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 nine years ago, driven by a passion for sharing her knowledge with those aspiring to work in support roles. Dana has primarily taught qualifications in mental health, youth work, and child, youth, and family intervention. Last year, she partnered with PeakCare Qld to develop and deliver a 10-day training course for aspiring youth workers throughout Queensland, offering valuable insights into the Residential Youth sector. Dana is dedicated to empowering and mentoring young people, tailoring educational approaches that foster 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 commenced her academic journey with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Criminology (with a focus on Psychology and Sociology) and Sports Studies.  She began her professional career within the Australian Federal Police (AFP) investigations arm before transitioning into a more proactive, community-focused role working alongside minority groups.  Through this experience, she developed a strong commitment toward crime prevention, community work, and youth engagement. 

After six years working with the AFP, Amanda embarked on a new professional pathway into youth work in 2012, while also pursuing further studies in counselling, psychology, hypnotherapy, and alternative therapies.  During this period, she expanded her practical experience across diverse settings, including residential care, an independent school for disengaged males, and an all-girls boarding school environment.

Amanda is currently continuing her studies in counselling and alternative therapies.  She remains deeply committed to promoting the wellbeing, safety, and positive development of young people and their families at various levels. 

Shanaye has relocated from Melbourne to the Sunshine Coast, bringing with her a wealth of experience as a teacher, leader, and down ball 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 environment 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, one of the founding staff members who helped build the Deception Bay campus from the ground up, and later helped establish the Caloundra campus too.

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 social justice issues that matter to them, and for those perspectives to be taken seriously and heard.

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

He recently completed a Master of Education in School Guidance and Counselling, and is now beginning his studies in 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 seven years ago and hasn’t left! With a history of youth work, disability support and coaching, Michael has always enjoyed working with young people in some capacity and teaching became the natural next step in his life.

Michael has a huge passion for life and is always up for an adventure and following his stoke, he loves to share this passion with young people and support them to get out and have a crack at whatever lights their fire. When he’s not teaching, you’ll find him out in the surf catching tubes or getting amongst nature, loves a good sunset. The Kairos’ ethos has drawn Michael to Kairos, and he rallies behind the tribal mentality and belief that even small groups of people have the capacity to change the world. Make sure you ask Mikey about his World Title, too!

Jake completed his Bachelor of Education (Secondary) in 2022, specialising in Science and English. Jake values the Kairos ethos and aligns them with his own teaching practices. He is delighted to have begun his teaching career here at Kairos and is always ready to show his passion for teaching.

Jake is a lover of all things pop-culture, and you will frequently hear him making references to movies, TV shows, comic books and video games. Additionally, he loves to laugh and have fun no matter what he is 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 academic career, he was deeply involved in the local community, collaborating with various service providers to support marginalised youth and their families.

His professional background spans diverse roles across both community-based organisations and private practice. Now entering his second year at Kairos, Oki remains dedicated to applying his clinical knowledge to empower young people. He finds great fulfillment in working alongside Kairos’ inspiring cohort of educators and is eager to continue supporting the growth of the incredible young people within the community.

Jane joins us with a background in web programming, working for over twenty years for government and private clients in the education, rehabilitation, and compliance industries. She switched to school administration eighteen months ago and loves being able to contribute to creating a welcoming environment for students and families. She is very excited to have the opportunity to contribute to the Kairos Community College team.

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.