School Support Staff Recognition Week winners 2024

The QSuper School Support Staff Recognition Week competition spotlights the incredible work of support staff in schools across Queensland. Without them, education simply doesn’t happen.

They include school officers, administration officers, science technicians, community liaison officers, community education counsellors, business managers, agricultural assistants, social workers, psychologists, speech language pathologists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and IT technicians.

School Support Staff Recognition Week 2024, from 5-9 August, is organised by the Together Union. We’ve supported the initiative for 5 years and each year we invite teachers and other school support workers to recognise a school support staff member for the crucial work they do for their school.

We’re proud to support you

Pat Twomey, our Head of Regions and Operations, said more than 100,000 Queensland Department of Education employees hold QSuper accounts with Australian Retirement Trust.

We’re grateful to everyone who took the time to nominate a school support staff member to show appreciation for their contributions.

Our selection panel found it difficult to select only 9 winners – one from each Department of Education Queensland school region and one non-school-based support staff member.

Each winner will receive a $150 Coles Myer gift card as well as a $500 Officeworks gift card for their school, while the person who nominated them will receive a $50 gift card.

Supportive, calm and always creative

Many of this year’s winners focus on student wellbeing. These include:

• Administration officers Penny Hickey, Helen Chatwin and Kim Offerman all help create supportive environments for students’ emotional needs.
• Mount Isa-based school business manager Jenna Crane makes sure that distance doesn’t disadvantage the rural and remote schools and staff she supports. From airport pick-ups to hospital visits, she supports students and staff in times of need.
• Lisa Wakeling, who’s been working for the Education Department for the past 41 years, is known not only for her work ethic and school and community knowledge, but also her jokes.
• Rebecca Gundry leads her school’s sustainability program, helping to improve their vegetable gardens, growing an orchard and introducing bush tucker and native bees.
• Community education counsellor Jessie Henaway is committed to the ethos of “it takes a village”, providing support to students, staff and the school family.
• IT specialist Andreia Francioli Shimenez, known as a superwoman at her school, is the only IT person on staff attending to the tech needs of more than 1100 students.
• Jeff Morrice opts for practical help. During a school holiday he cut, sanded and oiled a fallen tree he found, transforming it into a beautiful natural obstacle course for younger students.

The winners…

Helen Chatwin, Smithfield State High School, Far North Queensland

Jessie Henaway, Home Hill State High School, North Queensland

Jeff Morrice, Cawarral State School, Central Queensland

Penny Hickey, Inglewood State School P-10, Darling Downs-South West

Rebecca Gundry, Bauple State School, North Coast

Andreia Franciosi Shimenez, Caningeraba State School, South East

Kim Offerman, Deception Bay North State School, Metro North

Lisa Wakeling, Hilliard State School, Metro South

Jenna Crane, Centre for Learning and well-being, Mount Isa

2024 QSuper School Support Staff Recognition Week competition winner locations

1. Entry was only open to school support workers within Queensland state schools. Full terms and conditions for the competition can be found at qsuper.qld.gov.au/supportweek