EDITION 8, SUMMER 2021
WOMEN OF AVE MARIA COLLEGE
Contents
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Message from the Principal Ms Tanya Hutton
BOOK A TOUR
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College Brand Refresh
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Leadership Profile Ms Leonie Rushbrook
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2021 Ave Events Swimming Carnival Athletics Carnival
Tours for 2024 enrolment commence in February 2022. Please contact our College Registrar on 9331 9308 or visit the College website to make a booking.
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2022 College Co-Captains Alexandra Evans and Majella Portelli
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2021 Staff Movement
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Teacher Profile Mrs Joanne Thomspon
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AMC Programs Visible Wellbeing Professional Learning Team Horizons Program Debating Team
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Alumnae Feature Story Marina and Monica Abdelmalek
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Meet our Alumnae Careers Week Panel
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Industry Focus: Healthcare Monica Cottee (Class of 2000) Katherine O’Connor (Class of 2006) Emily Daye (Class of 2012)
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Alumnae Business Spotlight Shanelle Thompson (Class of 2012) Maddison Cottle (Class of 2018)
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Student Artwork
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ACAN Awards
14–22 Vida Street Aberfeldie VIC 3040 phone (03) 9331 9300 email alumnae@avemaria.vic.edu.au www.avemaria.vic.edu.au
Front Cover: Neisha Scully, Maddison Cottle, Fiona McHugh, Bridget Marchese and Madeleine Carrick
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA @avemariacollege @avemariacollege @avemariacollegeaberfeldie
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@avemariacollege
PRINCIPAL
Message from the Principal
MS TANYA HUTTON
Dear Women of Ave,
Welcome to the eighth edition of our Women of Ave series, which has been rebranded Ave Belong, Women of Ave Maria College. In this edition we hope you will notice the fresh look and feel of this cherished College magazine. You will be able to read more about the College rebrand and the inspiration behind this on page 4 of this edition. Ave Belong aims to showcase members of the Ave community – students, staff and alumnae – along with our programs. Further, it also aims to link the present with the past while seeking to provide a glimpse of the Ave future and inspiration for our current students through the stories shared in each edition.
Healthcare, where you will read the stories of Monica Cottee
In this edition of the Ave Belong, I would like to take the opportunity to introduce you to our two College CoCaptains for 2022 – Majella Portelli and Alexandra Evans. Both Majella and Alexandra will share a little of their story, inspiration and post-graduation plans with you. We are also blessed to share with you our feature alumnae story titled ‘Sister Act’ from College Alumnae Marina (2012) and Monica Abdelmalek (2015). Also of note is our industry focus on
our College staff, Ms Leonie Rushbrook (Assistant Principal
(2000), Katherine O’Connor (2006) and Emily Daye (2012), along with our Alumnae Entrepreneurs, Maddison Cottle (2018) and Shanelle Thompson (2012). In 2021, the College introduced ‘Meet our Alumnae’ as part of our Careers Week Program, here you will meet even more of the Ave community. I am sure you agree that all of these women are an important part of the fabric that forms the history of this College, each of their journeys and stories are all so different yet equally inspirational. Finally, in this edition we are very pleased to profile two of – Students and Engagement) and Mrs Joanne Thompson (Junior School Sub-School Leader) and showcase the sporting carnivals, debating involvement, domain weeks, the Visible Wellbeing Program and Horizons Program. I hope you enjoy this edition of the new ‘Ave Belong’ and may we continue to strive for truth through love.
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COLLEGE BRAND REFRESH
College Brand Refresh During the height of lockdown in 2020, College developments and improvements were well underway in the background. In August 2020, we engaged Melbournebased public relations firm, Truth Agency, to lead the brand refresh project. We were particularly delighted to work with Managing Director Michelle Coffey and PR Consultant Alex Eastmure, both of whom are Ave Alumnae.
How does this brand refresh reflect the College’s identity? The brand refresh aims to reflect the future strategy of the College and assert its position as a top performing Catholic secondary school in the area, educating young women who thrive – both professionally and personally. This is now evident across the brand, our visual identity and our new strapline – She Who Belongs. She Who Thrives. staying true to the spirit of our Franciscan faith, history and values. How has this brand refresh been implemented through the College communications? The brand refresh has been implemented throughout all facets of College communications, both internally and externally. In terms of daily use, all internal PowerPoints, documents and presentations along with external communications with parents and live streamed events have implemented the new branding, key messaging and style guidelines.
What inspired the brand refresh? Since Ave Maria College was established in 1963, the College has worked hard to foster a welcoming and nurturing environment for young women, guided by the Franciscan values of Truth, Love, Peace and Compassion. The heart of the College has always centered around building a strong sense of belonging and connectedness.
