Head of House

St Mary's College; Adelaide; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

St Mary’s College in Adelaide seeks an outstanding Head of House to lead the new House Model for Years 7–12, delivering wellbeing, leadership and academic support across the college.

You will collaborate with Care Group Teachers, families and College leaders to foster a safe, inclusive culture and to build a vibrant House spirit through activities and restorative practice.

Qualifications

• Active support and contribution to Catholic identity and Dominican ethos.
• Experience with restorative practice in a school setting.
• Ability to lead, support and develop staff and build consistent pastoral practice.
• Knowledge of child safeguarding, duty of care and confidentiality.
• Experience leading within a House or pastoral-care structure (highly regarded).

Responsibilities

• Pastoral Leadership and Student Support.
• Student Behaviour Formation.
• Staff Leadership and Support.
• Lead restorative approaches to behaviour and relational harm.
• Coordinate responses to complex student matters with families and staff.
• Family Engagement and Communication.
• Coordinate Records and Attendance.
• House Culture, Spirit and Engagement.

Skills

Pastoral leadership

Restorative practice

Staff development

Interpersonal skills

Strategic thinking

Education

Teaching Registration (SA)

Secondary teaching experience

Job description

St Mary’s College is the oldest continuously operating girls’ school in South Australia. A Reception to Year 12 Catholic Dominican College in the heart of Adelaide, we provide a nurturing, purpose-driven education where every student is seen and supported to grow into their full potential.

While we are steeped in tradition, we are not traditional. We understand the challenges and opportunities facing girls today and intentionally design learning environments that empower students to find their voice - and to use it. Girls at St Mary’s are encouraged to become confident and courageous learners - unafraid to lead, challenge norms, and speak up for what matters.

About the Role

St Mary’s College is embarking on an exciting new chapter with the introduction of a House Model from Term 1, 2027. Designed to enhance student wellbeing, connection and leadership opportunities, the House Model will deliver a coherent and vertically integrated approach to pastoral care and student development across Years 7 - 12.

As we embark on this exciting new chapter, we are seeking exceptional Heads of House to help shape and lead this initiative. This is a four-year Position of Responsibility Band 2, Level 2 under the SA Catholic Schools Enterprise Agreement 2020. The role reports to the Deputy Principal - Community, Wellbeing and Standards and includes a teaching component.

As a key leader within the College, the Head of House is responsible for fostering a safe, supportive and inclusive House community where every student is known, and valued. Guided by the College’s Veritas Way, the Head of House leads and coordinates for all matters relating to the needs of individual students in their House including wellbeing support, behaviour formation and responsiveness and learning growth. Working closely with Care Group Teachers, Subject Teachers, families and College leaders, the Head of House ensures that students’ holistic needs are identified early, and supports are implemented to ensure student success. The Head of House will also play a pivotal role in building House spirit, student engagement and a vibrant culture of participation through House activities and healthy inter-House competition.

This is an exciting opportunity for an outstanding educator and pastoral leader who is passionate about student wellbeing, committed to excellence in Catholic education, and capable of inspiring both students and staff through authentic leadership and care. As a foundation Head of House, the successful candidate will help shape the systems, practices and traditions of the College’s new House Model.

Key Responsibilities include:

Pastoral Leadership and Student Support

Student Behaviour Formation

Staff Leadership and Support

Lead restorative approaches to behaviour formation, conflict and relational harm, strengthening accountability, repair and belonging.

Coordinate timely, well-documented responses to complex student matters in partnership with families, teachers, wellbeing staff and College leaders.

Family Engagement and Communication

Coordination, Communication and Records

Attendance, Engagement and Compliance

House Culture, Spirit and Engagement

Key Outcomes of the role:

Students feel safe, supported, connected and appropriately accountable within the House.

Behaviour and wellbeing matters are managed consistently, fairly and in accordance with College frameworks.

Families are well-informed and engaged in their child’s schooling when matters are complex or significant.

Care Group Teachers are effectively led, supported and developed to deliver consistent, high-quality pastoral care.

Student issues are addressed proactively, clearly and effectively, with accurate records and follow-through.

House culture, spirit and engagement are actively promoted and sustained.

Weekly House meetings provide a consistent structure for Care Group Teachers to align practice, share relevant information and enact the Veritas Way across the House.

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

Active support and contribution to the Catholic identity and Dominican ethos of St Mary's College.

Demonstrated experience in, or a strong commitment to, restorative practice within a school setting.

Demonstrated capacity to lead, support and develop staff and build consistent pastoral practice.

Sound knowledge of child safeguarding, duty of care and confidentiality, with the judgement to manage complex student matters.

Experience leading within a House or pastoral-care structure - highly regarded but not essential.

Teaching Registration with the South Australian Teacher Registration Board

Extensive experience in teaching at Secondary level.

Exceptional interpersonal skills, with the ability to build positive and effective relationships with students, colleagues, families and the wider community.

A proven capacity to encourage and develop independence, resilience, leadership and personal responsibility in others.

Highly developed written and verbal communication skills.

Ability to think strategically and manage competing priorities effectively.

Willingness to embrace new ideas and respond proactively to emerging opportunities and challenges.

A commitment to innovation, creative problem-solving, effective change management and continuous improvement.

The ability to work collaboratively and professionally while maintaining discretion, integrity and the highest standards of ethical conduct.

Willingness to undertake occasional out-of-hours work, including attendance at key School events.

Why work for us?

Leadership opportunity within a highly regarded Catholic Girls School.

Make a meaningful impact on the wellbeing and success of young people.

Work within a supportive and collaborative leadership team.

Contribute to a vibrant school community.

Access professional growth and leadership development opportunities.

The School reserves the right to shortlist and interview candidates prior to the closing date.

The successful applicant will be required to maintain a valid Working with Children Check, Protective Practices and Responding to Risks of Harm, Abuse and Neglect – Education and Care training, A First Aid Certificate as well as adhere to the School’s Child and Young Person Safe Environment Policy.