The Spirit of Catholic Education Awards are presented annually to individuals or teams from each of Queensland’s five dioceses, recognising outstanding contributions to the life of the Catholic education community. These contributions may include demonstrating integrity in leadership, improving equity in education, building Catholic identity, providing service to others, or supporting school communities through excellence in teamwork.
This year, Catholic Education – Diocese of Rockhampton has announced Shaye Gaviglio, Assistant Principal: Religious Education (APRE) at St Brendan’s Catholic Primary School, Mackay, as the 2025 recipient of the Spirit of Catholic Education Award.
Gaviglio said she was both surprised and humbled by the recognition.
“There are so many people working in our schools every day who are worthy of this award,” she said.
“The fact that people went out of their way to nominate me, and that I was selected from among all the nominees, I’m very humbled and very appreciative.”
Having been with St Brendan’s since its foundation in 2015, Gaviglio has played a key leadership role in helping the school grow and establish its identity.
“It’s been my honour and privilege to be at St Brendan’s since it opened. Being part of setting up a new school is a fantastic opportunity,” she said.
“It takes a lot of work, but it’s incredibly rewarding.”
Shaye has led transformative changes that significantly improved teaching, learning, and equity at St Brendan’s. Her initiatives created classrooms where every learner feels valued and supported, especially in the wellbeing space. She was instrumental in developing the school’s Health & Wellbeing program, designed to improve student engagement and self-esteem.
This program has evolved over the past five years to include the Berry Street and The Resilience Project models. She also tailored the Responsible Thinking process to ensure students are nurtured, valued and respected as they reflect on their actions.
As a result, the school community has become more inclusive, collaborative, and achievement-focused. Through her vision and commitment to equity, she has ensured every student, regardless of background or ability, has the opportunity to succeed and thrive. This is particularly supported through her consistent focus on clear, calm, and predictable routines.
In her role as APRE, Shaye guided teachers in implementing the new Religious Education Curriculum and continues to provide support with teaching, learning, assessment, and reporting.
She is adept at embedding Catholic Social Teachings through both curricular and non-curricular activities, such as promoting Earth Day initiatives, organising charity drives, and inviting relevant guest speakers. Shaye was also instrumental in creating the pedagogical model of St Brendan's, based on the Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm, a model for teaching and learning in a Jesuit School. With the school given an Ignatian charism, Shaye saw the opportunity to weave the benefits of the model into teaching and learning practices, focusing on the holistic development of students and offering a versatile approach for diverse learning environments.
One of Shaye’s favourite quotes is by St Mary MacKillop: “Never see a need without doing something about it.”
Shaye shares this regularly with those around her and lives it daily, often responding proactively to needs before they are realised by others. Her nurturing and pastoral nature is highly regarded within the school community.
Gaviglio emphasised the collaborative nature of her work and the commitment of the entire school staff.
“It’s all about the kids. That’s why we’re here,” she said.
“Everyone goes that extra mile because we want the best for them. It’s a team effort, and that’s what makes our school great.”
The award will be presented as part of the 2025 State Launch of Catholic Education Week, to be held in Rockhampton on Wednesday, 30 July.
Shaye Gaviglio of St Brendan’s Mackay has received the 2025 Spirit of Catholic Education Award for her exceptional leadership and dedication to student wellbeing and faith.
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