Principalship St Paul's Primary School, Karratha

Principalship for St Paul’s Primary School, Karratha

The Executive Director of Catholic Education Western Australia Limited (CEWA) invites applications for the Principalship role at St Paul’s Primary School based in Karratha commencing 1 January 2026.

School Profile

St Paul’s Primary School, Karratha, is a welcoming double-stream Catholic school catering for students from Kindergarten to Year 6. With a strong connection to St Paul’s Parish, the school is founded on the legacy of the Presentation Sisters, whose mission of hope, love, and service continues to inspire the community today.

At St Paul’s, students are encouraged to grow academically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually in a safe and supportive environment. Specialist programs in Physical Education, Music, Technology, Science, and Mandarin, along with opportunities in music tuition, choir, sustainability, and sport, provide a rich and diverse learning experience. Intervention and extension programs ensure all children are supported to reach their potential.

The school values strong partnerships with parents, recognising them as the first educators of their children. This commitment to community is reflected in the active Parents and Friends Committee and the warm sense of belonging that defines school life. With its own Outside of School Hours Care service, St Paul’s supports families while offering students a safe and caring environment where every child is known and valued.

St Paul’s Primary School is more than just a place of learning, it is a faith-filled community where children are nurtured to think critically, act with kindness, and be prepared for the world ahead.

In addition to the duties and responsibilities of the Principal, the community seeks a principal who:

Catholic Identity

• Demonstrated ability to lead by example in faith through active participation in Mass, modelling Catholic values, and creating a Christ-centred environment where every child is seen, safe, and valued.
• Capacity to promote and uphold the school’s values of Truth, Respect, Unity, Teamwork, and Honesty while honouring the school’s faith story and the legacy of the Presentation Sisters.

Education

• Demonstrated understanding of curriculum and effective teaching practices, with the capacity to provide a clear educational vision that fosters student growth, caters to diverse needs, and prioritises student wellbeing.
• Proven ability to promote consistency and distributed leadership across the school, supporting staff through meaningful professional learning while avoiding unnecessary new programs.

Community

• Demonstrated ability to build trusting relationships with families, parish, and the wider Karratha community through active involvement in local events and activities.
• Capacity to create a welcoming and inclusive school environment where all members feel known, valued, and supported, while encouraging open communication and collaboration across all stakeholders.

Stewardship

• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, manage school resources responsibly and transparently, with a commitment to long-term improvements that benefit both students and staff.
• Capacity to foster a collaborative and positive school culture by involving stakeholders in decision-making and project planning, promoting leadership opportunities and lifelong learning, and maintaining safe, well-kept learning environments.

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 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:

Principal Application Guide

Provision for Principal

Duties and Responsibilities of the Principal

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

To apply for this position please click on the APPLY NOW button. Applications close at 2.00pm Friday 24 October 2025.

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.