Our Team

 Josie Howie, Co-Coordinator/Pavilion School Founder 

Josie Howie is a Co-Coordinator of the Pavilion. She is a senior social worker with a vast experience in working with young people with a diverse range of social support needs. Josie was previously employed at the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development as a Student Wellbeing Officer. Prior to that, she has also worked as a social worker at Kensington Community School and with Anglicare Youth Services in Preston and Glenroy. Josie has an exceptional knowledge of the welfare needs of adolescents within the education system and the wider welfare, health and education sectors. Josie is a very experienced social worker who provides a variety of counselling to young people in need at the Pavilion. In 2009 she was the recipient of the Federal Government Closing the Gap Award.

Brendan Murray, Co-Coordinator 

Bachelor of Arts (La Trobe 1997), Graduate Diploma of Education Secondary (Monash 2002), Post Graduate Adolescent Counselling (Monash 2008). 

Brendan is currently studying a Master of Education at Monash University. He is the Coordinator of the Pavilion, a state school that caters for previously disengaged learners by providing high quality academic tuition in tandem with social, psychological and emotional wellbeing support. The Pavilion upholds article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights within the Northern Region of metropolitan Melbourne, by ensuring that ‘everyone has the right to education’. The Pavilion has 125 students enrolled across two campuses with 32 students enrolled in Year 12. There is a no detention, suspension or expulsion policy at the Pavilion. Brendan is a teacher who has previously worked as a manger and social worker within the areas of: multiple and complex needs, homelessness, criminal justice, community mental health, adolescent street outreach, juvenile detention and child protection. He has won several awards including a Victorian Education Excellence Award (2009) for the Victorian Outstanding Secondary Teacher and Federal Government Closing the Gap Award (2009). 

Jimmy Moorehead, Student Wellbeing Counsellor (East Preston)

Jimmy hails from Papua New Guinea which may benefit those who are guessing where he might come from.  He joined the Pavilion team in May 2008. Prior to joining the Pavilion, Jimmy worked with the homeless, where he held a variety of roles in providing intensive social support to individuals and their families. This framework of practice has filtered into his current role as part of the Student Wellbeing team at the Pavilion. Jimmy is of the belief that working with families and carers is crucial to a student’s holistic development. Jimmy is currently studying Family Therapy at the Bouverie Centre.  His interests include boxing and yoga as he feels they complement each other perfectly.

 Julie O’Donoghue, Student Wellbeing Counsellor (East Preston)

Julie began working at The Pavilion School, East Preston at the beginning of 2010 as a part of the Student Wellbeing Team. Julie’s role is to meet with all new students coming in to the school via the Intake process, and to provide support and counselling to students as needed. Julie completed a Bachelor of Social Work at the University of Melbourne in 2000 and has since worked in various areas including mental health, the drug and alcohol sector including within the prison system, carer services and most recently with refugees and asylum seekers. In these roles she has been responsible for providing counselling, advocacy, group work, information provision and secondary consultation. Julie is currently in her third year of a four year Advanced Diploma of relational Gestalt Psychotherapy (GTA). 

 Stuart Edwards, Student Wellbeing Counsellor/Site Manager (Mill Park)

Stuart brings 15 years experience working professionally with adolescents to his counselling and case management role with students at the Mill Park Campus of the Pavilion School. With undergraduate study in Social Welfare, Drug and Alcohol Counselling and postgraduate qualifications in Adolescent Health, Stuart offers a unique range of qualifications and experience. His professional experience includes Rural Youth Work, Family Counselling, Peer Support Project Work, Training and Workforce Development, Drug Education, Alcohol and Drug Counselling and Secondary Consultation within alternative education settings. With a firm belief that education outcomes are inextricably bound to health and wellbeing outcomes; Stuart has a commitment to the holistic health and well being of students at the Pavilion. 

 Michelle Limberger, Classroom Teacher/Student Wellbeing (East Preston)

Michelle started working at the Pavilion School on a student placement in 2008. Following the success of her placement she was employed in the Student Wellbeing Team having graduated from a Bachelor of Social Science (Youth Work) at RMIT in 2008.  Sharing a passion for both teaching and student health and well being, Michelle later went on to enrol in a Graduate Diploma of Education at La Trobe from which she graduated in 2009.  Michelle began her teaching career at  the Pavilion School in 2010 where she is employed in a dual role with a focus on early years education. Michelle loves her role at the Pavilion because of her passion for working with young people and contributing to their personal development as young adults.

