Awards Magazine 2017

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The Community Leader Awards
2015
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What do you do in your community?
My community consists of the education sector and most
importantly looking after the indigenous community in Far
North Queensland in Innisfail. e
have 96 students and my job as principal is to ensure we have
a holistic approach towards the children in making sure they
get the best education possible. We do this through closing the
gaps in literacy and numeracy and making sure that they have
enough food and transport to be able to get to school, and
most importantly making them lifelong learners and making
them want to finish school.
How did you get started?
I started teaching in in 2014 and
my first class were predominantly indigenous and they com-
pletely immersed me into their culture and taught me so much
about their lifestyle and their traditions. I was inspired by
Aunty Maud who I worked with at St Mary of the Cross as my
teacher aide and she introduced me to her life and her culture
as well. I then taught at St Flannan’s primary school at Zilmere
and from there I wanted to continue my journey into indige-
nous education. That’s when I started working at Radiant Life
College in 2016 in Innisfail and then I was appointed principal
in 2017. The children in Innisfail at Radiant Life College have
made me fall even more in love with indigenous education
and it made me realise how important it is to acknowledge the
traditional owners of Australia and to give back to a communi-
ty that needs it more than ever.
What do you love about your job?
The best part about my job is I get to come to school every
day with the most beautiful children in the entire world. And
part of my job is the fact that I am able to close the gaps in
indigenous education and to give back to the most beautiful
community. And being able to go into education, you’re seeing
children’s lives change from the moment you meet them to the
moment they leave and go off to high school but I think it’s
most important in my job that I’m learning about the indige-
nous culture and learning about Australia’s first people and I
think that’s an experience that’s life-changing in itself.
Why is your Catholic faith important to you?
My Catholic faith is extremely important to me. It’s allowed
me to establish my personal values, particularly the value of
service and giving back to a community that needs support
and giving back to Australia’s first people, the indigenous
community. But it’s also allowed me to keep going when you’re
in a challenging situation like being in a community where you
are new where there are challenging situations. It allows you
to develop a strong, positive mindset and make sure you keep
going. So having a Catholic faith and being able to establish
values from that has allowed me to keep going and keep pursu-
ing my career.
What was your reaction when you heard you
were a finalist for The Leaders?
I was very excited when I found out that I was a finalist. It is an
absolutel privilege and honour to even be nominated and I feel
like I’ve already been rewarded when I come to school every
day and call working with these beautiful children “work” is
already an incredible opportunity and I’m grateful for what’s
the come.
majella ritchie
Finalist - Young Leader of the Year 2017
Majella Ritchie: The
best part about my
job is I get to come to
school every day with
the most beautiful
children in the entire
world.
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