Community members may have also noticed our increased online presence, curated with fortnightly Alumnae profiles, student leadership profiles, weekly roundups and subject spotlights which with each post, we aim to ensure consistent branding and language. It is our aim to capture the essence of our College, to share with parents, students and the wider online community.
As our college branding has evolved over the years, we have always tried to maintain this sense of belonging in the look and feel of all communications, through the language used and our iconic ‘Ave Red’ shade. With this in mind, we wanted to refresh our branding to suit an increasingly contemporary climate, whilst still maintaining the well-established identity of the College.
What can the community expect to see in the future as part of this refresh?
What was this whole process like?
In 2022 we are excited to refresh the College website to ensure the best possible user experience for our parents and community members.
The brand refresh was a rewarding and collaborative experience that involved working closely with former and current students, parents, staff, Board members and Tanya Hutton, College Principal. Living out our values of Community and Growth working with the wider College community was a very proud moment, indeed. Part of this process involved reviewing all our current College communications and refreshing all necessary templates to ensure consistent messaging and visuals.
We look forward to growing our online presence, sharing the incredible stories of our student leaders, College Alumnae, whole school initiatives and celebrating success in our community. As an extension of our profiles shared on social media, we will also be launching a podcast interviewing inspiring members of our community, both past and present. Stay tuned on our social media platforms to hear from the “Voices from Vida Street”.
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LEADERSHIP PROFILE
Meet the
Teacher
MS LEONIE RUSHBROOK
“My hopes for Ave Maria College is that every student feels that they belong and they are a valued member of our Ave family.” As the newly appointed Assistant Principal (Students and Engagement) Mrs Leonie Rushbrook has smoothly transitioned to the College in 2021, getting to know the students and families at Ave. In addition to this leadership role, Leonie also teachers Year 11 Mathematics. Leonie is passionate about ensuring all students are known and cared about, both academically and in their general wellbeing. This is a passion she has developed in her previous roles at four other Catholic schools including CBC St Kilda, De La Salle College, Genazzano College and Emmanuel College (both campuses). With a broad range of Catholic school experience, Leonie has held leadership positions including Mathematics Coordinator, Curriculum Coordinator, Member of Board, Head of School, and Campus Pastoral Coordinator. We are lucky to have such a wonderful leader and experienced educator join our College staff.
How have you found your first year at the College?
best outcomes are achieved through collaboration with the hardworking teams that I lead or am a part of. Leadership provides the opportunity to ensure that all voices are a part of any process, thus empowering all who contribute.
I have received the warmest of welcomes from the whole community. Despite all four lockdowns, the hard work of staff and families to ensure that every student was cared for was commendable. I was very proud of the wellbeing and academic support we continued to offer.
Message to the graduating class of 2021? You are all on a journey, ready and equipped to thrive in the wider community. Take your Franciscan foundations and be open to all opportunities where you can create a just and inclusive society. Challenge yourself to always to be the best version of yourself.
What inspired you to become a teacher? From a very young age I helped other students in the class with reading and Mathematics. I have always enjoyed sharing my love of learning. Seeing the smiles on faces as understanding is achieved through positive struggle continues to energise me.
What are your future hopes for Ave Maria College? My hope for Ave Maria College is that every student feels that they belong and that they are a valued member of our Ave family. Through acceptance of self and others, each person can contribute to making our College the best place to thrive and learn in.
What do you enjoy about leadership? Leadership offers me the ability to serve the community and to improve outcomes for all within that community. The
Thank you for your time Leonie.
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2021 AVE EVENTS
Swimming
Carnival
On Friday, 12 February 2021 the College assembled at Queen’s Park Swimming Pool in Moonee Ponds for the first House event for 2021.
Spirits were high and enthusiasm was strong as the House Captains led out their fellow Year 12s in a sea of purple, blue, green and orange as they chanted loudly. The Ave 100m Sprint was won for the third year running by Year 9 student Chiara Hutchinson, followed closely by Olivia Batey (Year 8) and Georgia Miles (Year 10). The overall 2021 House Champions were Mary House. Congratulations to all students who participated on the day and to Mary House Captains, Leile Baxter and Tess Marazita for leading their House to victory!
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Athletics
Carnival
On Friday, 30 April 2021 the sun was shining as the College celebrated our first Athletics Carnival since 2018 at Moonee Valley Athletics Track in Aberfeldie. Students of all year levels participated in a range of events throughout the day. Whether you’re into track, field or novelty events like the three-legged race, there was something for everybody.
