Helping schools solve their most pressing cultural, governance, organisational and engagement challenges. Our approach is to get to the heart of problems, co-create a way forward and support school leaders to implement change. Read more about our services in the corresponding boxes.
Leading a school is never simple. Every day brings a different challenge – balancing people, priorities and pressure. Some schools are trying to attract and retain great staff. Others are seeking better ways to engage families.
You might be navigating change, struggling to implement a strategic plan, or facing a reputational risk. Maybe your culture feels off, and both students and staff can feel it. Every school is different. Whatever you’re facing, we can help.
We’ve worked with more than 1,000 schools, as well as various regions, departments and central functions across all systems – government, faith-based and independent. We’ve partnered with principals, stakeholders, boards, staff, students and families.
We’ve built connections and relationships between leadership and staff, staff and students, staff and parents and the wider community.
What sets us apart? We understand how schools work and what it takes to lead one – our team has over 25 years working in education and includes professional educators. We also bring fresh thinking from beyond education. We know what works in other contexts such as health, corporations and not-for-profits.
We ’ve partnered with more than 1,000 schools, colleges and education bodies to deliver impact through :
Quote by: Peter Seal, Principal, Orbost Community College
SenateSHJ walked alongside us as we undertook the significant task of merging three local schools to form Orbost Community College.
Elisa is a communication and change professional with over 15 years of experience in education and government. She brings a deep understanding of school environments, having worked across all levels from national program management to on-the-ground support in schools.
Elisa has worked closely with government, faith-based, and independent schools to support organisational and culture change, strategic planning, and better ways of working. She understands the real pressures school leaders and educators face, and the deep passion that drives them.
Her career includes strategic roles within the Department of Education and delivery of a national school-community partnerships program, championing student voice and leading stakeholder engagement across every state and territory.
Accredited in The Four Rooms of Change®, Elisa brings practical tools and proven frameworks to help individuals and teams navigate change with clarity and purpose.
On a personal note, Elisa has an enthusiastic five-year-old who has started Foundation Year, giving her a fresh perspective and even greater respect for the incredible work done in schools each day.
Angela has 20 years’ experience working with schools and stakeholders across the education system. She sees a school’s culture and reputation as intrinsically linked, and therefore works across change, culture, leadership and reputation.
Angela has worked with government, faith-based and independent schools in all corners of Victoria. This includes guiding the merger of a regional school, helping leaders work better together, strengthening school cultures, engaging communities and re-designing operating models.
She has led projects across education systems, regions and networks, such as the Victorian Department of Education, Mercy Education, Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools and Broadmeadows Schools Network.
She is a skilled facilitator who has led conversations with groups ranging from 10 students to hundreds of school stakeholders. In 2019, Angela was asked to host the Bastow Institute (now Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership) educational leadership podcast series.
Angela is a co-chair of the advisory board of secondary college OLMC Heidelberg.
Kate’s experience spans a broad range of educational and government settings where she has built expertise in school leadership, policy, professional learning and improvement.
As principal at Northcote High School, Kate worked with her leadership team and community to shape and implement a bold future vision.
Her work alongside leading academics, education consultants and schools has equipped her to support others in navigating leadership challenges. She is particularly focused on sustainable solutions that enable individuals and teams to work more effectively.
Kate’s recent work includes serving as the School Lead for the Independent Review into administrative and compliance activities in Victorian government schools. Prior to this, she held executive roles across multiple government agencies, including the school leadership portfolio at the Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership and previously at Bastow Institute of Education Leadership. She has also held senior roles at the Victorian School Building Authority and Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority.
Kate began her career as a teacher in secondary schools in Ballarat. Alongside her undergraduate education diploma and degree, she also has an MBA from RMIT.
Faye uses applied neuroscience to coach with individuals and teams across the public and private sectors.
Her experience in education extends to working at regional level and directly in schools, including working with leaders, specialists and their teams, and facilitating working groups to support team work, strengthening culture and building capability.
Coaching for connection and growth, Faye’s approach focuses on cognitive and emotional development, recognising the need to strengthen mental agility, and an ability to lead and manage through complexity and uncertainty.
Faye is accredited to facilitate multiple assessments including DiSC, Hogan, EQ-I and Basadur. She is a PhD candidate, and is currently studying a Masters in Applied Neuroscience in Education.
Jill has worked with schools spanning more than 30 years, with a particular emphasis on community and stakeholder engagement, strategic planning and reputation management.
She has worked with the Victorian Department of Education and public schools throughout Victoria. She has also worked in the private education sector and on educational projects funded by the not-for-profit sector.
Jill has led community and stakeholder engagement initiatives that have received Australian and international awards. She is energised by the impact education has on the lives of young people and by the role of educators in making this happen.
Jill has a Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) from the University of Melbourne and is a Fellow of both Leadership Victoria and Communications and Public Relations Australia. She is also an alumni of the Williamson Community Leadership Program, which she describes as one of the most significant opportunities she has been given.
Molly is a change and communication consultant with a decade of experience. She supports schools to strengthen their culture, ways of working and how they operate. She applies her deep communication expertise to help school leaders engage their communities effectively throughout periods of change.
Molly has partnered with government schools, the Victorian Department of Education and Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools. She has experience delivering change projects for not-for-profit and private organisations, offering fresh perspectives and a pragmatic approach to solving the right problems.