Principalship St Joseph's School, Northam

Principalship at St Joseph’s School, Northam

The Executive Director of Catholic Education Western Australia Limited (CEWA) invites applications for the Principalship role at St Joseph’s School based in Northam commencing 1 January 2027. 

School Profile

St Joseph’s School, Northam, is a thriving dual-campus Catholic co-educational school serving students from Pre-Kindergarten to Year 12 across Northam, the Avon Valley and the wider Wheatbelt region. As the only non-government secondary school between Mundaring and Kalgoorlie, the school provides a unique and highly valued educational option for regional families.

Founded in 1889, St Joseph’s has a proud tradition of Catholic education grounded in faith, learning and community. Located just 90 kilometres east of Perth, the school combines the benefits of a country lifestyle with a strong reputation for academic achievement, student wellbeing, and community engagement.

Guided by its motto, “Fidelity,” St Joseph’s is committed to nurturing the spiritual, academic, and personal growth of every student. The school offers a comprehensive curriculum, diverse pathway options, strong literacy and numeracy programs, and a wide range of opportunities in the arts, sport, leadership, and faith formation.

Supported by modern facilities, engaged families, an active parish partnership, and a dedicated staff, St Joseph’s offers an outstanding opportunity for a faith-filled and visionary leader to lead a respected Catholic school community committed to helping every student flourish.

In addition to fulfilling the Duties and Responsibilities of the Principal, the community is seeking a leader who demonstrates the following qualities:

Catholic Identity

• Leads as an authentic Catholic educator who witnesses faith through word and action, fostering a Christ-centred culture where Gospel values and prayer are central to school life.
• Strengthens the Catholic identity of the school through active engagement with the parish and the Marist and De Vialar charisms, providing meaningful opportunities for faith formation and service.

Education

• Provides strong educational leadership that promotes excellence and engagement for every student through high expectations and evidence-informed practice.
• Leads a growing K-12 school by building staff capability and expanding learning opportunities that enable students to flourish through a broad range of academic, vocational and future-focused pathways.

Community

• Builds trusting relationships through a visible, approachable and collaborative leadership style that engages authentically with students, staff, families and the wider community.
• Nurtures a strong culture of belonging and wellbeing, respecting the history and rural context of St Joseph's School and strengthening connections across both campuses.

Stewardship

• Leads with integrity and sound judgement, ensuring responsible stewardship of resources and strategic decision-making that supports the long-term growth and sustainability of the school.
• Fosters a culture of shared leadership, accountability and professional trust, while driving continuous improvement.

Selection Criteria:

• Practising Catholic and experienced educator committed to Catholic Education.
• Accredited for Leadership of a Catholic School Community or equivalent.
• 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 Teacher Registration for Western Australia (TRBWA).
• Current WA Working with Children Check (WA WWCC).

Benefits:

• Competitive remuneration.
• Additional 2.5% superannuation above the guarantee.
• Vehicle available for personal use with co-contribution.
• System Leader 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 submit an application that 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 must be submitted 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:

Principal Application Guide

Provision for Principal

Duties and Responsibilities of the Principal

To visit the school website, follow this link: https://sjsnortham.wa.edu.au/

To apply for this position, please click on the APPLY NOW button. Applications close at 2:00pm, Wednesday 26 August 2026.

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

All employees of Catholic Education Western Australia are required to support the Catholic ethos in the performance of their duties. Catholic Education Western Australia also encourages applications from people of all cultural backgrounds, First Nations people, and individuals with disabilities or medical conditions who meet the requirements of the position. To be eligible to apply, you must be legally permitted to work in Australia.