Recipients 2025

Natalie Semple, a proud Wakka Wakka woman, is a tireless advocate for reconciliation and First Nations education across the Diocese of Rockhampton.

From her beginnings as a Teacher Assistant to her current role as First Nations Education Consultant, Natalie has supported students, families, and educators with compassion, integrity, and cultural wisdom.

A deeply committed Aboriginal Catholic, Natalie helps young people explore their spirituality and identity in ways that honour both culture and faith. She works across 39 schools to guide the respectful integration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives into curriculum and daily school life. Her leadership has shaped staff formation, student wellbeing, and authentic community engagement.

Natalie has developed powerful resources such as the Everyday Books publication and maintains the Indigenous Education portal to support teacher learning. She organises student gatherings, leadership events, and transition days that foster belonging and pride among First Nations students.

Her hands-on initiatives, which include weaving workshops and curriculum support, invite staff into deeper understanding and dialogue. Currently completing a Master’s in Teaching, Natalie models lifelong learning and leads with humility and purpose.

Colleagues describe her as joyful, intelligent, and grounded in values of love, honesty, inclusion, and respect. Through her vision and daily work, Natalie embodies the spirit of the Aunty Joan Hendriks Reconciliation Award – walking the path of reconciliation with strength, gentleness, and unwavering commitment to the common good.

The First Nations Education Team at Ryan Catholic College exemplifies the spirit of reconciliation, cultural leadership, and service.

Over the past decade, the team has transformed the College’s approach to cultural inclusion, ensuring that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices are heard, respected, and embedded across school life. Through mentoring, pastoral care, and culturally responsive teaching, they support the learning, wellbeing, and identity of more than 200 First Nations students each year.

Their initiatives include yarning circles, men’s and women’s business groups, visible cultural symbols across the campus, staff professional development, and events such as the Deadly Day Out – all of which have fostered pride, belonging, and understanding across the school community. The team’s leadership extends beyond the College; they are regularly invited to support reconciliation and NAIDOC events at other schools and partner with local organisations to offer students service opportunities, such as the reading program with Carinity Shalom. Respected throughout the region, the team’s reputation for meaningful cultural engagement has helped increase enrolments and strengthened community trust. By building authentic relationships with students, families, and Elders, they have created lasting systemic change.

Their work embodies the values of the Aunty Joan Hendriks Reconciliation Award, walking gently but powerfully between cultures, empowering the next generation, and deepening the faith and understanding of all.

The First Nations Education Team has made Ryan Catholic College a place of shared pride, healing, and hope for generations to come.

As foundation Principal of Notre Dame College, Daniel McShea has demonstrated visionary leadership grounded in integrity, presence, and deep service.

In a rapidly growing and diverse community, Daniel has established the College as a central place of welcome, trust, and belonging. His unwavering commitment to knowing every student and family has fostered a culture described by many as “home.”

Daniel’s leadership has shaped an inclusive school where wellbeing and academic excellence are inseparable. He was instrumental in creating the ‘Notre Dame Way,’ an Education Strategy that guides staff, students, and families in a shared vision of human dignity, connection, and growth. Long before the school opened, Daniel was forging relationships through playgroups, kindergarten visits, and parent engagement events, actively building community where none existed.

He brings presence to every corner of school life — whether reading with children, attending retreats, joining lunchtime games, or quietly supporting those in need. Daniel’s personal faith, calm leadership, and ability to listen deeply foster authentic relationships and collective flourishing.

His commitment extends beyond the school. Daniel plays an active role in parish life, initiated the first parish mass at Notre Dame, and mentors fellow principals across BCE. His voice in educational leadership is nationally recognised through contributions to Teacher Magazine. As a volunteer surf lifesaver, Daniel has also saved lives — further reflecting his devotion to service and community.

Daniel has laid strong foundations not only for a school, but for a thriving, faith-filled and connected community. His leadership continues to inspire excellence, inclusion, and hope.

As Deputy Executive Director for Catholic Education Services — Diocese of Cairns, Ian Davis has shown unwavering integrity, humility, and service across all facets of his leadership.

He has been central to advancing school improvement, developing the School Effectiveness Team into a collaborative and dynamic group aligned with system priorities. A key driver of the Diocese’s journey towards Connected Autonomy, Ian supports schools to strengthen their strategic planning while honouring their local context.

Ian’s leadership places student learning and wellbeing at the core. He champions data-informed improvement, reminding teams that “there is no story without data, and no data without story.” His advocacy has supported inclusive education practices across the Diocese, including the development of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support and targeted initiatives in reading and mathematics.

Ian actively leads prayer and supports Catholic identity through his work and parish life. He encourages staff to engage deeply with the Encounter Catholic Identity Framework, ensuring mission and faith are central to every initiative. Ian’s example of servant leadership is evident in his humility, compassion, and dedication to others.