 Huong Tran, Leading Teacher/Teacher Coach (East Preston/Mill Park)

Huong Tran arrived in Australia as a refugee from Vietnam at the age of 15, speaking no English. She seized educational opportunities, learning English and eventually becoming a teacher. In 1999, Huong was offered a scholarship with The Department of Education, undertaking the Post Graduate Diploma in Educational Studies, Reading Recovery Tutor Training at The University of Melbourne. Huong believes that every child can learn when given time and excellent support from the teacher. As a Reading Recovery Tutor, Huong has had the opportunity to work with many teachers in the Northern Metropolitan Region, guiding and supporting teachers’ professional development. Huong has been inspired by many excellent teachers she has worked with and through these interactions, she has learnt that meaningful feedback to and from students can make a significant difference to a student’s learning outcomes. In 2009, Huong was awarded the Victorian Education Excellence Award for the Outstanding Primary Teacher. She is currently working at The Pavilion School as a teacher, mentor and coach. She feels very privileged to be working with the students here and she endeavours to help them achieve their educational goals. Huong completed a Master of Educational Leadership and Management at La Trobe University in 2009.

Rosita Hooyer, Classroom Teacher/Education Coordinator (Mill Park)

Rosita commenced teaching at the Pavilion in 2009. She completed a Bachelor of Creative Industries (Theatre Studies) at QUT in 2003 during which she was inspired by Augusto Boal’s approach to education in relation to positive social change. In 2006 Rosita enrolled in a Graduate Diploma of Secondary Education at RMIT. Since graduating, she has been employed as a Secondary English, SoSE, ESL and Drama teacher in a variety of high school settings. During this time she developed a passion for curriculum development embedded in social justice, accessibility and self expression. Rosita believes in the importance of offering an alternative education setting to young people from marginalised backgrounds which engenders choice, equality and the pursuit of lifelong learning. She is inspired by the young people she works with and their capacity for resilience and optimism. Rosita was recently nominated for the National Excellence in Teaching Awards (NEiTA), ASG Inspirational Teaching Award (2010).

Michael Scicluna, Classroom Teacher/VCAL Coordinator (East Preston)

Michael began teaching at the Pavilion School in 2009. He completed a Bachelor of Science at La Trobe University in 1994 and returned to formal study in 2007 to complete his Diploma of Education at Melbourne University, with a focus on Biology and Environmental Science. His working career has been varied, from warehouse packing to venue management to advertising sales; however Michael always knew he would one day become a teacher, due to his own secondary school teachers having been a very positive influence on his life. Michael feels very privileged to be working with the young people he encounters at the Pavilion. They are respectful, considerate and continually searching for ways in which they can improve their educational and social opportunities. Michael likes pina coladas and getting caught in the rain.

Danielle Norton, Classroom Teacher/VCE Coordinator (East Preston)

Danielle started working at The Pavilion in 2009 as a VCAL teacher. Her journey as an educator has included a variety of different schools and educational environments. After completing  an  Arts degree in Anthropology and Philosophy, Danielle found herself working at MLC’s campus in Mallacoota as an Outdoor Education Assistant. She was inspired to complete her Dip Ed the following year and has taught English, Literature, SOSE  and Info Tech at Gisborne Secondary College, Viewbank College, Loyola College and Montmorency College, as well as at a number of schools and alternative education units in London.  Danielle has always loved teaching teenagers but found the rules and limitations of mainstream schools challenging. Whether a student has a tucked in shirt or straight tie has never been as important to her as their academic abilities and interests. She loves teaching at The Pavilion where students are respected and valued as important and integral members of an educational community. Her students are a constant source of inspiration and motivation for her. Bachelor of Arts, LaTrobe University, 1995. Diploma in Education, LaTrobe University, 1997. Postgraduate Certificate in Children’s Literature, Deakin University, 2009.

Jo-Anne Gleeson, Administration (Mill Park/East Preston)

Jo-Anne started her employment at the Pavilion School at the beginning of 2010. Her role involves everything from initial referrals, administrative duties across campuses and promotion. Jo-Anne is also the first point of call for our students; welcoming them to the premises, buying food and drinks and contributing to their overall wellbeing whilst at school. She is an experienced integration aide, having worked in both primary and secondary settings.  An expert manager of all things Pavilion, Jo-Anne is passionate about her shoe collection.

 

  

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