It was a competitive day with record participation and just two points separating 1st and 2nd place. A special mention to Year 11 student Charli Kennedy for winning the 2021 Ave Sprint, followed by Scarlet Colsen (Year 9) and Emily Carter (Year 12). Congratulations to Mary House on winning the Junior and Intermediate sections, to Helene on winning the Senior section. Mary House were the overall House Champions for the second time this year, led by Mary House captains Leile Baxter and Tess Marazita.
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2021 AVE EVENTS
Domain
Weeks
Throughout 2021, the College has celebrated a variety of Domain Weeks, which focus on a particular area of subjects we offer. In both online and in-person environments these weeks have included Indonesian fruit taste testing, Photography competitions, Mathematics quizzes and HPE activities to name a few. These weeks often highlight excellence in that domain or highlight pathways to students with interest in that domain. Above all, these weeks aim to engage the College community as we explore each Domain and celebrate the diversity of our curriculum.
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2022 COLLEGE CO-CAPTAINS
Meet our
Leaders
MAJELLA PORTELLI AND ALEXANDRA EVANS
After a lengthy interview process with many great candidates, we are proud to introduce our newly appointed 2022 College Co-Captains, Alexandra Evans and Majella Portelli. Both leaders are passionate about fostering a welcoming and supportive school environment for all students and we look forward to seeing what they will achieve throughout 2022. Tell us a little about yourself! What are your hobbies, passions etc?
Are there any initiatives you are excited to implement? Alex: I am excited to work with the community to invite more guest speakers to our school in order to increase engagement. I’m also looking forward to promoting female empowerment and interactions between year levels.
Alex Evans: Hi, my name is Alex and I love the outdoors, spending time with my family and friends, cooking and trying new foods. I also enjoy reading, so naturally I love my job at a bookstore.
Majella: I am very excited to introduce new guest speakers to each of the year levels. I believe that hearing from strong and resilient women is so inspiring and encouraging, and I can’t wait to give the Ave Community a chance to experience that.
Majella Portelli: My name is Majella. I love spending time outdoors, making digital art and listening to music. What are you most looking forward to about leading the College in 2022?
What has been your fondest high school memory so far?
Alex: I am most looking forward to working with the wider school community and meeting new people. I hope I can be a positive role model for other members of the college by following the College values.
Alex: My fondest memory of high school so far has been Year 9 Survival Camp. Despite the bucketloads of rain at night which flooded our tents, I loved surfing, hiking and having a disco under the stars with my friends!
Majella: I am most looking forward to working with all the other leaders and teachers to create a positive and encouraging environment for the younger year levels.
Majella: The Year 9 city excursion for IRIS was my favourite memory of high school. I loved being able to explore the city and get a deeper understanding of the community’s views of Melbourne.
What inspired you to apply for this leadership role?
Do you have any post-graduation plans?
Alex: Throughout my time at Ave, I have looked up to the College Captains before me, and their ability to foster a nurturing, supporting school environment which inspired me to want to do the same.
Alex: After graduating I hope to study either biomedicine or engineering, I’m not too sure yet! Majella: After I finish school, I hope to study a Bachelor of Business in Entrepreneurship and International Business. My dream is to be an entrepreneur, where I can travel and work from around the world.
Majella: My sisters were my main inspiration for applying for this role. They were both leaders of Ave and leaders at home. Aspiring to be like them, I applied for College Captain so I can act as a big sister for the younger year levels.
Thank you for your time Alex and Majella.
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STAFF MOVEMENT 2021
Welcome to the
Ave Team
As the Ave Maria College Community continues to grow, so too does our incredible team of staff. We thank all new members of teaching and non-teaching staff who transitioned seamlessly into their roles in 2021.
CLAUDIA BARRESI
MARIA DE FAZIO
LOREDANA GALLI
JO LAMONT
NEVE LESNJAK
LAUREN MAYNARD
CATHERINE MCCARTHY
CLARE MEYERHOFF
KATE MOLONY
JUSTIN OSSHER
JANE STILES
ANNA YARROVI
DANNY YIN
Teacher of Humanities
Learning Support Officer
LEONIE RUSHBROOK
Assistance Principal (Students and Engagement)
Registrar and Community Engagement Officer
Marketing and Communications Officer
Teacher of English and Religious Education
Teacher of Languages and Religious Education
Tutor Teacher of Literacy
Tutor Teacher of Numeracy
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Teacher of Accounting and Business Management
Teacher of English and Religious Education
Teacher of Mathematics
Teacher of Science and Mathematics
Teacher of Music
TEACHER PROFILE
Meet the
Teacher
MRS JOANNE THOMPSON
“Follow your dreams, learn a language, continue to study and travel and spend time overseas in a little chalet in the South of France.” In her fifteenth year at Ave, Mrs Joanne Thompson has shared her love of story telling with thousands of enthusiastic students. In addition to her current role as Junior Years Leader (Year 7 – 8), Joanne teaches Year 7 and Year 10 English. Additionally, Joanne has also taught, Humanities, Drama and Religious Education. Joanne has also held many leadership positions at the College including Year Level Leader, English Domain Leader, Transition Leader and Sub-school Leader. As a lover of learning, Joanne also completed a Master of Education in Student Wellbeing this year, which she describes as one of the most challenging but most rewarding experiences of her life. What inspired you to become a teacher?
