Congratulations to the following eight recipients of this year’s Spirit of Catholic Education Awards, including the Aunty Joan Hendriks Reconciliation Award:  

Paul Barrett  
Teacher, St Augustine’s Parish Primary School, Currumbin Waters, Archdiocese of Brisbane  

Madonna Lawrence  
Teacher, St Joseph’s School, Atherton, Diocese of Cairns  

Tony Polga  
School Board Chair, Burdekin Catholic High School, Ayr, Diocese of Townsville  

Pauline Merefield  
Teacher, St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Bundaberg, Diocese of Rockhampton  

Jacinta Jensen  
Counsellor, Good Samaritan College, Toowoomba, Diocese of Toowoomba  

Tracy Nioa  
Head of Faculty – Learning Support, St Patrick’s College, Townsville   

Aunty Joan Hendriks Reconciliation Awards  

Antoinette Cole  
Leader Formation – First Nations, Catholic Education Services, Cairns  

Indigenous Education Team, Catholic Education Office – Diocese of Rockhampton    

Phillippa Johnson – Indigenous Education Support Officer  
Brad Jarro – Indigenous Education Coordinator   
Shelley Major – Indigenous Career and Transition Pathways Officer  

A summary of the work for which the recipients are being recognised is available on the  Catholic Education Week website awards page.   

The recipients, along with all those nominated for this year’s awards, are representative of the wonderful work being done to support students and the mission of Catholic education in Queensland, particularly during these challenging times.  

As we are unable to come together to host a statewide celebration of our recipients this year, we have compiled a short video which you may wish to share with your school communities.