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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.

Julie Swanson, Principal

Julie Swanson has been an educator in numerous Catholic Girls' Schools throughout her teaching career, and has held a variety of leadership positions along the way. She joined Sacred Heart Girls' College as Deputy Principal Learning & Teaching in 2019, before acting as Principal for 2025, and was appointed College Principal in 2026.

Julie is passionate about girls' education and how this environment empowers young women to become active, resilient and future-ready citizens, willing to face the future with confidence and optimism.

She is committed to ensuring the learning experience gives every student the opportunity to develop the skills, dispositions and knowledge to be successful and engaged learners. But for Julie, it's the students themselves who make Sacred Heart special — their enthusiasm for all aspects of their learning, their dedication to their academic pursuits, and their warmth for every member of the community.

Just as important are the staff who walk alongside them — Julie is equally proud of a teaching and support community whose dedication, care and expertise shape that experience every day.

Always striving upwards

Hayley Watson, Deputy Principal - Learning & Teaching

Hayley's connection to Sacred Heart Girls' College runs deep — she is a proud alumna of the school, having attended as a student herself before returning to lead within the community she once called home. Hayley has worked at Sacred Heart for more than 25 years in roles such as Year Level Leader, Science Learning Leader, Transition Coordinator, Gifted and Talented Coordinator and more recently, Director of Learning Innovation. This unique perspective, having experienced the Sacred Heart journey first-hand, shapes her approach to leadership and her understanding of what makes the school special.

Having walked the same corridors as our current students, Hayley brings a personal and heartfelt commitment to their growth and wellbeing. She is passionate about empowering girls to become curious, independent, lifelong learners who are unafraid to challenge themselves to be the best they can be. For Hayley, being part of the Sacred Heart community as both a former student and now a leader is a reminder of the lasting impact this environment has — and she is dedicated to ensuring today's students carry that same sense of belonging, confidence and connection into their futures.


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 gained Masters of Education degrees in learning diversity, student wellbeing, educational leadership and education and theology. 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.


Jodie McLaren, Deputy Principal – Staff

Jodie brings a wealth of experience in Catholic Education, having worked in both boys' and girls' education. With a strong background in learning and development along with professional coaching, Jodie has also led various Professional Learning initiatives, as well as facilitated the implementation of various educational programs.

Passionate about girls' education, she is dedicated to actively motivating and empowering staff while advocating for them, so they exert a positive impact on both the learning outcomes and the overall well-being of our students. Having obtained a Master of Education from Deakin University, Jodie is thoroughly enjoying her role at Sacred Heart Girls College. She appreciates the wonderful environment at the College, observing students collaborating and forming strong bonds both inside and outside the classroom. Jodie sees that Sacred Heart has created an environment that fosters inspiration and balances academic achievement with wellbeing.

2026 Captains & Deputy College Captains

College Captains

Serena Kozlovski

Agatha Wright

Deputy College Captain - Faith

Juliet Da Campo

Deputy College Captain - Social Justice

Solenn Castel

Deputy College Captain - Arts

Aesha Konar

Deputy College Captain - Sport

Bridie Huggins

College Captain

Serena Kozlovski

The Sacred Heart College theme for 2026 ‘Hearts that Listen Hands that Act’ perfectly encapsulates what truly motivates me in my role as College Captain for 2026, and what I love most about the SHGC community.

Our lives are filled with noise, and it can be easy to go about our lives with tunnel-vision; clouded by our own struggles and schedules, politely asking how someone’s day is and then promptly moving on without really waiting to hear an answer. At Sacred Heart I discovered the value of life’s quiet moments. Even when I was overwhelmed and finding it difficult to find balance in my life, I was surrounded by a collection of people, amidst their own struggles, who slowed down just to listen. The value of this small commitment to simply listening, without judgement will never be lost on me. Over the past 5 years at Sacred Heart, I encountered the role models I will carry with me for life.

I think sometimes we forget the reason behind why seeing someone in distress does spur strong emotions in us. For true change to happen, we must have “Hands that Act”. This is why I turned to leadership, so when a person comes to me with a problem, I can go further than listening and take actual steps towards solving it. I hope to let my emotions, compassion and empathy drive me to action this year, and help build a stronger SHGC community.


College Captain

Agatha Wright

School is defined as “an institution for educating children”, but I believe this definition lacks the most significant part of our school — Sacred Heart is a community. “The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of the members.” Like every school, Sacred Heart has buildings, labs, teachers and a front office, but beyond all that, our school has compassionate, smart and courageous young women who are the real foundation of our close-knit community. 

Sacred Heart has helped me grow over the past six years through its opportunities, teachers and peers, encouraging us to put ourselves forward where failure becomes growth. By developing our skills across the arts, sports and academics, the school creates confident and ambitious young women, guided by passionate staff who inspire us each day and prepare us to be not only well-informed adults but lifelong learners. 