He has made a lasting impact on the system through his support for leaders, development of professional learning programs, and initiatives that foster belonging. Always quick to credit others, Ian is a deeply respected and trusted leader whose quiet influence has strengthened Catholic education across the Diocese.

Since the foundation of St Brendan’s in 2015, Shaye has demonstrated exceptional integrity, leadership, and service in her role as Assistant Principal: Religious Education.

A founding staff member, she has helped shape the school’s identity through inclusive leadership, strong community partnerships, and a deep commitment to faith and learning.

Shaye has established meaningful Catholic traditions, created sacred spaces, and embedded Gospel values into daily life — living the school’s motto, Finding God in All Things.

Her work in student wellbeing has led to the development of a whole-school program now incorporating the Berry Street model and The Resilience Project, supporting engagement, self-esteem and inclusion. She was instrumental in implementing the Religious Education Curriculum, promoting Catholic Social Teaching through initiatives such as charity drives, Earth Day actions, and guest speakers. Shaye fosters a culture of shared leadership, mentoring staff, guiding student leaders, and strengthening family and parish connections.

She collaborates closely with the leadership team, supports school-wide planning, and builds teacher capacity through professional learning and strategic goal-setting. Calm, pastoral, and proactive, she is trusted to step into leadership as Acting Principal when needed.

Shaye is deeply respected for her ability to anticipate needs, respond with empathy, and unite people around a common purpose. Her legacy is a flourishing, faith-filled school community where students and staff feel known, supported, and inspired to grow.

Imagine a place of learning where every child feels welcomed, valued, and truly seen. A place where spirituality is not only accepted but celebrated — where students gather for prayer, service, and to honour their rich Mercy heritage. A place where staff feel supported to teach Religious Education with confidence and explore their own faith journeys.

This is the reality at St John’s School, Roma, brought to life through the leadership of Trish Parker. Trish has cultivated a community where faith and learning are deeply intertwined and the loving presence of Jesus is encountered daily. Her leadership is grounded in Catholic teachings and the Mercy tradition, creating a culture where faith is lived, not just taught.

Through initiatives like Mercy Day, liturgical celebrations, retreats and staff formation, Trish has embedded spirituality into the fabric of school life. She mentors staff in Religious Education, builds capacity in early career teachers and supports inclusive practices that honour the dignity of every learner.

Her influence extends into curriculum and pedagogy, where she champions Catholic social teaching and inquiry-based learning. Programs like Project Compassion and the Winter Vinnies Appeal reflect her belief that academic success and deep faith formation go hand in hand.

Trish is a trusted presence for staff and students alike — offering compassion, guidance and quiet acts of kindness that reflect the Gospel in action.

Through her authentic leadership and unwavering commitment to the Mercy values, Trish has created an exemplary place of learning where the love of Jesus is known, felt and celebrated.

Deborah Siandri has been a quiet force of leadership, care, and integrity at Burdekin Catholic High School (BCHS) for many years. As the head of the School Office, she plays a vital role in the life of the school — welcoming families, supporting staff, guiding students, and keeping systems running with calm efficiency.

Her leadership is marked by humility and deep service; she leads not with titles, but by example, placing people at the centre of all she does. Deborah’s influence reaches far beyond her role. She has created the conditions for learning to flourish by removing barriers, refining processes, and ensuring students — especially those with additional needs — are supported with care and dignity.

She fosters a sense of belonging in every interaction, helping all members of the community feel seen and valued. Her work lives out the Marist values at the heart of the school’s Catholic identity through daily actions grounded in fairness, kindness, and quiet strength.

She is a trusted, stabilising presence and a key contributor to the inclusive, faith-filled culture of BCHS. Under her guidance, the School Office team works with shared purpose and professionalism, strengthening relationships across the community and helping the school operate with warmth and excellence.

Deborah’s impact is practical, personal, and enduring — felt in the lives she has touched, the culture she has helped shape, and the community she continues to serve with unwavering commitment.

Dr Michael Carroll will retire at the end of 2025 after 43 years in Catholic education, including 28 as Principal across four schools. His final and longest appointment has been at St Joseph’s College, Gregory Terrace, where he has served for 11 years with humility, compassion and a deep commitment to others.

Michael has consistently fostered inclusive school communities built on strong relationships. He welcomes students, staff, families and the wider public as partners in the shared work of education, and graduates leave with a lasting connection to their school. His leadership is marked by a strong sense of mission, a respect for the dignity of all, and a focus on equity and inclusion.

He is widely recognised as one of Brisbane’s most experienced and respected Catholic school leaders. The communities he has led, including St Patrick’s College, Shorncliffe, continue to benefit from his legacy of academic excellence, capital growth and faith-inspired culture.

Catholic education in Brisbane has been deeply shaped by Michael’s vocation. It is fitting that his outstanding contribution is formally acknowledged.