By Kate Lockyer
Published December 2024
A trailblazer for education, equality and women’s rights is stepping back from her role as Principal of St James College at the end of the year.
Ann Rebgetz said: “Being a principal can be a bit like standing on the ledge of a building sometimes, because there may be situations where… not everyone will agree with you.
“But it’s about being able to take the best step forward for students and think about the contribution to society.
“One thing schools have to look out for is not to become too risk-averse, because you have to take risks to have innovation. And if you don’t have any innovation, you don’t have the solutions for tomorrow,” she said.
Ms Rebgetz has been Principal at St James for six years, but before that had a varied career throughout Queensland and the Northern Territory, not just working in schools, tutoring, careers coordination and TAFE centres.
She has also run a community nutrition program, a women’s centre, and worked in her husband Patrick’s medical centre, all while raising four children.
When she first went to the Northern Territory as a teacher in the 1980s, she became heavily involved with advocacy through the Women’s Electoral Lobby, and lobbied for a Women’s Advisory Council, which she joined when it was established in 1983.
“At that time, for example, domestic violence in the territory was horrendous, and the voice of women, Indigenous women, needed to be listened to,” she said.
In 1987, she moved back to Queensland and worked at Aquinas College, TAFE, Marymount College and St Peter Claver College.
Ms Rebgetz knew that she wanted to be a school principal, so she studied and worked her way up, first serving as Assistant Principal and Deputy Principal.
“It wasn’t easy, you’re a woman who has had four kids, time in and out of the workforce, competing against men who hadn’t had the time out,” she said.
She said it was still “a bit of a boy’s club” because women with children were not recognised for the other skills they developed as a parent and in other jobs.
Her first principal role was at Thamarrurr Catholic College in Wadeye, during the years of John Howard’s Northern Territory ‘intervention’.
“It was a pretty daunting experience, there were a lot of riots in the community, there are still a lot of riots… but while principal there, we doubled the attendance,” she said.
Key to this was a grant for them to purchase four-wheel drive vehicles to collect children for school, and to employ liaison officers to visit their homes.
She said running a bilingual P – 12 school of 730 Indigenous students was challenging since they had to create all their own educational resources in the Murrinh-patha language.
After three years there, she was appointed as the Principal at St Columban’s College in Caboolture where she worked for 10 years before moving on to St James.
At St Columban’s, she oversaw the construction of new school buildings, including a multipurpose basketball stadium and performance theatre.
She is also passionate about supporting those, especially women, in leadership and has been both Queensland and Australian President of the Catholic Secondary Principals Association.
“I’m proud of the fact that I was able to become the voice for Catholic secondary principals of Australia, because I’m passionate about Catholic education and bridging the equity gap and promoting inclusion, but also giving students hope through their own concept of faith and creation,” she said.
“And I’m also very proud of the work around gender equality and the importance of that because we know that that’s one of the biggest issues in our society.”
Her commitment to ensuring there are both skills and academic pathways available for students has won St James Gold at the Australian Training Awards in 2023, as well as the Catholic Spirit of Education Award, a community award with the African Queensland Association and State Finalist in the Premier’s Indigenous Reconciliation Awards.
Ms Rebgetz has nurtured partnerships with the community and industries so students can develop pathways into whichever career they want to follow, with training areas including hairdressing, health, creative arts and hospitality facilities.
“Our job is to prepare people for the future, that’s what teachers do, we are educating for the future of our countries,” she said.
In Ms Rebgetz’ time as principal, the school has gone from 390 students to over 970, with many students coming from refugee or lower socioeconomic backgrounds.
“You need to provide equitable access and in this school, we’ve been able to do that,” she said.
“I’m proud of the fact that I have been able to give students access to pathways and schools who wouldn’t have gained that access otherwise.”
While retiring as principal, Ms Rebgetz plans to continue her advocacy in education.
Photo Caption:
Ann Rebgetz and St James student Eric Kaniki, who is studying a Certificate III in fitness. Photography: Kate Lockyer