Parents: Share your high school journey with your child. Choose a few favourite high school moments and share these. Share what the challenges were for you, this will help your child in understanding that the transition from primary to secondary school is a positive experience. This will support your child’s transition experience and help to alleviate any fears they may have about this new change.
I had so many amazing teachers in my educational journey that inspired me to become a teacher. My Year 11 and Year 12 English teachers really stand out, as they were so passionate and so engaging. They really made the texts come alive, so much so that I still remember the texts. They introduced me to William Shakespeare and Jane Austen, and I am forever grateful.
Message to the graduating class of 2021?
What is your favourite aspect of being a teacher?
You are the most resilient and courageous group of people to emerge from high school. Move into the future knowing you can accomplish your dreams. Travel, do some volunteer work and always carry a good book or two.
I enjoy working with teenagers and watching their eyes light up when they immerse themselves in their new learning. I love the energy that young people bring to the classroom, sharing their knowledge, asking insightful questions and being genuinely curious about their learning. Supporting students in their learning and spiritual growth is definitely a favourite aspect of being a teacher.
What do you like to do in your spare time? The thing I love most is walking, especially along the beach. I love to bake pavlovas and lamingtons. I enjoy reading and writing and I love using my iPad. I love watching Netflix and listening to Ed Sheeran!
As the 2021 Junior Years Leader and the appointed 2022 Transition Leader, what advice do you give students and parents on the transition from primary to secondary school?
Best advice to your younger self? Follow your dreams, learn a language, continue to study and travel and spend time overseas in a little chalet in the South of France.
Students: Come with a positive mindset! Be open to meeting new people, making new friends and learning new things. Immerse yourself in the life of the College. Step outside your comfort zone and try something new. Thank you for your time Joanne.
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AMC PROGRAMS
In 2021, the College has been privileged to have Professor Lea Waters work with our staff to introduce and implement the foundations of Visible Wellbeing; an evidence-based framework that Lea describes as making the invisible visible. This framework gives insight into reading the behavior, tone and mood of students in the classroom. Through various seminars, workshops and discussion our staff were well accustomed with the characteristics of strength, emotional regulation, attention, awareness, relationships, coping, habits and goals all associated with Visible Wellbeing and positive psychology.
Visible
Ave Maria College was acknowledged at the 2021 Visible Wellbeing Summit as Secondary School of the Year. In presenting this award, Lea highlighted the dynamic approach of the College in blending student wellbeing with academic growth. As a result of our ongoing professional learning and reflective practice, staff have used the ideas of Visible Wellbeing to ensure that the climate in the classroom or online is purposefully created to maximise the opportunity to engage and learn.
Wellbeing
PROFESSOR LEA WATERS
Professional learning at Ave Maria College has been a prominent feature for many years, as it is an important part of any learning community. For teachers it is an expectation that you are continuously building knowledge and understanding both of the theories and practice of teaching, or pedagogy, as well as knowing your students and the school learning environment. What the students fondly refer to as their ‘early finish’ day, on Day 8, is a major part of our program and we are fortunate that time is set aside each fortnight. In 2021, all teaching staff took part in Professional Learning Teams (PLTs) where small groups of teachers across Domains conducted action research projects centering on one of the principles of our Ave Charter for Education. Each group formulated an investigation question and then set out to collect data with the hope of creating improvement in practice or understanding. Over recent weeks each group has presented their project to staff. It has been wonderful to see such innovative and engaging research being undertaken, and of course we thank our students for their contribution to this process. In 2022 the Professional Learning Program will include two prominent projects, the continuation of the Visible Wellbeing program, and the introduction of a Whole School Reading focus. The College is excited to embark on this journey whilst continuing to embed the learning from 2021.
