Dear Heathdale community,
I have some significant news that I would like to share with you.
At the commencement of Term Three, Lyn Moffett - our Principal of Primary at the Werribee campus - informed me that she was retiring at the end of this year.
Personally, this was significant news, as Lyn is one of the first people who introduced me to this fantastic-sounding Christian School located in the West called Heathdale Christian College. It has been my delight to work and serve with her for the past five years.
For our broader community, this news was significant because Lyn has been a direct part of this community for almost 40 years. She has been part of God’s story here since it first began.
This news also meant I would need to find someone else who could take up the mantle of leading the Primary School at the Werribee Campus and build upon the foundations that Lyn has helped to lay.
I knew I needed help to find the right person. So, committing the process to the Lord in prayer, I engaged an executive recruitment company, Hutton Recruitment to support me in this most important task. Hutton have assisted many Independent Schools and more recently some of the larger Christian Schools to recruit leaders as they have an extensive network that reaches across Australian and internationally.
Hutton Recruiting commenced a multi-stage recruitment process that included members of the SLT and Board to ensure that not only the most skilled person was selected, but also a person who was answering God’s call for this role.
When we called for applications for this significant leadership role, we sought someone who would:
- Capture the heart of what our College is, our history and how we desire to see Christian Education grow within the Western suburbs.
- Not only lead our Primary years, but also work alongside our staff to build their capacity as teachers; leading at all times to create leaders.
- Nurture a culture of continuous improvement.
- Understand that we are educating students from our unique distinctive and that we do not teach academics in isolation.
- Ensure that our students head into Secondary Schooling well-equipped with social, emotional, academic and spiritual seeds deeply sown.
We received many applications from far and wide and initially Hutton Recruiting recommended six very strong applications for us to consider.
After these candidates completed a one-hour assessment interview conducted by Hutton Recruitment, a short list of four candidates were then recommended to participate in First Round interviews. All four candidates demonstrated clear strengths and abilities that indicated they could fill the role, however, we needed to refine this group of four to two. Those two were asked to participate in Second Round interviews.
As we followed this rigorous recruitment process it became obvious that there was a strong calling on one applicant in particular.
It is therefore my pleasure to announce to you that we have appointed Yvonne Harvey to the position of Principal of Primary, Werribee Campus.
Those who know Yvonne well, recognise her heart for our staff, students and families through her dedicated service to our community. Her commitment and passion for Christian Education stems from her strong faith background as she is enabled by the Holy Spirit to show the truth of the Gospel to others.
Yvonne continues to refine her leadership gift that has been developed through an extensive study regime and her time as Principal of Melton Campus (a role she has excelled at). Yvonne has a thirst to continue to learn and refine that gift God has placed in her.
We believe we have someone in Yvonne who is an expert in their field and shows the motivation and inspiration that this position will require as we continue to grow the Primary School at Werribee.
As Yvonne transitions into this role during this term, I have asked her to assist me and help identify the next Principal of our Melton campus. We are all excited about the leader God will provide for the Melton campus and the way our community will continue to grow there.
This is a big and exciting new role for Yvonne and we celebrate her appointment with her. We know that when we are in God’s will, the Lord equips according to His plans and we pray for God’s continued blessing in this next step of her calling.
Blessings,
Ross Grace
Executive Principal