Heads of Year
Kris joined St Augustine’s College in 2019 with extensive experience in leadership roles in the health and physical education departments and as a lecturer and tutor at James Cook University. Kris holds a double degree in sports science and education from JCU.
As Head of Year 12, Kris enjoys seeing his young charges evolve and mature towards independence. He is passionate about fostering positive relationships with students by showing a genuine interest in each and by caring about their holistic wellbeing. The Year 12 team emphasises that every boy has his strengths, interests and unique characteristics, and it is their job to nurture and encourage him to pursue these.
Outside of work, Kris has a passion for rugby league and is involved in various coaching roles in the community. He enjoys social sports such as touch football and CrossFit, as well as fishing on the reef.
Following five years of study and work in the aquaculture and environmental science industry, Anton completed his Master of Teaching and Learning at the University of Waikato, New Zealand in 2016. He spent three years teaching at Rotorua Boys High School before moving to Cairns. He joined St Augustine's College in 2021 as a science teacher.
Anton aims to help students form healthy and respectful relationships that enable them to work as a prosperous team. Success looks different for every young man, and assisting them to define their own successes and win their own battles is a key part of development here at Saints. His big focus for boys in Year 11 is to offer a balanced but challenging schedule that encourages them to achieve to their highest potential.
In his free time, Anton enjoys camping, spearfishing and road trips off the beaten track. He also coaches rugby union for the school and underwater hockey at a state and national level. His proudest achievement was coaching the Australian under-19 women to their World Championship title in Malaysia in 2024.
Neil brings a wealth of knowledge to his role having spent almost his entire career teaching design and technology. Most recently at Saints he has been teaching the Certificate I in Construction and vocational education in the senior school. Neil has a passion for imparting life skills that his students take with them as they transition from college to the workforce.
He has a sporting background and has proudly been associated with junior and senior rugby league, regularly attending the Confraternity Shield Competition. Neil runs the bi-annual New Zealand ski and snowboarding trip and is a keen cyclist competing in road, mountain and track cycling.
Aaron graduated from Newcastle University and began his teaching career in the Maitland area of NSW. His love of travel and adventure led him to apply for a working visa in the UK and he took up a post in London teaching physical education and then moved to make Cairns his new home.
He is passionate about student wellbeing and the benefits of a healthy and active lifestyle for young people’s education. This passion has underpinned his work in many roles within middle leadership in the Cairns Diocese, and since 2015 has been Head of Year 9 at St Augustine’s. Aaron teaches religion, humanities and physical education and coaches AFL and soccer.
Outside school, Aaron has a young, active family and enjoys supporting his three children in their physical pursuits, which include AFL, cricket, athletics and dancing.
As a Saints Old Boy, who graduated in 1998, Jesse has a deep appreciation for the strong sense of brotherhood and learning that defines our school community. For six years he has served as head of science and is excited to step into this new role as Head of Year 8 to experience another important aspect of college life.
Jesse is passionate about helping students reach their full potential and believes this is best achieved when they feel well-connected and supported within the school community. He is sure that the formative years of high school are crucial in developing strong habits, values and a sense of identity. When students build a solid foundation in these years, they are well-equipped to navigate the challenges of their senior years with confidence, leading to academic success.
He looks forward to maintaining his contribution to a thriving culture of learning and brotherhood at St Augustine’s and supporting our Year 8 students as they grow into capable, independent young men.
Nicola joined St Augustine’s in 2015 and was captivated by its traditions, strong sense of community and family spirit. With a passion for maths and a love of work she challenges her students to work hard and aim high, encouraging them to become the best that they can be.
As Head of Year 7, Nicola supports the wellbeing and success of each and every one of her students. She fosters an environment that appreciates diversity, effort and achievement through positive and supportive relationships. Nicola values supporting her students in their journey to becoming Marist men of Saints with strong minds and gentle hearts.
St Augustine's College Cairns
251 Draper Street
Cairns QLD 4870
We acknowledge the First Nations peoples of Australia, the traditional custodians of the land, seas, skies and waterways on which we reside, work, travel and meet. We pay our respect to First Nations elders past, present, and emerging, and support the Uluru Statement From The Heart. We acknowledge that the land, seas, skies and waterways of Australia were, are and always will be, that of the First Nations peoples.