowering young women remains critical to our students’ lifelong wellbeing and opportunities.

Brian McCann, Director of Organisation

Brian is a long-term member of the teaching staff, currently teaching VCE Chemistry, at Sacred Heart Girls’ College. As Director of Organisation, Brian is responsible for the construction and maintenance of the College timetable, playing a major role in scheduling College activities and major events.

Sacred Heart is a special place to work. The students have a social justice focus, they are ambitious and supportive of one another. The teaching and support staff are the backbone of the college and provide a caring environment for the students.

Always striving upwards

James Tian, Director of Business Operations

James joined Sacred Heart in April 2020. It was a special time which brought both opportunities and challenges to James’ new role. James’ financial and management skills in banking plus over 15 year’s leadership experience in education sector has been valuable, particularly during the first 6 months of the global pandemic.

James is a CPA with a Master Degree of Accountancy. Despite the challenges, he loves the new role and enjoys the dynamic office and the wonderful administration and support teams at the college. “I cannot help noticing that Sacred Heart has such a great learning environment. Students show something really special in their focus and eagerness to learn. That makes Sacred Heart stand out.”

James is married with two kids. He is passionate about sports. He has been a youth soccer coach for 4 years in the local club. Since immigrating to Australia, he and his family has become big Bulldog supporters.

2023 Captains & Deputy Captains

College Captain

Claudia Heil

Sacred Heart Girls’ College is a welcoming community in which both students and staff value knowledge, understanding, and kindness. Students are nourished with a diverse range of opportunities, academically and in the arts, social justice, sports, faith, and leadership. Our inclusive community enables staff to bring out each student’s talents and encourages students to reach their full potential. Throughout my time at Sacred Heart, I have built lifelong friendships, and have discovered my passions through the incredible opportunities provided for us.

College Captain

Ashlee Quinn

Sacred Heart Girls’ College is not just a place of education but rather a school community that fosters a sense of belonging, encourages students to always strive to do their best, and to show compassion, respect and inclusivity in all their actions. There are many opportunities to grow as a person and leader, through the diverse range of co-curricular activities, social justice opportunities and leadership roles on offer. Not only will I leave Sacred Heart with an excellent education, but also with compassion and awareness of how everyone in life can make a positive difference to others, especially the disadvantaged and marginalised groups in our society.

Deputy College Captain: Faith

Chenella Ariyaratnam

At the College, each and every student is surrounded by a community dedicated to fostering empowerment, resilience and a robust moral guide. At our core, Sacred Heart is a place where everyone is whole-heartedly welcomed and encouraged to develop a strong sense of self, thus creating a cohort of independent, responsible and kind individuals. During my time here I have been privileged enough to find a wonderful group of lifelong friends and build meaningful relationships with those around me. This has truly been a catalyst for my own self-improvement both mentally and physically. I will forever look back fondly at my time here as an indispensable experience and one I will hold close to my heart.

Deputy College Captain: Social Justice

Ada Pretty

The Sacred Heart community promotes an empowering and hopeful environment that students can immerse themselves in to reach their full potential. Collaboratively working together, each individual is encouraged to face challenges with a spirited and open mind and to face up to societal issues and act where we can. Our inclusivity and diversity are celebrated, which assists our College in reaching out to those facing adversity. As young women, we aspire to listen with empathy, and to speak with justice in the world.

Deputy College Captain: Arts

Alana Stillman

Sacred Heart Girls’ College fosters a supportive environment for all students to thrive in. The College’s strong sense of compassion and generosity empowers us to support one another as we strive towards our personal goals. In particular, the amazing Arts program provides a plethora of opportunities for students to pursue their creative endeavours and share their talents while forming meaningful connections with one another. This highlights the encouraging nature of Sacred Heart. I have always been proud to be part of the Sacred Heart community.

Deputy College Captain: Sport

Alissa Smirnis-Parra

In my time at Sacred Heart, I have been surrounded by a community which values compassion, inclusivity and justice. The College educates us on broader global issues and encourages generosity through our social justice programs, all whilst maintaining the importance of academic excellence and integrity. We also have many opportunities to be involved in extensive sports and arts programs which are continually developing and cater to everyone. At Sacred Heart embracing all abilities is the key to empowering and appreciating the uniqueness of every Sacred Heart student.