Professional
Learning
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Horizons
Program
At Ave Maria College, we foster a culture of rigorous academic achievement, underpinned by self-confidence and motivation in our students. This academic support is exemplified through our Horizons Program, which caters to students who require extension or seek a further challenge. 2021 was another busy year with Horizons’ students participating acceleration programs in Mathematics and Science, others completing hundreds of questions in the IXL Maths extension program and some students entering the VATE Creative Writing Competition, exploring the theme of Stories that Change. Students also engaged in Philosophy Club, both in person and online where there were many lively discussions covering such topics as: What makes something art? or Has technology made us happier? And that classic philosophical conundrum: Do we really have free will? Our Horizons Program allows students to think more critically, develop stronger communication skills and explore their academic strengths, preparing themselves with the dispositions of their chosen career and workforce of the future.
Debating Among many other activities, the College offers debating as part of our Co-Curricular program. Debating is an invaluable skill for our students to develop through improving their public speaking skills, logical and critical thinking and prompting an interest in current affairs. Throughout 2021, the College Debating Team participated in many rounds of debates with the Debaters Association of Victoria (DAV) competition against local schools, both in person at St Bernard’s College and online for the later months of the year. Across junior, intermediate and senior year levels, our debating teams tackled a variety of issues including education, economics, international relations and cancel culture. Congratulations to all students who participated in debating and won their fair share of debates representing the College throughout 2021.
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ALUMNAE FEATURE STORY
Fondest memory from your time at Ave? Marina: My fondest memory about Ave is those warm, sunny days where I would buy my hedgehog slice / steamed dim-sim from the canteen and sit on the front lawn in the sunshine with my friends at lunch until the bell rang! Monica: My fondest memory at Ave was the athletic and swimming carnivals, especially during Year 12 when we would all dress up and have a parade! It was always so exciting to see everyone’s costumes and the vibe of the day was always so relaxed. Favourite subject? Marina: My favourite subject was Visual Communication and Design with Ms Younes! Monica: My favourite subject was Information Technology with Mr Papaleo, we always had a good laugh in those classes. When did you realise the career that you wanted?
Abdelmalek
Sister Act
MARINA AND MONICA ABDELMALEK
Two incredible sisters, Marina Abdelmalek (Class of 2012) and Monica Abdelmalek (Class of 2015) are making their mark on the world of engineering. Marina completed a Bachelor of Architectural Design and Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) at Monash University. Marina is currently a consultant at Aurecon, an international engineering consulting company. Following her sisters lead in her own individual way, Monica completed a Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Honours) at Monash University and is now a Transport Planner – also at Aurecon.
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Marina: I moved to Ave in year 10 and that was the first time I had been exposed to Vis Comm. I very quickly realised that design was a passion of mine, alongside maths which I always loved. That’s how I decided I wanted to be an architect, which eventually led me down the path of the double degree at Monash in Civil Engineering and Architecture. Monica: To be honest, I never thought about what career I wanted to do until I got to VCE. When it was time to pick my subjects in Year 11, I realised that I loved Mathematics and I was good at it. I looked into careers within Mathematics and that’s how I fell into Civil Engineering. What inspires you about your sister? Marina: Mon is always extremely dedicated to her work and her career. She knows when to work hard and when to have fun! Monica: Marina’s work ethic is second to none and her confidence in herself is something that I admire.
Could you see yourselves working together in the future? Marina: Funnily enough, we were working on the same team at Aurecon earlier this year! Monica: We do work together - Abdelmalek sisters taking over the world! What advice do you give to current Ave students as they think about their future and careers?
CAREERS WEEK PANEL
Meet our Alumnae
As part of National Career’s Week from 17 – 23 May 2021, the College welcomed back seven past students as part of an Ave Alumnae Panel presentation for our Senior School students. The panellists from various graduating years, working in different industries all shared insight into their career paths after high school and provided advice for current students in following their passions.
Marina: I have two pieces of advice for the Ave girls. Firstly, don’t feel pressured to know exactly what you want to do at the end of year 12. You’re only 18! You have your whole life to figure it out and year 12 is only the first steppingstone.
FIONA MCHUGH (CLASS OF 1994) - General Manager of People Safety, Health and Wellness at V/Line Word of advice: “When opportunity comes knocking, say yes!” DR LOUISE LA SALA (CLASS OF 2007) – Researcher on the Suicide Prevention Unit at Orygen, the Centre for Youth Mental Health at the University of Melbourne.
My second piece of advice is to make sure you don’t romanticize different career paths - make sure you find people who have pursued similar careers and ask them all the questions you have. Do your research and never be afraid to explore different avenues and embrace your curiosity.
Word of advice: “It is so important to always prioritise your mental health. You can’t do well if you don’t feel well.” BRIDGET MARCHESE (CLASS OF 2016) – Human Anatomy tutor at La Trobe University Word of advice: “Follow your passions and eventually everything will fall into place.”
