School councils play a key role in Victorian government schools. Participating as a school council member at Avondale Primary School is a rewarding experience. Our 2026 council consists of 8 parents and 3 school staff members.

The school council supports the principal to provide the best possible educational outcomes for all of our students.

Current Membership

President - Kathy Smith
Vice President – Lana vanRaay
Treasurer – Ruth Weymouth
Secretary – Jenna Heywood (DE)

Amy Hempel

Phoebe Lynch

Jess McGinnis

Mishelle Baji

Hayley Harrison
Sarah Carroll (DE)

Jill Benham (DE)

School Council News 2026

Hi, I’m Kathy Smith, and I’m pleased to serve as School Council President at Avondale Primary School. I’m a proud mum to Ada in grade 3 and twins Albert and Arthur in grade 2, so our family is very much part of the daily life of the school! Professionally, I’m the Director of Health, Safety and Wellbeing at a public mental health service, where I lead work focused on creating safe, healthy and supportive workplaces. Outside work and family life, I enjoy painting, reading and spending time with my family and friends. I’m passionate about strong public education and creating an inclusive school community where every child feels safe, supported and able to thrive. As School Council President, I’m looking forward to working alongside Jill, Jenna, APS staff, fellow councillors and families to support Avondale’s continued growth and help ensure the voices of our school community are heard. Please feel free to say hello if you see me around the school or at a school event, I’m usually accompanied by at least one child, several bags and a slightly forgotten train of thought!

Hello to all

My name is Hayley and have been a parent at Avondale Primary since 2019. My eldest graduated last year, but I currently I have Zack in Year 6 and Louie in Year 3, so will continue to be a part of the Avondale community for several years yet! I have been a secondary school English teacher for over 20 years but currently work as a literacy consultant, presenter, author and tutor. This flexibility has given me the time to engage as part of the Education Committee for the last 3 years, but this is the first year I have joined the School Council more specifically. I am a passionate public education advocate, and my work focuses just as heavily on the ways to support students struggling with literacy as it does to find opportunities for extension for high performing students. Outside of everything literacy, I teach cycle classes at the gym, and my latest life achievement is being able to solve the Rubrik’s Cube! I highly recommend being as involved in the school as your world allows and am always more than happy to share my experiences or answer any questions you may have at any stage.

My name is Jess, I’m mum to Oliver in Grade 2 and my daughter Charlie will be in Foundation next year. I’m a secondary school teacher who has worked in government schools for the past 20 years - I’m passionate about public education and the opportunities it creates. I currently work part time, which means I still get to spend a couple of days a week at home with Charlie. If you see us at school drop off or pick up on a Tuesday or Friday, feel free to say hi! I’m more than happy to chat about anything you’d like shared with the School Council. We feel very lucky to be a part of such a wonderful community at Avondale Primary School and appreciate the opportunities for learning and growth provided by the school, as well as the many great friendships we’ve formed over the past few years.

Hi everyone. My name is Lana and I am your vice president on the school council. I am a registered nurse, small business owner, a wife and most importantly, a mum to Abby (grade 2) and H (year 8) and recently Bruce (a one year old Rottweiler). In my downtime when I am not juggling multiple hats, I like to watch crime series and have recently found a passion for gardening. For the past two years, I have proudly served on school council as treasurer and vice president. I am passionate about inclusion and always advocating for “the little guy” to ensure they have a seat at the table. I am also a strong supporter of mental health wellbeing and recognise that it is as important as physical health and the need to allow yourself to rest. This year, I took a break from healthcare delivery and used the time to re define myself, to rest and to allow myself to breathe. Despite taking up a locum, I have also volunteered in the canteen most Fridays, which I enjoy as it gives me the chance to connect with students and other parents. I have been able to complete my food handlers' certificate and assisted in training other volunteer parents in the canteen. I look forward to meeting more of you all and wish those of you headed away over the school holidays, safe travels!

My name is Mishelle and I am on the School Council for the next two years. I have two children (Year 2 & 4) who both go to this school. I enjoy contributing to the school community by volunteering at the school canteen, being part of the fundraising committee, and participating in various school activities whenever possible. I value building positive connections with families, staff, and students and believe that strong community involvement helps create a supportive environment for children to thrive. I grew up in Sydney and I am still adjusting to Melbourne weather (it has been 8 years!). I have worked in Sydney, Canberra and Singapore and incorporate these diverse experiences both personally and professionally. I am a Clinical Psychologist and work part-time. Outside of work and family life, I enjoy staying active through the gym, trying new activities, foods and traveling. I love watching movies including the Marvel franchise and one of my favourite places that I have travelled to is Bohol, in The Philippines.