From the Dean of Learning and Teaching
Heart and Purpose
Last week, the College’s Academic Prefects and I had the opportunity to attend a Reconciliation Lunch at the University of Queensland. Among the speakers was Uncle Rod Williams, a proud Bundjalung man with a distinguished career in business and strategy. He shared his story with warmth, wisdom, and striking honesty.
At one point, he declared that “no First Nations child failed at their education prior to the arrival of the First Fleet.” It was a confronting reminder of the depth and resilience of Indigenous knowledge systems – and of how far we still must go to close the gap.
That moment stayed with me. It resonated not just because of its truth, but because it echoed themes I had been exploring that same week during a leadership formation program in Sydney, focused on the Charter for Catholic Schools in the Edmund Rice Tradition. The alignment between these two experiences, one grounded in lived experience, the other in leadership and governance theory, was both sobering and inspiring.
Three themes stood out during my induction:
- Leading with integrity and a clear sense of purpose
- Respecting and valuing all cultures and perspectives
- Caring for our shared future through wise and ethical decision-making.
At its core, teaching and learning in a Catholic school is about forming the whole person. It’s about fostering relationships where students feel known, challenged, and supported, and designing learning experiences grounded in faith, curiosity, and compassion. What makes Lauries so special is that this approach is embedded in every aspect of College life; whether in the classroom through collaborative inquiry and critical thinking, or beyond it through service learning, retreats, and community engagement.
Uncle Rod’s words were a powerful reminder that education, when deeply rooted in culture and community, has always been a source of strength. They call us to honour that legacy through the way we lead, teach, and learn - especially in schools like ours, where formation of the whole person is central to our mission. As I continue to reflect on both the stories shared at the Reconciliation Lunch and the wisdom of the Charter, I’m reminded of Edmund Rice’s guiding words: “The will of God be done in everything we undertake.” May we continue to undertake this work with integrity, humility, and a deep commitment to justice for all young people.
MS GRACE LOYDEN
Dean of Learning & Teaching