Monica: It’s completely normal to feel unsure about your career in high school – it is a big decision to make, but just remember that you’re never locked into a career. The beauty about picking a degree when you’re 18 is that you have your whole life ahead of you to try out different things!
CATHERINE MCCARTHY (CLASS OF 2017) – Marketing and Communications Officer at Ave Maria College Word of advice: “Never underestimate how much you can learn from those around you.”
Don’t be afraid of hard work, having ambitions is so important. During the transition from high school to university, you’ll learn so much about yourself and you will grow immensely. So be kind to yourself during this time and never doubt your abilities – you’re more capable than you might think you are!
MADELEINE CARRICK (CLASS OF 2017) – Bachelor of Biomedicine (Honours) Graduate at Victoria University and Thesis student at The University of Melbourne Word of advice: “Don’t build a glass ceiling over your own head, always have faith in your abilities.” MADDISON COTTLE (CLASS OF 2018) – Founder of For The Soul AU Word of advice: “Things won’t always turn out how you expected them to, but sometimes the unexpected is what you needed all along.”
Thank you Marina and Monica.
NEISHA SCULLY (CLASS OF 2019) – Bachelor of Laws/Arts (Politics and International Relations) Student at Australian Catholic University Word of advice: “It is one thing to have dreams but is another to work as hard as you possibly can to make them a reality.” Marina Abdelmalek
Monica Abdelmalek
Thank you for your time ladies.
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INDUSTRY FOCUS
Industry Focus:
Healthcare
MONICA COTTEE (CLASS OF 2000) CT Clinical Specialist, GE Health Care, ANZ Fondest memory of your time at Ave? The friends I made at Ave. I am lucky to say I am still very close to many of my high school friends. We met in the classrooms but are still friends twenty plus years later. We still laugh with each other at “in” jokes we made in our teens and send each other pictures from our school days. Favourite subject or favourite teacher? I absolutely loved Textiles class and was often told off by my teachers for sewing too fast. They were worried I would catch my finger on a needle! Proud to say that never happened.
The last two years of life in a global pandemic have undoubtedly changed many aspects of our lives. This is something Healthcare workers can certainly attest to, as they experience the effects on the front line and work to keep our communities safe. We have reached out to a few of our Alumnae working in the field across various roles to share their stories.
Mr Dunlop’s Maths and Physics classes were also favourites of mine. I remember laughing a lot in his classes even with such humourless topics. He made learning fun for me.
option would be to work in product development. This would mean I could positively influence and guide the direction of CT scanner improvements for the benefit of patients globally.
What inspired/drew you towards your current career?
Another direction may be in the clinical environment; heading up a CT department within a hospital where I can assist patients, train new radiographers, and work closely with the management team of a radiology department.
When it came time to start selecting courses, I started exploring a variety of science and medical professions. That’s when I discovered Medical Radiations and my future path into Radiography. This job combined my interest in science and working with people with many options for specialisation. How have you found working in healthcare during a pandemic? As CT Clinical Specialist, I no longer actively work with patients, as I am teaching and generating clinical cases for education, sales & marketing. However, during hospital visits I have seen how much extra work and stress the pandemic has placed on my radiographer colleagues. They have had to modify how the work and wear PPE to protect themselves, patients and families. What are your future aspirations in your professional life? My chosen career presents several options for me in the future. One
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Any advice to current students as they think about their future and careers? Chose a career or pathway that interests you and where your talents lie. Then you can be passionate and enjoy going to work. If you want to travel, think about if your skills or profession can be transferred to another country. I was lucky I got to work all over England as a radiographer and travel for five years in my twenties. Finally, remember you are not always “stuck” where you begin. Skills can be transferred into different careers or workplaces. You never really know where in the world you may end up.
tie; Mr Crowe, Mr Keenan, Mr Horne, Ms Lam, Mr Burke, Ms Hammer, Ms Mamo, Mrs McLean, Mrs Pearce, Mr Marin, but Bu Godoy has to be the winner. Any woman who can teach me for years and still welcome me with open arms when I return will always be my favourite. What inspired/drew you towards your current career?
