Key Staff

Suzanne grew up on a farm in North East Victoria. She completed a Bachelor of Nursing at La Trobe University, specialising in paediatrics. Her graduate year was spent at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne. 

Suzanne worked for a number of years in nursing, including work with Aboriginal women and in children’s health in Northern Australia. 

She travelled extensively both within Australia and overseas, before returning home to begin studies in education.  These studies included a Graduate Diploma in Outdoor and Environmental Studies, followed by a Graduate Diploma of Education at La Trobe University in Outdoor and Environmental Studies and Health.

Since then, Suzanne has taught in both traditional and alternative settings and for the past eight years has been working in Year 9 residential learning environments – the last four years with Wesley at Clunes.

Matthew joined the Clunes program in 2010, having previously worked in independent schools in both Brisbane and the United Kingdom. He holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Human Movement), Bachelor of Education and a Masters of Education (Leadership & Management). As Deputy Head of Clunes - Student Welfare, Matthew overseas the pastoral care of students and works with staff from Elsternwick, Glen Waverley and St Kilda Road, to ensure continuity of care.
 
Matthew has a strong curriculum background and was a member of the District Review Panel for Physical Education (Brisbane North). He also served as a member of the School Council of Hillbrook Anglican School.
 
Matthew is passionate about the opportunities that are presented by residential and experiential learning environments. He believes that learning within these contexts helps to develop the students' awareness of both themselves, and in so doing facilitates the transition from child to young adult. Critical to this process is the ability to experience success and failure in a supportive and caring environment, such as the Clunes program.

Steve is responsible for the daily organisation and the implementation of the eight week program. Steve commenced in the position of Deputy Head in January 2011, after temporarily covering the role for a term in 2010. Steve has been a Clunes staff member since 2005, starting with Group 21, and has been involved in nearly all the teaching roles in the program.

Prior to coming to Wesley, Steve held various roles including: Outdoor Education and Camps Coordinator at Sacred Heart College Kyneton, OzQuest Coordinator at the Duke of Edinburgh Award and senior instructor at Outward Bound Australia. He graduated from Wollongong University with a Bachelor of Education in 1995.