Contacts

Janelle Knack
Indigenous Education Adviser

jknack@tsv.catholic.edu.au

Janelle Knack joined TCEO after working with Education Queensland as a teacher and later on with Transition Support Services. Janelle is a Gunggari women and has worked with students from Cape York and Palm Island Communities, supporting them to transition from their remote communities to boarding school. Janelle is now strongly focused on her current role servicing schools to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and their families work towards attaining the best possible outcomes they can. She also coordinates the Post School Pathways Program, JumpIt.

Tammi Webber
Indigenous Education Adviser

twebber1@tsv.catholic.edu.au

Tammi is an Aboriginal woman born and raised on Kalkadoon country in Mount Isa. She completed her Bachelor of Education - Early Childhood through QUT and began her teaching career with TCEO at St Joseph’s Mount Isa. Tammi has taught for over 14 years within the Townsville diocese and internationally in England. Currently studying her Masters in Indigenous Education through Macquarie University, Tammi has been in her current role for the last 18 months servicing schools in Mount Isa, Cloncurry, Ayr, Home Hill, and Townsville. Tammi coordinates and implements Stronger Smarter and the JCU Effective Indigenous Pedagogy Research projects across our diocese. A dedicated mother of three, Tammi is a passionate and dynamic advocate for Indigenous students and communities across our region.

Max Lenoy
Indigenous Education Adviser

mlenoy1@tsv.catholic.edu.au

Max Lenoy is a Jirrbal, Warungnu and Kuku-Yalanji man with ties to both Palm Island and Yarrabah. He has worked in Indigenous education since 1992 as a teacher, curriculum designer and academic. He graduated with a Bachelor of Education (Primary) from James Cook University and completed an Education Masters at the Harvard University Graduate School of Education. He is passionate about fundamentally improving the life outcomes of Indigenous learners and enhancing the Indigenous knowledge and understanding of non-Indigenous students and teachers.

His interests include developing Indigenous perspectives, content and pedagogies as well as using STEM and other educational technologies to improve learning outcomes. Max is the current chair of the non-profit organisation, Queensland Youth Services and is on the Steering Committee of the CSIRO Indigenous Girls’ STEM Academy.

Krista O'Connor
Project Manager - Emerging Leaders Incentive Scheme

koconnor4@tsv.catholic.edu.au

Born and bred in Mount Isa, Krista is an Aboriginal woman with strong roots in North West Queensland. She comes to us with 13+ years experience working for TCEO, including 7 years teaching English and Maths at Good Shepherd Catholic College, Mount Isa. In this time, Krista has held a variety of roles, contributing to projects such as Next Steps and supporting our Indigenous students academically and pastorally. Currently working as the Project Manager for the Emerging Leaders Incentive Scheme, she works closely with all of our secondary schools in the Diocese. In between raising two young children, Krista is studying towards a Masters in Human Rights and plays rugby union in the local competition.

Kylie Wilson
Administration Officer - Emerging Leaders Incentive Scheme

kwilson11@tsv.catholic.edu.au

Kylie is an Aboriginal woman who was born and raised in Townsville. Kylie has a strong background in Administration and Government Service Delivery completing a Cert III in Business (Office Administration) with the Department of State Development through an Indigenous Traineeship and a Cert IV in Government Service Delivery as an Indigenous Apprentice through the Department of Human Services. Kylie is passionate about Indigenous Education working previously for Shalom Christian College and James Cook University and has completed a Bachelor of Indigenous Studies through JCU. Kylie is very proud of her 4 Children and 4 Grandchildren and loves the Townsville community, which she believes will always be her home.

Vanessa Blackman
Administration Assistant - Indigenous Education

vblackman@tsv.catholic.edu.au

I was born and raised in the west, grew up in Richmond, Queensland. I come from a family of ten and wouldn't wish it any other way. I have three children whom I am very proud of. I have worked with Catholic Education since August 1993. My daughter’s Orientation Day at St College, Charters Towers. I worked at St Mary’s College as a teacher's aide, library aide and then went to St Columbus, the Primary school at the time as Colleen’s secretary and the campus secretary. I also worked as the supervisor in the dorms in the afternoons and study supervisors. I continued to work at Columba Catholic College until 2005 when I moved to Townsville and then started work in the Townsville Catholic Education Office. I have been here for the past 12 years.