KATHERINE O’CONNOR (CLASS OF 2006) Senior Occupational Therapist on the Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit at Northern Health Fondest memory of your time at Ave? The study trip to Malaysia in year 11, it fueled my lifelong obsession with travel, food, culture, language and history. Favourite subject or favourite teacher? The open-door policy, no nonsense, passion for their craft puts a few in a
EMILY DAYE (CLASS OF 2012) Regulatory Advisor – Registration (Team Leader) at Ahpra Fondest memory of your time at Ave? Mr Nolan directing a class music video in Year 8 English and Mr Tait recording our Year 9 original compositions. Favourite subject or favourite teacher? Music performance
This is the doing of Rowena Lam. She knew me so well that she suggested a career I didn’t know existed. She set up a chat for me with an OT she knew and the rest is history. How have you found working in healthcare during a pandemic? If you had told me how hard it would be, I don’t know that I would have stuck around. I have patients in hospital for months - years. Social support during such an important time is everything. We’ve had to be the bad guys a lot these last two years. The abuse has been relentless. But then a lockdown ends and you see a patient see their family again; there is no feeling quite like it.
What are your future aspirations in your professional life? At this point, I’d settle for a holiday. I love being an advocate for the vulnerable population, especially those who can no longer advocate for themselves. As much as I love my clinical work, I think advocacy and policy development taking a big role in the not-too-distant future. Any advice to current students as they think about their future and careers? The best advice I received was to not pick a course and mold my subjects to it. Instead, choose the subjects I enjoy and see where that takes me. My varied year 12 subjects led me to a varied career; I work clinically, get to teach staff and students, problem solve and research. At the end of the day, your career is only one part of life and it can evolve into something you didn’t even know existed. More importantly, after a pandemic working in healthcare, I promise you, the career you choose isn’t anywhere near as important as your mental health and seeing your family and friends.
What inspired/drew you towards your current career?
became an opportunity to empathise and educate where needed.
My career choices have always been guided by passion, stability and versatility. As a musician throughout high school, I realised I could pursue music while studying. My love of healthcare started while watching the show All Saints with my mum. When Mrs Morgan mentioned nursing as a career option, I soon applied for work experience at a hospital. As my career developed, my passion for healthcare has expanded to include professional development, healthcare regulation and team leadership.
What are your future aspirations in your professional life?
How have you found working in healthcare during a pandemic? During the pandemic, I have worked in both clinical and non-clinical settings. As a frontline nurse, I was involved in COVID-19 testing in Melbourne community hotspots. I found it rewarding working with a team of healthcare, government and military frontline workers all there for a shared purpose. Each interaction with a person
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Professional life is a constant learning experience. I recently completed my Certificate IV in Training and Assessment to better understand adult learning principles and plan to study further. I aim to take opportunities that allow my professional growth in the healthcare industry to continue to make positive impacts where I can. My love of music is still strong as well. I have been busy recording and releasing singles with my debut studio album, Daybreak, set to be released in early 2022. Any advice to current students as they think about their future and careers? There is no right way to make a career. I encourage people to reflect on what they are passionate about and take the time to plan a life with it in focus. Thank you ladies for sharing your incredible stories.
ALUMNAE BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
Alumnae
Entrepreneurs
Ave Maria College seeks to empower our students in their strengths and passions, providing a foundation of belonging and giving them the curiosity to explore, courage to excel, confidence to thrive, compassion to love and community to grow. A great example of this supportive College culture and the confidence we instill in our students can be seen through our Alumnae who go on to follow their passions and start their own successful businesses. We have reached out to two past students and entrepreneurs and sole traders to celebrate their stories.
Fondest memory of your time at Ave? My fondest memory of my time at Ave was the time I made my final speech as College Academic Captain at a whole school assembly. I felt proud of my personal and leadership efforts as I reflected on the past year. Favourite subject or favourite teacher?
MADDISON COTTLE (CLASS OF 2018) For The Soul AU For the Soul AU is a small business Maddison started in lockdown from the comfort of her bedroom. It includes framed prints of zodiac signs, angel numbers, mindfulness and wellbeing prints for those close at heart and for special occasions. What Maddison first thought would be a side hobby has now evolved into a fulltime job she operates from an office, working with social media influencers and receive orders from all around the world.
Two teachers that I will forever remember and appreciate for their support are Ms Stangherlin and Ms Hammer. Both teachers were always there for me, believed in me and supported me during year 12 which was a personally challenging year for me. What inspired/drew you towards starting your own business? After working incredibly hard in Year 12 to get into my dream university course, I surprisingly did not enjoy the course at all. During the time that I began questioning my willingness to continue with the course we went into lockdown and my part time
@forthesoul.au @forthesoul.au For the Soul AU www.forthesoul-au.com
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job was closed. I began a small business in lockdown to keep me occupied but instead found my passion and I knew it was exactly what I wanted to do. Do you have any future plans for your business? Growing my business is something I am truly passionate about and continually working towards which is evident through growing thousands of followers on social media platforms, thousands of orders and endless amounts of work. My future plans include hiring a few employees and a bigger office/warehouse! Any advice to current students as they think about their future and careers? My advice to students thinking about their future and career would be that things don’t always turn out exactly how you expect them or plan for them to. So take every opportunity that comes your way because you never know, it may just be the best decision you ever make.
testament to the encouragement I felt during my time at school. What inspired/drew you towards starting your own business?
