Our people

Rhonda is deeply passionate about fostering strong connections with the Gawura School community, working closely alongside the Head of Gawura School and the teaching team. Cultural knowledge, respect, and understanding are at the core of our practice. She is particularly committed to advancing Aboriginal educational outcomes through authentic engagement and the cultivation of Aboriginal Cultural Awareness for all staff and students. Rhonda has been an avid attendee at a range of First Nations Conferences and Workshops across the past 11 years, developing her own understanding.

Her advocacy for educational excellence extends beyond the classroom. Rhonda is an active contributor to state and national conversations on education, presenting at conferences on topics such as Gifted Education, Educational Psychology, as well as Indigenous Education.

I have been working with St Andrew’s Cathedral School and Gawura School since 2016. I have discovered a passion for teaching First Nations kids which has led to a Master of Indigenous Education.

My role, in addition to teaching, is to support the implementation of the Restoration Action Plan and the First Nations Strategic Plan through engagement with students, parents, and staff, to ensure their voices are heard and valued. It involves researching best practice, and working closely with school leadership, to ensure First Nations students have a positive and affirming experience of school. Central to this work is creating safe and supportive spaces for students. At times, this may simply mean offering a listening ear – taking the time to sit with a student, hear their experiences, and support them to remain engaged in their learning and school life.

I love the community we have created. I love that our community is more than a class K-6. There is still connection beyond, as Gawura School graduates progress through years 7-12.

My hope is that each of our students finishes Year 12 and is able to move on to university, TAFE, or into a job of their choosing.

I have been teaching since 2007, and my teaching career has been divided across the Catholic system, the Junior School of St Andrew’s Cathedral School, and in more recent years, at Gawura School. Teaching is a service profession, and I was drawn to Gawura School by what it represents and the hope it offers its students and their families.

Put simply, the students. They have a wonderful manner, a thirst for knowledge and a willingness to learn. They also have some brilliant stories that light up every lesson! With Gawura School, I can confidently state that the school, its staff, and primarily the students, are teaching me just as much, if not more, than I am teaching them each day.

It is my hope that I can help students develop the skills and capacity to enter Year 7 as independent and capable learners, who can reach their full potential in the Senior School, and eventually, have a successful life beyond school. Primarily, I want to help them become the best versions of themselves so that they can be excellent role models who care for, and inspire, our younger students and one day, future generations of First Nations children.

Football (soccer). I am a truly obsessive Leeds United fan and am insisting that my son follows my lead and joins me in a lifetime of sporting heartbreak and disappointment. My passion for football has led me to also fill the role of Head of Middle School Football, overseeing the management of their teams. This means that, as much as some of our Year 6 students may think they are waving goodbye to me as they graduate from Gawura School, I will still be seeing many of them on their sporting journey at St Andrew’s Cathedral School in Years 7-9!

I came to Gawura School and St Andrew’s Cathedral School at the end of May 2023. Having spent nearly a decade in the social welfare sector, my role kept on bringing me back to education in many different forms. When a friend was telling me about Gawura School, and all the great things that happen here, I thought to myself that I would like to come and see Gawura School… not long afterwards my current role was posted, and the rest as they say is history.

Gawura School is a family, a community and lastly a school. I have been welcomed with open arms into the Gawura School family, community, and the wider St Andrew’s Cathedral School, since my first day. From the kids in Kindy, through to the Secondary School, every member of staff and Gawura School parents have welcomed me and made me feel like family – this is something so unique and special about Gawura School.

My hopes for all of the students that I work with is that they grow to have a lifelong love of learning. This doesn’t have to mean being at school forever, but having that willingness, want, and need to understand more about their world. I think the students’ hope for me is to FINALLY follow NRL (GO the Bunnies!).

I am an avid AFL and Swans fan, during the footy season you will find me at the game most weekends. I also play a musical instrument (since starting in year 7) and continue to be a member of a community band, rehearsing weekly, and competing and performing throughout the year.

Prior to starting at Gawura School, my experience of classroom teaching was limited to one school since graduating from university. During my studies, I specialised in First Nations Education so I was excited by the opportunity at Gawura School to work in this space.

