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Our Team
Tammi Webber
Systems Learning and Teaching Adviser- First Nations Education
Tammi is an Aboriginal woman born and raised on Kalkadoon country in Mount Isa. She completed her Bachelor of Education - Early Childhood and began her teaching career over 20 years ago within the Townsville diocese and internationally. Studying her Masters in Indigenous Education, Tammi's new Systems role in 2023 is in partnership with school and system leadership in the integration and alignment of systemic and school community perspectives and priorities. Tammi is the Emerging Leaders Incentive Scheme designer, developer and Project Coordinator, who also coordinates and implements both Stronger Smarter and Pedagogy of Difference research across our diocese. A dedicated mother of three, Tammi is a passionate and dynamic advocate for Indigenous students and communities across our region.
Krista O'Connor
First Nations Education Adviser
Born and bred in Mount Isa, Krista is an Aboriginal woman with strong roots in North West Queensland. She comes to us with 14+ 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. Krista was the Project Manager for the Emerging Leaders Incentive Scheme and has worked 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.
Kim McCosker
First Nations Education Advisor
kmccosker1@tsv.catholic.edu.au
Kim is a proud Gamilaraay woman who has been working within the education sector for more than 20 years. During this time, she has taught students ranging in age from Kindergarten to Year 12. Kim has worked within Indigenous education for many years and is passionate about closing the gap in educational outcomes between Indigenous students and their non-Indigenous peers. She has worked for many years in Catholic schools within the Toowoomba diocese and also spent some time as an Education Officer for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education for the Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office. Kim moved to Townsville in 2021 and has spent the past 18 months working as an Indigenous Education Teacher at St Margaret Mary's College, Hyde Park. Kim joined the Indigenous Education team at the Townsville Catholic Education Office in January 2023.
Pelly Morganson
First Nations Education Advisor
pmorganson2@tsv.catholic.edu.au
Pelly is a proud descendant of the Meuram tribe of Erub in the eastern Torres Strait Islands who has worked in the education field for almost 30 years. Her service to Townsville Catholic Education includes nine years with St Teresa's College, Abergowrie working primarily in Indigenous Education and community engagement before graduating from Australian Catholic University with her Bachelor of Education (Primary). Upon graduation, Pelly was employed as a teacher at Good Shepherd Catholic College in Mount Isa from 2015 and progressed into pastoral roles in both middle and senior leadership before her appointment as Indigenous Education Adviser. Currently studying towards her Masters of Educational Leadership, Pelly is driven and committed to improving the learning outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students within the Diocese and increasing positive engagement of our Indigenous families and community members within our schools.
Carly Leon-Simmons
Administration Assistant - First Nations Education
cleonsimmons@tsv.catholic.edu.au
Carly is a proud Kalkadoon / Waanyi Woman and mother to 3. Born and raised in Townsville. Carly has a strong administration background working in a number of different industries prior to joining Townsville Catholic Education in 2020.
Lauren Newman
Project Officer - Emerging Leaders Incentive Scheme
Lauren was born and raised in Bundaberg and completed university in Rockhampton before moving to Townsville in 2008. Throughout her teaching career she has taught many subjects including English, HPE, Legal Studies and Humanities, and has held various roles in schools in their Indigenous Education and Inclusive Education departments. Lauren has experience working in both day and boarding schools in Townsville, as well as spending 4 years teaching in north-east Arnhem Land in the Nothern Territory. As well as teaching, Lauren has run two successful retail businesses. A busy mother of one, Lauren is currently studying Inclusive Education at university, and is very passionate about helping all students experience schooling success, regardless of the barriers that they may face. She has joined Townsville Catholic Education as the Project Officer to the Emerging Leaders Incentive Scheme.
Wahkana Taylor
Administration Assistant - Emerging Leaders Incentive Scheme
wtaylor2@tsv.catholic.edu.au
Wahkana Taylor born in Ayr and raised in Home Hill and Townsville, is of Irish, Torres Strait Islander, Aboriginal and South Sea Islander descent. Her family lineages connect her to the Dauer tribe from Mer (Murray Island) in the Torres Strait, Wakka Wakka country North of Brisbane and to Ambrym and Pentecost Islands in Vanuatu. Wahkana has a strong administrative background as she has worked in several government and non-government agencies before commencing at Townsville Catholic Education in early 2022.
