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Familiar Face Appointed to Grow New Cairns School

A top educator with extensive experience in developing and establishing schools will return to the Far North to take the reins at Cairns’ newest college.

Dr Lauretta Graham

Dr Lauretta Graham

Lauretta Graham, a well-known and respected figure across the region, has accepted the position of Foundation Principal at Newman Catholic College, an innovative secondary facility that will be co-located with James Cook University at Smithfield.

Mrs Graham was previously Foundation Principal at St Andrew’s Catholic College in Redlynch, guiding the school from 2001 to 2011 as it became one of the most sought-after in the Cairns area.

For the last nine years, she has been Foundation Principal at Mackillop Catholic College in Palmerston in the Northern Territory. Mrs Graham will begin her role at Newman Catholic College from February 2021.

Cairns Catholic Education Services Executive Director Bill Dixon said Mrs Graham’s vast experience in the education sector would be an invaluable addition to Newman Catholic College.

“Lauretta is well known throughout Australia for leading the development and establishment of new schools, and her wisdom and outstanding leadership skills will once again enrich education within the Diocese of Cairns,” he said.

“Her thorough knowledge in this field will help to position Newman Catholic College as a leading school from the very beginning.”

“We look forward to working with Lauretta on this challenging, rewarding, and very exciting journey.”

Newman Catholic College, the first Catholic school in Australia to be located within a university precinct, will initially open for the Year 7 cohort in 2022 and add a new year level each year to be a full Year 7-12 secondary college by 2027. 

The College is now accepting enrolment applications through its brand-new website, newman.qld.edu.au, which also offers detailed information about the College’s design and development.

Mrs Graham has extensive links with JCU, having completed a Bachelor of Education at the University and being awarded an honorary Doctor of Education Studies from JCU in 2019. She also holds a Master of Educational Leadership from Australian Catholic University.

The position at Newman Catholic College attracted a large number of applicants from across Australia and locally.