Principal, Fairholme College

BEFORE APPLYING, YOU MUST MAKE PERSONAL CONTACT WITH KATHY TO OBTAIN INFORMATION ABOUT THE ROLE.

Because of current Australian visa regulations, only candidates with Australian/New Zealand residency or citizenship are eligible to apply.

Set in an area of outstanding natural beauty on the Great Dividing Range escarpment in the regional city of Toowoomba, 130 kilometres west of Brisbane on the richly agricultural Darling Downs, Fairholme College is one of Australia’s leading independent girls’ schools with approximately 880 students from Kindergarten to Year 12. Boarders from rural and remote areas of Queensland, NSW and the Northern Territory make up about one-quarter of the school’s total enrolment.

A mission of The Presbyterian Church of Queensland, the College aims to build a community that lives its Christian faith and provides an inclusive, dynamic, and safe learning environment. The motto ‘Ardens sed Virens: Burning yet Flourishing’ is a biblical reference to Moses and the burning bush and also acknowledges that burning passion and hard work fuel our ability to flourish. 

Restorative practice has been embedded in the school for more than 20 years and forms part of a highly relational culture which is greatly cherished by the Fairholme community.

With the impending conclusion of Dr Linda Evans’ tenure as Principal of Fairholme College, the Board invites applications for the role of Principal from Term 2 2025. Dr Evans has been in the post since 2009 and has had an exceptionally long association with the school, having been Deputy Principal for six years prior to that. Dr Evans has led some significant developments, including strengthening the pastoral care system, embedding restorative practices, and building academic outcomes as well as alternative pathways. A number of significant refurbishment projects have been carried out during her tenure – most notably the entire boarding precinct.

In order to undertake the role successfully, the candidate will be: 

1. An inclusive and engaging leader led by a strong sense of the moral purpose of education.
2. An ambitious and enterprising educator able to engage with both the past and the future, assess what Fairholme girls will need in order to succeed in that future, and manage change respectfully and gradually. 
3. Able to articulate the value of single-sex girls’ education.
4. A Christian who is active in their own church and able to sign up to the Educational Aims of the Presbyterian Church of Queensland as listed on pages 6 and 7 of this Brief. 
5. A pleasant, down-to-earth and confident person in interacting with people from a range of backgrounds including farming families, staff, parents/carers, alumni, administration and maintenance staff and contractors, Indigenous communities, School Council and students of all ages – Kinder, Primary and Secondary. 
6. Optimistic and resilient, with an enthusiastic approach to challenges. 
7. A strong verbal and written communicator.
8. Keenly interested in being a key part of a regional culture and community. 
9. Experienced in all aspects of educational leadership in an ELC-12 environment, including boarding, alumni relations, teaching and learning, finance, operations, human resources, marketing and fundraising. 

Active engagement with external bodies associated with the sector would be highly regarded. 

At minimum, a Masters qualification in a relevant field is expected.

Please obtain information about the position by calling the consultant assisting the College, Kathy McLean, of Fish Nankivell, on 0414 376 ***. Applications will close on Sunday 2 June 2024. A concurrent search is being conducted.

Fish Nankivell is a member of Penrhyn International with offices in major cities around the world.

Sydney | Melbourne | Canberra                                    www.fishnankivell.com