Principal – St Joseph’s School, Springvale

Victorian Catholic Education Authority Limited; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) seeks a Principal for St Joseph’s Primary School, Springvale, to lead a faith-filled, high-impact learning community. The role drives educational excellence, Catholic faith formation and community partnerships in a nationally significant Catholic school system.

The successful candidate will oversee a team of about 70 staff and 508 students, ensuring safety, wellbeing and high standards while implementing MACS 2030 strategies and parish connections.

Qualifications

• Evidence of strong faith leadership within a Catholic Church context and active church involvement.
• Proven ability to lead learning and teaching programs with evidence-based curriculum.
• Commitment to safety, wellbeing and high professional standards across the MACS community.

Responsibilities

• Lead a joy-filled Catholic school community where students, staff and families flourish.
• Realise the school vision in collaboration with MACS, parish and the wider community.
• Guide instructional leadership, manage resources, and uphold strategic plan goals.

Skills

Faith leadership

Instructional leadership

Curriculum development

Safety & wellbeing

Financial stewardship

Enrolment growth

Job description

Principal – St Joseph’s School, Springvale

Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools

Type Fixed Term

Role Principal

Hours Full-time

Closes 16-11-2026

About the role

At Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools Ltd (MACS) we envision every student to be inspired and enabled to flourish and enrich the world. MACS is the largest Catholic school system in Australia. We own, govern and operate approximately 300 Catholic schools, employ over 17,000 staff and serve more than 118,000 students and their families in the Archdiocese of Melbourne.

It is an exciting time to join MACS, where we are transforming to bring to life our strategic plan – MACS 2030: Forming Lives to Enrich the World that will help all MACS staff come together to make the most of what a Catholic education has to offer so that we have the greatest and most distinctive impact in our classrooms, staffrooms and schools communities. More details on the MACS strategy can be found here .

The MACS Code of Conduct (the Code) embodies our collective commitment to fostering a positive and supportive work environment that prioritises the health, safety and wellbeing of everyone, inspired by our Catholic faith. We ask that all staff read and understand the Code and model the behaviours that are expected of us.

YOUR ROLE

As a Principal, you will be inspired to lead a joy-filled community where students, staff, and families can flourish within a Catholic context. Your leadership will enable the vision of the school to be realised, creating an environment where everyone can reach their full potential. The role of the Principal is one of the most important roles across the MACS system, as their faith and educational leadership enables the vision of the school to be realised. This role will work in collaboration with MACS, staff members, local Parish Priest, and the broader School community to achieve the identified goals of the School.

Together in faith, strong in learning, we all belong.

Established in 1938, St Joseph’s Primary School, Springvale, is a vibrant Catholic learning community with a proud history and a strong commitment to education, faith and cultural diversity.

The school provides a welcoming and inclusive environment where children are encouraged to achieve their personal best, develop confidence and build positive relationships. Guided by Gospel values, St Joseph’s nurtures the academic, social, emotional, physical and spiritual growth of every student.

With a rich multicultural community, the school celebrates different cultures and languages while fostering respect, kindness, resilience and a strong sense of belonging. Students benefit from a broad curriculum, specialist learning programs, wellbeing initiatives and support tailored to their individual needs.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY

St Joseph's Primary School, Springvale is supported by a strong and engaged community of families, staff, parish and local organisations. The school has welcomed generations of families and continues to foster meaningful partnerships that support student learning and wellbeing.

The school community brings together families from a wide range of cultural and linguistic backgrounds, including strong connections with the Vietnamese community. This diversity enriches school life, allowing students to develop respect, empathy and an appreciation of different cultures, languages and traditions.

St Joseph’s values the partnership between students, families, staff, parish and the wider community. Through collaboration and mutual respect, the school fosters a welcoming and inclusive environment where every family is valued, and every child is encouraged to thrive.

Guided by Catholic faith and Gospel values, St Joseph’s is committed to nurturing compassion, kindness, justice and respect, while empowering students to become confident, responsible and caring members of society.

The Principal leads a team of approximately 70 staff and a student cohort of 508. MACS is seeking a Principal who will continue to nurture the strong relationships and actively engage with the community.

*Enrolment numbers are correct at the time of publication.

KEY SELECTION CRITERIA

• Evidence of strong faith leadership through being an active member in good standing of a Catholic Church community, including Sunday attendance, whilst being informed by the Church's teaching and local mission.
• Demonstrated ability in instructional leadership, including determining and implementing evidence-based learning and teaching program and school curriculum.
• Evidence of unwavering commitment to fostering a workplace that prioritises the safety and wellbeing of all, including all MACS employees, students, parish, broader Church, educational system, other schools, and educational authorities in line with current community safety standards and expectations.
• Displays a strong commitment to enrolment growth, financial stability, and a commitment to risk mitigation whilst effectively managing resources within a regularly monitored, evidence-based strategic plan.
• Demonstrated understanding and enactment of the legislative and systemic compliance requirements applicable to all Catholic schools.
• Shows attributes of justice and compassion in setting high standards for self and others in the leadership of pastoral care and the provision of an engaging education that provides multiple pathways and options for positive outcomes for young people.
• Strong coaching and leadership skills to enable team growth and development, championing innovation and improvement to support continuous learning.

Note: MACS is committed to the safety, wellbeing and protection of all children in our care. The successful candidate must hold or acquire, and maintain a VIT and/or Working with Children Check, and must be willing to obtain and maintain a national criminal history check.

Candidates must hold full Australian working rights, and provide evidence of this.

All successful candidates will be required to complete a “Schools Fit and Proper Personal Declaration”

MACS collects your Personal information to assess your application and suitability for employment. By submitting your Personal information, you consent to the use and disclosure of your Personal information for the purpose of being considered for employment at MACS. Applicants can withdraw their applications at any time during the recruitment process

For further details, please see the full Privacy Collection Notice

COMMENCEMENT DATE: Term 1, 2027

APPLICATIONS CLOSE: 4:00pm Monday, 16 November 2026

Please feel free to submit your application ahead of the closing date as applications will be reviewed throughout the advertising period.

16th November 2026

Attachments

Position Description-Principal-September 2024.pdf

Note

https://cem.elmotalent.com.au/careers/careers/job/view/1721