Principalship Chisholm Catholic College, Bedford

Principalship for Chisholm Catholic College, Bedford

The Executive Director of Catholic Education Western Australia Limited (CEWA) invites applications for the Principalship role at Chisholm Catholic College based in Bedford commencing 1 January 2026. 

School Profile

Chisholm Catholic College is a co-educational secondary school for students in Years 7 to 12, located in the Perth suburb of Bedford. With approximately 1,752 students and operating as a nine-stream school, Chisholm draws families from across the metropolitan area.

Guided by the College motto, ‘Grow in Christ’, Chisholm is committed to the holistic development of each student through a strong Catholic identity, comprehensive academic programs, and well-established pastoral care structures.

Established in 1989, the College was named in honour of Caroline Chisholm, a Catholic social reformer known for her advocacy for migrant families. This legacy continues today, reflected in the College’s diverse community and celebrations such as Harmony Day and Chisholm Day.

Chisholm is known for:

• A broad, inclusive curriculum and differentiated learning opportunities.
• A strong culture of academic achievement and student support.
• A well-developed pastoral care system, with 12 PCGs per year group.
• High-quality facilities and a reputation for delivering value for money.
• A sustained focus on school improvement and innovation.

With a staff of approximately 189, Chisholm provides a welcoming, community-oriented environment. While large in scale, the College maintains a sense of connection and care often described as a ‘big school that feels small’.

In addition to the duties and responsibilities of the Principal, the community seeks a principal who can demonstrate practical skills and experience in:

Catholic Identity

• Demonstrates a deep commitment to the Catholic faith through active, visible, and authentic witness. Promotes a culture of ritual and reflective practices that encourage staff and students to engage with their own faith and values.
• Provides leadership that honours the heritage of Chisholm Catholic College and strengthens its mission and values, including a commitment to celebrating holy days and maintaining connections with the College’s founding religious orders.

Education

• Leads collaborative professional practices that drive innovation, improvement, and positive change across the College. Applies contemporary educational research and data to inform decision-making and instructional strategies.
• Demonstrates the capacity to examine, enhance, and lead improvements in teaching and learning through curriculum and pedagogical excellence. Champions inclusive practices, the use of modern technologies, and evidence-based pedagogies to ensure engaging and effective learning experiences for all students.

Community

• Exhibits presence, resilience and approachability while actively participating in all areas of College life. Builds and maintains strong, positive relationships with students, staff, families, and the wider community.
• Creates and sustains an inclusive culture where all students are recognised as capable learners who can reach their God-given potential. Embraces and values the diversity of the school community and prioritises authentic community engagement.
• Demonstrates a commitment to fostering cultural understanding and global citizenship through the continued growth of student immersion programs in Vietnam, the Pilbara, and the Kimberley. 

Stewardship

• Demonstrates sound financial management and strategic planning skills to support the College’s ongoing development and future growth, ensuring the effective use of resources.
• Leads the development and implementation of staff formation, wellbeing and professional growth activities. Engages with staff voice to inform the structure of professional learning agendas and the organisation of development days and meetings. 

Selection Criteria:

• Practising Catholic and experienced educator committed to Catholic Education.
• Accreditation for Leadership of a Catholic School Community or equivalent.
• Demonstrated leadership experience in Catholic schools, preferably with leadership experience in a Year 7-12 environment.
• Developed understanding of governance, finance, issue resolution and compliance practices.
• A collaborative and future-focused leader who understands and supports the strategic priorities of the broader Catholic Education system. 
• A relevant Master’s degree (or working towards completion) with the ability to apply advanced leadership and management principles to both the day-to-day and long-term leadership of a school is highly desirable.   
• Current Teachers Registration for Western Australia (TRBWA).
• Current WA Working with Children Check (WA WWCC). 

Benefits:

• Competitive remuneration based on school size and enrolment numbers.
• Additional 2.5% superannuation above guarantee.
• Vehicle available for personal use with co-contribution.
• System Leaders Renewal Leave.
• Additional leave for wellbeing and Catholic Day.
• Access to high quality professional learning and development.
• Discounted rates on corporate health insurance and wellbeing initiatives.

Applicant Instructions:
Applicants will need to produce an application which includes a cover letter addressed to the Executive Director, a curriculum vitae, contact information for professional referees and your Parish Priest, and a leadership SAO. All applications are received through the website which will require you to create or log in to your personal profile. 

Please refer to the following documentation for further information:
Guide for Applying for the Role of Principal
Provision for Principal
Duties and Responsibilities of the Principal

To visit the school website, follow this link: Chisholm Catholic College. 
 

To apply for this position please click on the APPLY NOW button. Applications close at 2.00pm Monday 19 May 2025. 

For any queries, please contact Tania Lal, Principal Employment Advisor on (08) 9380 1824 or email: principalappointment@cewa.edu.au. 
 

Catholic Education Western Australia encourages applications from First Nations people, people with a disability, people of all ages and people from culturally diverse backgrounds. To be eligible to apply for this role you must be legally permitted to work in Australia.