Caloundra Campus

Nigel has enjoyed a wide variety of positions in his teaching career, beginning in remote Aboriginal Communities in the Northern Territory, before further study saw him qualify as an Outdoor Education Instructor, working in that field for a number of years. He has taught in both Primary and Secondary school settings, most recently as the Head of Special Education Services in an Education Queensland Secondary College, and he has a passion for working with students to identify and work towards successful pathways post Year 12.

Nigel loves staying active as a runner, cyclist and surfer, and enjoys camping with family and friends

Josh is an avid traveller who has spent two years in Canada and England respectively. Whilst overseas, he was presented the opportunity to teach which was a fabulous experience.  The collaborative approach and tight community at Kairos are two educational concepts which fit his values perfectly.

Josh loves sport and spends most of his time playing or going to games. With this, he naturally loves the outdoors, and finds having the opportunity to take students outside and around our community for valuable learning experiences really invigorating.

Dana is a qualified social worker with a Dual Diploma in Vocational Education, Training, and Design. With extensive experience across the disability, education and youth work sectors, she began her career as a trainer over a decade ago, driven by a passion for sharing her knowledge with people aspiring to work in support roles. Dana has primarily taught qualifications in mental health, youth work, and child, youth and family intervention. Prior to working at Kairos, she partnered with PeakCare Qld to develop and deliver a 10-day training course for aspiring youth workers across Queensland, offering valuable insights into the residential youth sector.

Since joining Kairos in 2024, Dana has been dedicated to empowering and mentoring young people, tailoring approaches that build confidence and open doors to future opportunities.

Outside of work, Dana loves spending time outdoors, playing soccer, travelling, and being with family and friends.

Amanda began her academic journey with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Criminology (with a focus on Psychology and Sociology) and Sports Studies. She started her professional career in the Australian Federal Police (AFP) investigations arm before moving into a more proactive, community-focused role working alongside minority groups. Through this work, she developed a strong commitment to crime prevention, community work and youth engagement.

After six years with the AFP, Amanda moved into youth work in 2012, while also studying counselling, psychology, hypnotherapy and alternative therapies. She has gained practical experience across diverse settings, including residential care, an independent school for disengaged young men and an all-girls boarding school.

Amanda joined Kairos in 2020, during the Caloundra campus’s first year, and continues her studies in counselling and alternative therapies. She is deeply committed to promoting the wellbeing, safety and positive development of young people and their families.

Originally from Melbourne, Shanaye joined Kairos in 2026, bringing a wealth of experience as a teacher, a leader and a downball champion. She is passionate about supporting young people to embrace opportunities and realise their potential, drawing on her diverse experiences to inspire growth. Shanaye is a strong advocate for “giving it a go”, and her classroom is an inclusive space where curiosity is encouraged, wins are celebrated and learning knows no limits!

Outside the classroom, Shanaye enjoys taking on as many hobbies as possible, including swimming, bouldering, drawing, hiking, gardening and collecting sea glass.

Kirsty began her teaching career in the UK before moving to Australia in 2016. She spent over six years working in a special assistance high school in NSW and is passionate about creating learning environments where every student feels valued and supported.

After relocating to Queensland, Kirsty joined Kairos to continue working in a setting that celebrates diverse learning needs. She teaches Social and Community Studies, Tourism, and Year 10 Art, and is committed to helping students achieve success both academically and personally.

Kirsty enjoys getting to know each student’s unique personality and believes strong, respectful relationships are the foundation of learning. Outside of work, she loves spending time with her dog Luna, reading, and relaxing at the beach.

Owen has been part of the Kairos family since the very beginning. Joining in 2015 as one of our founding staff members, he helped build the Deception Bay campus from the ground up and later helped establish the Caloundra campus.

He teaches Ethics and Arts in Practice to senior students, drawing on a genuine curiosity about ideas, creativity and what it means to live a considered life. His classes create meaningful opportunities for young people to engage critically with the social justice issues that matter to them, and for those perspectives to be taken seriously and heard.

Beyond the classroom, Owen is a Pathways Mentor, supporting students individually as they work out what comes next after Kairos. That might mean exploring career options, developing a resume, preparing for an interview, or helping a young person begin to see themselves as someone with a future worth investing in.

Owen holds a Master of Education in School Guidance and Counselling and is currently studying Equine and Animal Assisted Psychotherapy.

At the heart of Owen’s practice is a fundamental belief that every young person deserves the space to be genuinely heard, and the support to grow into who they are becoming.

Hailing from Canada, Michael came to Australia on a gap year and never left! With a background in youth work, disability support and coaching, he has always enjoyed working with young people, and teaching was the natural next step. He joined Kairos in 2022.

Michael has a huge passion for life and is always up for an adventure. He loves sharing that passion with young people and encouraging them to get out and have a crack at whatever lights their fire. Drawn to the Kairos ethos, he rallies behind the tribe mentality and the belief that even small groups of people can change the world.

When he’s not teaching, you’ll find him in the surf catching tubes, getting amongst nature or enjoying a good sunset. Make sure you ask Mikey about his World Title, too!

Jake holds a Bachelor of Education (Secondary), specialising in Science and English, and began his teaching career at Kairos in 2022. He values the Kairos ethos, brings it into his own teaching practice and is always ready to share his passion for learning.

Jake is a lover of all things pop culture, and you’ll often hear him referencing movies, TV shows, comic books and video games. He loves to laugh and have fun, whatever he’s teaching or doing.

Hayley has undertaken a number of teaching roles with young people of all ages. She began working with the NRL to teach rugby league in schools for two years and taught learn-to-swim survival skills for five years. Since completing a Certificate IV in School Based Education Support which lead her to Kairos for her placement, Hayley and has absolutely loved working full time with the young people at Kairos.  

She has a drive to show young people today that they are all capable of achieving incredible things and believes everyone deserves an educational support system that works with care to consider the diverse requirements of people from all backgrounds.

Before joining Kairos Community College, Tanya spent many years in the hospitality industry, most recently providing employability skills training in a café setting for people with a disability. She is deeply passionate about the Kairos mission and is dedicated to helping young people recognise their full potential and reach their personal goals.

Tanya holds a Diploma of Hospitality Management and is currently completing her Certificate IV in School Based Education Support. Outside of work, she enjoys staying active on the tennis court, relaxing at the beach, and socialising with her friends and family.

Oki earned his Bachelor of Social Work on the Sunshine Coast in 2019. Throughout his studies, he was deeply involved in the local community, collaborating with a range of service providers to support marginalised young people and their families.

His professional background spans roles in both community-based organisations and private practice. Since joining Kairos in 2025, Oki has applied his clinical knowledge to empower young people. He finds great fulfilment in working alongside Kairos’s inspiring team of educators and supporting the growth of the incredible young people in our communi

Honi has worked across the education sector as a teacher aide, as well as administration, finance, event planning, and camp coordination across public, private, and university environments. Her diverse background also includes roles within government, corporate, and non-profit sectors spanning marketing and administration.

Honi is dedicated to supporting Kairos commitment to helping young people achieve their best. She places strong value on maintaining a healthy work-life balance while remaining passionate about empowering the young people in her life to reach their full potential.

Jane brings a background in web programming, having worked for more than twenty years with government and private clients in the education, rehabilitation and compliance industries. Since moving into school administration and joining Kairos in 2025, she has loved helping create a welcoming environment for students and families.

In her spare time (when she’s not playing taxi driver to her three children), Jane enjoys going to the beach, playing soccer and basketball, and writing short stories for competitions.