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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 began his teaching career at Parade College Bundoora in 1982 and after teaching at all boys schools, he held Deputy Principal positions at two prominent Catholic girl's schools before his appointment as Principal at Sacred Heart Girls' College in 2007.

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

Jodie McLaren, Deputy Principal – Staff

Jodie is a new addition to Sacred Heart Girls College in 2024, and 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.

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.

2024 Captains & Deputy Captains

College Captain

Sara Amendola

Sacred Heart Girls College is, and always has been, an uplifting, vibrant community where girls are supported and encouraged allowing them to achieve their best in all endeavours. I have certainly felt this support throughout my time at the College, and I can attribute values such as compassion, empathy, knowledge and faith to the countless teachers, students, peers and friends who have joined me on this journey.

I am proud to be a co-captain of this College, as I am proud to reflect the beliefs of this community through my actions, especially the belief in student voice. As young women, it is important that we use our voices to advocate for the changes we wish to see in the world, as well as to speak up for ourselves and others. Sacred Heart encourages this, and the voices of students never go unheard, allowing for our learning environment to empower us.

As a leader within the College, but also as a senior student, I hope to contribute to this empowerment, and support my fellow students in using their voices for good, in the same way that I have been inspired to use my voice. I hope to foster a kind, caring community where students are valued for being themselves. Whether it's through the arts, through sporting achievements, or through academic accolades, all students at Sacred Heart are cherished for their uniqueness, and I am committed to being a valuable part of the leadership team that promotes this.

College Captain

Teneika Fraga

During my time at Sacred Heart, I have been able to step outside my shell, build lifelong friendships and challenge myself to always strive upwards.

What I love most about Sacred Heart is the commitment to breaking gender barriers and challenging societal norms. We are actively encouraged to step into traditionally male-dominated fields, fostering an environment where limitations do not exist - inspiring us to push boundaries, and explore new possibilities.

Student leadership is important as it acts as a bridge which brings together students and staff to work cohesively to uplift our school environment. It creates a community where student voices are heard, and ideas, and concerns lead to a positive change.

As a 2025 co-College Captain, I am dedicated to being a strong advocate for every student, working to enhance the enriching and empowering culture that sets the foundation of Sacred Heart. My goal is to make a meaningful impact, whether through significant or small strides. If even one student feels truly heard and valued because of my efforts, I will have fulfilled the job I set out to do. Ultimately, I want to foster a community where every voice matters and every individual feels seen, respected, and supported.