Finally, what’s most important to me, and what constantly inspires me to work hard as College Captain, is the students. Everyday I get to walk into a school, and no matter how I’m feeling, I’m always surrounded by such kind young women. I’ve met so many incredible people of all ages, from many different cultures, with many different interests, people who make me laugh every day, help me grow, challenge me and above all inspire me. 

My goal for College Captain this year is to serve these people who make Sacred Heart not only a community, but my community, and to foster this love and belonging in every student in 2026.

Deputy College Captain - Arts

Aesha Konar

Aristotle, also known as the father of philosophy, is praised not only for his contributions in psychology, biology and chemistry but also in politics. Despite his obvious affinity for the more logical aspect of life and their ability to explain the outward appearance of things, he realised that “the aim of art is to represent not the outward experience of things, but their inward significance.” Without art to balance our lives, like medicine, law or business, how else would we be filled with the burning passion to pursue our noble pursuits?

From attending orchestra in the mornings, to performing in the musical after school, the Arts is an all-encompassing part of life at Sacred Heart. This community has given me the opportunity to improve and grow not only in writing my own music, but also in finding passions in theatre and dance. Of course, I realise that not everyone has such a passion for the Arts, but I’m sure everyone has all had moments of relief from a burden, like homework or a tough moment in life. That’s what Sacred Heart’s Arts programs can offer. A boon to lift spirits, a chance to see where one’s interests may lie, and freedom to explore one’s future opportunities.

As the Deputy College Captain - Arts for 2026, I am honoured and excited to serve my fellow students and work with our amazing teachers to improve and further develop our Arts department.



Deputy College Captain - Faith

Juliet Da Campo

The Sacred Heart Girls College community is a special place where all students are encouraged to grow academically, spiritually and personally through a supportive and welcoming environment. The school has a very special atmosphere that fosters a strong sense of connection between students and staff, and as a student, I feel a genuine sense of belonging, knowing that I am well supported, encouraged and given the opportunity to be a part of this special community. Faith is central to life at the college, expressed through masses, liturgies and fundraisers, cultivating an environment where students can live out Gospel values.

In my role as Deputy College – Faith, I am deeply inspired by the charism of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions (RNDM). Learning about their history, mission and values has shown me the importance of living out their values of compassion, justice and service. I will carry these values into my leadership by striving to lead with inclusivity, helping others to see the faith can be lived out daily, through acts of service and care. This year, I aim to contribute to the community by supporting meaningful opportunities for prayer and reflection and to foster a community where faith guides how we treat others every day.

It is a privilege to be the Deputy College Captain - Faith this year, and I look forward to helping create a culture where everyone feels welcomed and supported.


Deputy College Captain - Social Justice

Solenn Castel

Sacred Heart has always provided the opportunity not only for myself, but all students that have walked through the doors to reach our fullest potential. The College Motto manifests itself in every aspect of the classroom, encouraging all students to 'always strive upwards' in all our endeavours, not just academically, but in our sporting, artistic and personal pursuits.

What I love most about Sacred Heart is the unwavering support I receive from all members of the school community. I feel encouraged to try new things and push myself further because I know that I have a community of students and teachers who support me and my achievements. As Deputy College Captain - Social Justice, I am looking forward to working with the Sacred Heart community because the students are very social justice focused and enthusiastic about making change in the school and our wider community. I aim to ensure that every student at Sacred Heart feels they belong and that their voices and opinions are not only heard, but valued and acted upon.

I am eager to work with Sacred Heart in 2026 as a leader and I am excited to see the wonderful work our community will do to promote inclusivity and equality within our school environment. I am proud to be part of a strong leadership team and I commit myself to promoting positive change at Sacred Heart.

Deputy College Captain - Sport

Bridie Huggins

Being appointed Deputy College Captain - Sport at SHGC is a privilege and responsibility that I hold with great pride. Our College community is a supportive environment where students’ passions and interests are nurtured, encouraged and celebrated. What makes SHGC special is the strong connection between students and staff and the way we celebrate participation, resilience and teamwork.

As an SHGC student, I value the strong culture of encouragement and inclusivity that defines our College. Sport at SHGC is not just about competition, it is about commitment, courage and lifting each other up. Whether representing the College at inter-school sports or representing your house at House Carnivals, there is a shared pride in wearing our colours and striving for our best.

As a student leader, I hope to foster an environment where every student feels confident to participate, challenge themselves and embrace the spirit of SHGC sport. This year, I aim to strengthen our College pride, encourage greater involvement across all year levels, and ensure that sport continues to unite and inspire our SHGC community.