St Patrick’s College Shorncliffe has welcomed a new principal and it’s a real first for the all-boys school.
Amber Hauff is the school’s first female principal, and it’s an honour she said she was conscious of.
“I’m so excited to be here,” she said. “This school has courage, it has heart, and I guess it is brave to have their first female principal, but I feel really honoured to be part of the team.
“The focus for me is always on the boys first, but I can also show other women in Catholic education that there are opportunities.”
Mrs Hauff had wanted her own son to attend St Pat’s, but a move to Townsville prevented that from happening.
“I’ve kept my eye on this school for a long time,” she laughed.
“I worked at Nudgee College before moving north, and I’ve always been passionate about supporting and helping young people.
“This is my 26th year working in education. I’ve worked in co-ed, in all boys and all girls’ schools, and I am a big advocate for single-sex education.”
Modern Leadership, Community Connection and Boys’ Wellbeing
Mrs Hauff acknowledged the challenges facing young men, particularly concerns about toxic elements of social media that target teenage boys.
“Look, as a parent and as a teacher, the online world keeps me up at night,” she said.
“There is real concern for everyone in education about making sure we have great role models for boys.
“We are tuned in to what is happening out there, and here at St Pat’s, we have good role models, and we teach our boys that when you have diversity at the table, that benefits everyone.
“There is a strength in having men and women in leadership positions, and that’s how society works. We talk about modern masculinity and what that means.”
Mrs Hauff added the school was also conscious of its role in the bayside community.
“Being part of the 4017 is absolutely fundamental to the school, to the history of this place, even these buildings,” she said.
“We’re visible but not showy here. We do our best, and we hope to bring out the best in our students. And if we see a need in the community, we want to do what we can to help.
“This community has heart. I see the way this community reaches out, both within our school community and beyond these gates.
“It makes my heart shine. For our boys, it’s about faith in action – doing the right thing not for accolades, but because it’s the right thing to do.”
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