I love the entire community at Gawura School. The students bring me so much joy each day with their yarns, and I look forward to every opportunity that I get to see their parents and carers. The staff and volunteers that work in Gawura School have made me feel at home since joining in 2025 and I can’t wait to be a part of the ongoing work with such a great community.

My hope for my students is that they can see Gawura School as a place they look forward to coming to each day – whether it be from their learning, their time with friends, their positive experiences with the Junior School and Gawura School community. I hope they continue to develop into the leaders and role models that they are.

Outside of school I am a huge fan of all sports. I will watch any code or game and be thoroughly entertained. Although my choice in teams to follow isn’t always great – Dragons in the NRL and Chelsea in the EPL – I am always up for a sports yarn. I also love playing guitar, piano and singing, and enjoy using these instruments to lead worship at my local church.

I’ve been at Gawura School since 2017. I saw this role advertised when I was studying at uni and working in after school care. After reading about the school and knowing that it brought culture into schooling life, I jumped at the opportunity. Watching our Culture and Education grow with our younger generation is what drives me to come to work here.

I support the staff and Jarjum (bungjalung for ‘children’) in all areas of school life. I am in the classrooms, helping with class work, or having children for one-on-one or small group work. I also help provide our Jarjum with healthy breakfasts, fruit for ‘crunch and sip’ and lunches every week, and I support any external activities such as sport, excursions, play at parks, and travel on the Gawura School bus.

My favourite moments are watching all Jarjum grow into strong, hard workers. When you see milestones being accomplished, your heart skips a beat! My best times are when I jump on the Gawura School bus with the bus Jarjum in the afternoons – getting to see their humorous side and just having a good old yarn during the drive.

My hope for all the Gawura School students is that they reach whatever goal they wish in life! Anything is possible with a little bit of effort and encouragement.

I love my footy – South Sydney Bunnies all the way! Anything with music and dancing I’ll be there. I have two kittens at home (Nala and Kovu) that are driving me and my mum crazy, but they are the best companions.

I was drawn to Gawura School by a deep passion for walking alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in their learning journey. As a classroom teacher, I am privileged to bring together my love of literature, culturally responsive teaching, and Christian faith in a school community that genuinely honours and celebrates First Nations students.

I love that Gawura School is a place where every child is deeply known – where culture, community, and faith are woven into the heart of learning, and where children grow in both confidence and identity.

My hope is that each child leaves Gawura School knowing they are loved, that their story matters, and that they carry the skills, curiosity, and courage to flourish in whatever path they choose.

Outside school I cherish time recharging with delicious food, stories, yarn and music. I am grateful for my husband, children, beloved greyhound and church community. Their honest conversations, prayers, and friendship restore me each week.

I have the pleasure of teaching Kindergarten at Gawura School. I am passionate about the early years and building strong foundations in literacy and numeracy. I value the opportunities students have to explore and celebrate their culture through experiences such as weekly Aboriginal dance lessons and cultural excursions.

I love Gawura’s smaller class sizes, as they allow me to get to know each student well and build strong, supportive relationships, including collaborative partnerships with families. This helps me understand each student’s individual needs, strengths, and interests, and create a more personalised and inclusive learning environment. I also appreciate the strong sense of community, with older students supporting and caring for the younger students.

I hope my students feel proud of their First Nations culture and see themselves as strong, capable, and intelligent learners. I also hope to instill a love of learning and help them recognise that they are confident, resilient, and able to achieve great things.

Outside of school, I enjoy being an active member of my church community and spending time with family and friends. I also love spending time in nature, going for walks, and the occasional run, or game of tennis.

I have lived in Sydney and worked with First Nations peoples for more than 30 years. I have been part of Gawura School from the very beginning and was one of the co-founders with my husband Ray.

My current role in Gawura School is as the Community Liaison Officer. I help promote Gawura First Nations Scholarships in the inner Sydney community, aiming to encourage First Nations families to consider Gawura School for their children’s education.

I visit a variety of First Nations organisations in the community, along with early childhood education centres, supporting families who are interested in applying for their child to start in Gawura School from Kindergarten.

I also support current Gawura School families, ensuring they have access to community, health and education services, depending on their needs. I’m a great believer in education – it opens doors to opportunities and experiences that can do good for ourselves and others.