A community for connection, growth and belonging

The way we've always done things doesn't necessarily work in schools anymore. Our digital ecosystem has evolved - cloud-based, connected, built for collaboration, and yet so many of our habits were formed long before it existed.

My role is two-fold, it involves leading a team and also supporting my Campus Principal. Many moving parts. But all of those parts join together - my team supports me in getting their jobs done, which allows me to support my Principal, which ultimately supports the goals of the College. Last week, the moment that has stayed with me is a small one on the surface, but it has sat with me since it happened.

Returning for the first week of Term 3, several colleagues found their way into my office throughout the week. Each came for a different reason, yet they all seemed to need the same thing - a conversation. They weren't asking me to solve every problem or make every decision for them. They simply needed someone to listen, to encourage them and to help them find the confidence to take the next step.

Immersing myself once again in my research, I have found myself reflecting on role clarity and purpose. The more I have explored these ideas, the more I have realised they all point towards another important question - what does it really mean to work with intention and where are you investing your energy?

Over recent years, purpose has become a topic I have spent a great deal of time reflecting on. It has changed the way I see my work and the contribution we make in schools. One of the things that delighted me most when I joined Beaconhills College was discovering that the College Services team has its own mission statement proudly displayed on the wall at both campuses. In my latest article, I reflect on how discovering our team's mission statement prompted me to think more deeply about purpose - not just what we do each day, but why our work matters.

Over two inspiring days on 4 & 5 June 2026 in Canberra, Executive Assistants from schools across Australia came together for The Gathering 2026 to explore what it means to Build Your Capital:The EA as Influencer. We arrived from different schools, states and experiences, but left connected by a shared purpose: to continue growing as trusted partners, influential leaders, and valued contributors within our school communities.

As Founder of EAs in Education, through my experience leading a national professional community, my work as an Executive Assistant to Senior Executives, and my review of the literature, I have observed that many Executive Assistants working within schools experience a lack of role clarity. Their roles are often ambiguously defined, inconsistently understood, or poorly communicated, creating uncertainty around expectations, responsibilities, and scope.

As another school term draws to a close, the pace begins to slow. Teachers head off for a well-earned break, calendars become a little lighter, the inbox slows down, and schools take a moment to exhale. For many Executive Assistants, it's one of the few times in the school year when we can pause and reflect on the term that has been, while also preparing and planning for the one that lies ahead.

What is the ‘secret sauce’ that defines the school’s identity? Is it academic excellence, character, a deep sense of belonging, innovation, community spirit, or pastoral care? Whatever it may be, understanding this context allows us to align our own work and support with the broader vision of the school.

Starting a new role is never simply about learning systems, calendars, or processes. If you lead or support a team, you will understand that a significant part of the work is not simply sitting behind a desk managing emails and meetings. When you begin in a new environment, you are not only learning systems and structures. You are learning rhythm, people, culture, and context.

The launch of The Leadership Edge was more than a milestone — it was a reminder of the people who shape our work and the community that supports it. This reflection captures that moment.

Amidst the excitement of the book launch and Gathering preparations, I am also stepping into a new chapter, commencing my role as EA to the Campus Principal at Beaconhills next week. After four months in a period of transition — a space of liminality between leaders — I now move from one professional partnership into the beginning of another.

Over the past six months, I stepped into the interview “arena”. I’ve captured these learnings in this article, focusing on the key “touchpoints” throughout the application process, in the hope it may support others navigating the journey towards an Executive Assistant role supporting Senior Leaders within schools.

What began as an idea over three years ago has come to fruition. Back then, Alicia Cohen from Amba Press reached out and planted a seed - if I was ever interested in writing about life as an Executive Assistant in education, she would love to hear my story. At the time, I remember thinking, who would want to read my story? But, at the beginning of 2025, something shifted.

Over the summer holidays, I shared a reflection on a book that stayed with me long after the final page. The Power of Choice by Neale Daniher is one of those books that quietly reshapes how you think. Daniher writes: “The past is over. The future isn’t promised. But what you do next is your choice for the taking.” The idea of the "next move" has stayed with me for various reasons.

Belonging is more than 'fitting in'. It’s about feeling seen, heard, valued - and safe enough to show up as your full self. Belonging isn’t “soft work”. It’s strategic, intentional, and deeply human.

Introducing EAs in Education 2026 guiding poem: “Invictus” by William Ernest Henley, a work renowned for one of the most powerful finales in poetry.

In schools, culture isn’t just set by leaders in the spotlight - it’s shaped every day by those who support, connect, and keep everything running smoothly. Executive Assistants are at the heart of this.

In this episode we pick up where we left off, featuring Krystal, our resilient, sharp-witted EA at the wonderfully chaotic St Peaches College and her newly retired, ever-eccentric Boss.

I’ve always loved this quote - not just for its optimism, but for what it represents in the context of growth. Whether in our professional lives, our personal development, or within an educational setting, this simple metaphor holds immense truth.

Thursday 20 November was World Philosophy Day - a reminder that ancient wisdom still shapes modern lives. Over recent years, I’ve been increasingly drawn to Stoicism. If you haven’t read Ryan Holiday, today is the perfect day to begin. His work beautifully links ancient philosophy to modern leadership and life - and many of these ideas quietly guide the work of EAs in Education.

“The results of this meta-analysis make it difficult to argue against teaching love, compassion, responsibility, honesty, and integrity in the schools.” (Jeynes, 2017)

The Power of Stories, Symbols and Ceremonies in saying Goodbye!

As my network would appreciate, I love working in schools. They are such dynamic places and the sense of purpose and mission in the service of others, especially young people at this time of year is both palpable and inspiring.

Picture this.

You’re backstage at a school event, the hum of anticipation filling the air, the lights glowing just beyond the curtain, the familiar rhythm of names, awards, applause. You’re in the quiet chaos of the wings, hands full, mind racing through the checklist, only you know by heart.

There’s a kind of professional exchange that only happens when you get great people in the same room. Melbourne EAs in Education came together for an evening of connection, learning, and shared insights.

Have you seen the 1996 Stawell Gift Women’s 400m Final? If not, I highly recommend it. Much like Cathy Freeman’s unforgettable Olympic journey, your path is uniquely yours.

The other day I spotted a book on my boss’s bookshelf and immediately recognised the author, Millikan, whose work I had recently referenced in a literature review. It reminded me just how expansive the literature is on educational leadership is, however very few studies explore the leadership of non-teaching staff.

Sometimes, as an EA, it feels like my day is nothing but calendars - moving meetings, rescheduling appointments, protecting small blocks of time. It could be easy to think it’s just administration. But I’ve come to realise it’s much more than that..

Ever felt caught between what was and what’s next? That in-between space has a name: Liminality. It’s the moment when one chapter is closing, but the next hasn’t yet begun. It can be a strange and challenging place to stand.

As Founder of EAs in Education, through both my community experience and literature research, I’ve come to realise that many Executive Assistants working in education face ambiguous role descriptions.