Principal - St Edmund's College

EREA Flexible Schools Ltd; Sydney; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary packaging benefits (PBI)

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Professional learning & leadership dev

National/global Edmund Rice network

National educational initiatives

Meaningful work with lasting impact

Job summary

Edmund Rice Education Australia Flexible Schools Ltd (EREAFSL) seeks an accomplished educational leader to serve as Principal of St Edmund's College, a specialist school supporting students with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities, autism and sensory impairments.

You will lead teaching and learning, student wellbeing and Catholic identity, while building inclusive practice and strong family partnerships.

Qualifications

• Requires teaching qualifications and postgraduate study in Education or related discipline.
• Significant senior leadership experience in a school setting.
• Demonstrated understanding of contemporary special education and inclusive practices.
• Ability to lead strategic and operational outcomes in a complex environment.

Responsibilities

• Educational leadership and student outcomes.
• Inclusive and special education practice.
• Catholic identity, formation and faith leadership.
• Safeguarding and student wellbeing.
• Staff leadership and culture development.
• Strategic planning and school improvement.
• Financial and resource management.
• Governance, compliance and risk management.
• Facilities and infrastructure oversight.
• Community and stakeholder engagement.

Skills

Educational leadership

Staff leadership

Communication

Stakeholder engagement

Inclusion & disability education

Education

Postgraduate qualifications in Education

Teaching qualifications

Job description

Lead with purpose. Create opportunity. Change lives.

An exceptional opportunity exists for an accomplished educational leader to lead St Edmund's College, a highly regarded special education school supporting students in Years 5-12 with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities, autism and sensory impairments.

As Principal, you will lead a dedicated community committed to ensuring every young person is known, valued and empowered to achieve their full potential. Through personalised learning, strong family partnerships and a commitment to inclusive practice, St Edmund's College provides an environment where students can flourish academically, socially and emotionally.

Guided by the values and traditions of Edmund Rice Education Australia, this role offers the opportunity to make a profound difference in the lives of young people while shaping the future direction of a unique and growing educational community.

About the role

As Principal, you will provide strategic, educational and operational leadership for St Edmund's College, ensuring excellence in teaching and learning, student wellbeing, Catholic identity and organisational effectiveness. You will foster a culture of inclusion, high expectations and continuous improvement, while leading a skilled and committed team to deliver outstanding outcomes for students and their families.

Key responsibilities

• Educational leadership and student outcomes
• Inclusive and special education practice
• Catholic identity, formation and faith leadership
• Safeguarding and student wellbeing
• Staff leadership, development and culture
• Strategic planning and school improvement
• Financial and resource management
• Governance, compliance and risk management
• Facilities and infrastructure oversight
• Community and stakeholder engagement

About you

You are a courageous, compassionate and values-driven leader who is passionate about creating pathways of success for young people with diverse learning needs.

You bring a strong track record of educational leadership and have the ability to inspire staff, build trusted relationships and lead organisational growth and change with confidence.

To be successful in this role, you will demonstrate:

• Relevant teaching qualifications and postgraduate qualifications (or a willingness to undertake postgraduate study) in Education, Educational Leadership, Social Services, Theology or a related discipline
• Significant senior leadership experience within a school or educational setting
• Demonstrated understanding of contemporary special education, inclusive education and approaches that support students with disability
• Proven ability to lead strategic and operational outcomes in a complex environment
• Strong communication, relationship-building and stakeholder engagement skills
• Sound judgement, strategic thinking and the capacity to identify and respond proactively to emerging challenges
• Experience fostering positive organisational culture and leading high‑performing teams
• Commitment to child safeguarding and student wellbeing
• Demonstrated commitment to, and capacity to lead within, the Catholic and Edmund Rice educational tradition

Why Join Us?

Make a Meaningful Difference

Every decision we make is guided by our commitment to young people. As Principal, you will lead a school that delivers education differently, creating pathways of hope, belonging and opportunity for students with diverse learning needs.

Lead Within a Values-Based Organisation

Our work is grounded in the values of:

• Inclusive Community
• Justice and Solidarity
• Liberating Education

We believe education should be relationship-driven, trauma-informed, inclusive and centred on the dignity of every young person.

Employee Benefits

• Salary packaging benefits through Public Benevolent Institution (PBI) status
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Professional learning and leadership development opportunities
• Connection to a national and global Edmund Rice education network
• Opportunities to contribute to national educational initiatives
• Meaningful work with lasting impact.

About us

Edmund Rice Education Australia Flexible Schools Ltd (EREAFSL) educates more than 2,700 young people across Australia through a network of Flexible Learning Schools and Special Education Services Schools.

Our educational approach is grounded in trauma-informed practice, relationship-based learning and the principles of Honesty, Respect, Participation and Safe & Legal. We are committed to creating communities where all young people can experience belonging, dignity and success.

St Edmund's College is a specialist school serving young people with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities, autism and sensory impairments.

The College brings together a team of highly skilled educators within modern, purpose-built facilities to provide personalised learning experiences that build confidence, independence and future pathways.

Applications close 5:00pm (AEST), Wednesday 28 October 2026

The successful applicant must possess (or be eligible to obtain) and maintain a current Working With Children Check.

All applicants will be subject to EREA and legislative screening procedures. These checks are consistent with EREA's commitment to child protection policies and procedures.

Edmund Rice Education Australia is committed to ensuring the safety, wellbeing and dignity of all children and young people.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are encouraged to apply.

Edmund Rice Education Australia is an Equal Opportunity Employer.