SHANELLE THOMPSON (CLASS OF 2012) Cocoa Shanelle Cakes Cocoa Shanelle Cakes is a small home-based baking business specialising in all kinds of cakes and sweet treats. Run by Shanelle, a Le Cordon Bleu trained pastry chef who has worked at large production kitchens and luxury venues around Melbourne. @cocoashanellecakes Fondest memory of your time at Ave? I look back at most of my time at Ave with fondness. My younger sister only recently graduated herself and I would occasionally pick her up from school or attend events like the Arts and Technology Festival and reflect about how great my own time at Ave was. I think there is an inner pride in being an Ave girl that never really leaves you. Even the seemingly mundane, simple things like meeting my friends at lunch every day and eating lemon chicken tender bites from the canteen is something that I took for granted at the time. Favourite subject or favourite teacher? I’ve loved food, both eating and creating, since I was a kid. That passion was nurtured by teachers like Jo Hammer in Food Technology. My firsttime making macarons was actually in the food tech kitchen for my year 12 folio. Even though it didn’t work out the first couple of times, my confidence in trying something quite temperamental for a major final assessment is a
It’s something that’s always been at the back of my mind. When I used to make birthday cakes for family parties before I got my qualification- just as a hobby on weekends, I loved putting my blood, sweat and tears (figuratively of course) into something with a particular person in mind. You hold yourself accountable for making that person’s day in a way and I liked the idea of being able to do that as a profession. When the pandemic struck in 2020, I lost work, as many in the hospitality/ events industry suffered. The spare time became a great excuse to legitimise a self-run business- Cocoa Shanelle Cakes. It kept me in practice with what I love to do and gave me a taste of what it’s like to have full creative control of everything I make. Do you have any future plans for your business? Learning as much as I can in the professional kitchen settings is an invaluable experience that I am still enjoying in conjunction with my small business venture. However, my longterm goal is to expand Cocoa Shanelle Cakes to operate outside of my home and be able commit to it full-time in the future. Any advice to current students as they think about their future and careers? As cliché as it may sound, my advice would be to follow your instincts and pursue what you are most passionate about. It may be easier to follow the straightforward path but cultivating your unique talents regardless of what others expect of you will always pay off in the end. In saying that - don’t pressure yourself to have it all figured out straight away. Try not to map out your future too rigidly and of course be open to any opportunities. If you are honest with yourself about what you want out of your life, you’ll find your niche.
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STUDENT ARTWORK
Arts and Technology
Festival
On Wednesday, 3 November 2021 the annual Ave Maria College Arts and Technology Festival went live. Watch HERE.
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ACAN AWARDS
Academic and Community
Awards Night
On Thursday, 2 December 2021 the College celebrated the annual Academic and Community Awards Night (ACAN), recognising the achievements of students in co-curricular, community and academic endeavors in 2021. We acknowledge the following major Ave Maria College award winners:
HAZEL GARD St Francis Staff Service Award
TALIA MIATELLO Helene de Chappotin Student Award
NATASHA CASTELLO House All-rounder
Please see a full list of award recipients in the final newsletter published for 2021.
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UPCOMING
Events
Term One Dates 2022
Monday, 17 January 2022 College opens (Administration) Wednesday, 2 February 2022 (Year 7 and 12 Students Only) Thursday, 3 February 2022 – Friday, 8 April 2022 Term Two Dates 2022 Wednesday, 27 April 2022 – Friday, 24 June 2022
For all magazine enquiries contact Catherine McCarthy at media@avemaria.vic.edu.au •
She Who Belongs. She Who Thrives.
To contribute a story and photo
For all alumnae enquiries please email alumnae@avemaria.vic.edu.au • • •
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“Ave taught me how to be an independent learner and to challenge myself. I always felt encouraged to pursue my goals and make the most of my opportunities.” – Khalia, Class of 2020
Discover more: 14–22 Vida Street Aberfeldie VIC 3040 phone (03) 9331 9300 email avemaria@avemaria.vic.edu.au www.avemaria.vic.edu.au ABN 41 797 200 262
@avemariacollege @avemariacollege @avemariacollegeaberfeldie
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14–22 Vida Street Aberfeldie VIC 3040 phone (03) 9331 9300 email alumnae@avemaria.vic.edu.au www.avemaria.vic.edu.au @avemariacollege @avemariacollege @avemariacollegeaberfeldie @avemariacollege
