Governance
St Virgil’s College Hobart is a Catholic day school for boys in the Edmund Rice Tradition. It caters for boys in Years 3 to 10. The Junior School campus is on a city site adjacent to St Mary’s College and St Mary’s Catholic Cathedral whilst the secondary campus is located 17 kilometres north of the city at Austins Ferry.
Edmund Rice founded the Christian Brothers, a religious order of men, in Waterford Ireland in 1802 to educate boys as a response to a social inequity of the times.
The College celebrates a heritage, which originated in its foundation by the Christian Brothers in 1911 at a central site in Barrack Street Hobart and then to Austins Ferry in 1962.
St Virgil’s College receives its educational mandate from the Catholic Archbishop of Hobart.
From its foundation, the College was governed by the Christian Brothers and now is governed by Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA).
The College operates in accordance with the policies of the Catholic Education Commission of Tasmania and Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA). The College's planning, operations and actions are guided by The Charter which was promulgated by EREA in 2011 and updated in 2017. The Charter uses four touchstones to describe the culture of an authentic Catholic school in the Edmund Rice tradition:
- Liberating Education
- Gospel Spirituality
- Inclusive Community
- Justice and Solidarity
Edmund Rice Education Australia was established by the Christian Brothers in Australia and is an integral part of the Edmund Rice Network, the Catholic Church in Australia and its associated Catholic Education Commissions and Offices in dioceses of the Catholic Church around Australia.
Edmund Rice Education Australia was established in October 2007. It is the outcome of one of two project groups, the National Planning Committee for Schools Governance and Shaping our Future Committee Oceania.
As a result of the work of these two groups, the Christian Brothers decided to amalgamate separate Christian Brothers provinces in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea to form one Oceania Province focused on the social justice mission of the Christian Brothers.
Separately, Edmund Rice Education Australia was established with the intention of independently implementing the educational mission of the Christian Brothers. Both these entities commenced on 1 October 2007.
The intention of the new structure is to invigorate both missions while empowering lay people to become increasingly involved in the future work of the Christian Brothers.
The opportunity for Edmund Rice Education Australia is to reinforce the distinctive values of Edmund Rice Education through a national and unified network of Australian schools and educational entities. More information about EREA is available at www.erea.edu.au
The College motto, By deeds not words, is a touchstone for all in the school community to be people of action in the service of others.
Philosophy
St Virgil’s College Hobart as a Catholic school in the Edmund Rice Tradition, is an integral part of the mission of the church and continues to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ - to evangelise, to reconcile and to renew.
We contribute to the development of young men through education and promote their formation in Christian virtue and conscience.
We demonstrate the Church’s commitment to the dignity of the individual, particularly by being called to relationship in community and committing to make a preferential option of the poor.
We are an integral part of Edmund Rice Education Australia and its endeavours to promote quality Catholic education based on its through leadership, service and co-responsibility.
We believe in the inestimable worth of every human individual, for each is made in the image of God and is a reflection of God’s goodness.
We strive to live in partnerships where each person is empowered and enriched by active participation, cooperation, collaboration and enthusiasm – a community where life may be enjoyed and celebrated with creativity and passion.
Board
The College Board is highly representative of the College community. The Board establishes policy, strategies and direction for the College, in line with The Design for Catholic schools in the Edmund Rice tradition. The Board meets monthly during term time. The Board has a number of sub-committees which provide strategic advice in areas such as Buildings, Finance, Policy, Publicity and Workplace Health and Safety. Members of the College and wider community who feel they can offer something to the College are invited to contact the Principal to discuss the application process for Board or sub-committee membership.
2018 Board
- Mr Andrew Mazengarb – Chair
- Mr Chris Wright – Deputy Chair
- Mr Paul Gadomski - Board Executive
- Dr Tina Acuna
- Mrs Allison Butler
- Mrs Rachel Fisher
- Mr Dan Morgan
- Mr Michael Moschogianis
- Mr Matt Spencer
- Mr Stuart Steele
- Mr Martin Turmine
- Mr Damian Messer – Principal and Ex-Officio Member
- Mr Terry Blizzard – Deputy Principal and Ex-Officio Member
- Mrs Narelle Green – Business Manager and Ex-Officio Member
- Mr Andrew Pinelli – Head of Junior School and Ex-Officio Member
- Mr Mark Waddington – Board Secretary
