Principal and staff profiles

Welcome from our Principal

Mrs Lissa Hutter, School Principal

As the Principal of Department Primary School, I’d like to welcome you to our friendly school community. Here, we all work together to make sure our school is as supportive of student learning and development as possible.

I’m excited to lead this school because of its reputation for community involvement and its commitment to learning outcomes. I also get to work with a great team who are just as motivated as I am in promoting positive behaviour in the classroom.

I’m passionate about making sure every child has the opportunity to succeed. I make sure we can adapt and evolve our approach to teaching. We embrace technology and allow students to explore emerging fields within their learning.

I encourage discussion and feedback to make sure we’re meeting your child’s needs.

Meet our leadership staff

Meet our leadership staff

Simon Watts

Deputy Principal

I have been working at Hillcrest since 2012. During that time, I was a classroom teacher, specialist teacher, coordinator of STEM, acting principal, and deputy principal. My passion is innovation and implementing digital technologies across all curriculum areas for all ages.

Simon Watts, Deputy Principal

I have been working at Hillcrest since 2012. During that time, I was a classroom teacher, specialist teacher, coordinator of STEM, acting principal, and deputy principal. My passion is innovation and implementing digital technologies across all curriculum areas for all ages.

Debbie Thorley

Assistant Principal

Debbie Thorley, Assistant Principal

Jessica Quinn

Acting Deputy Principal

I have a passion for fostering curiosity and critical thinking, preparing our students for an ever-changing world. I believe in the right of all learners to succeed and value the lessons we can learn from each other, our histories and our diverse backgrounds.

Jessica Quinn, Acting Deputy Principal

I have a passion for fostering curiosity and critical thinking, preparing our students for an ever-changing world. I believe in the right of all learners to succeed and value the lessons we can learn from each other, our histories and our diverse backgrounds.

Teaching staff

Reception teacher

Roisin Giorgio

Reception teacher

Amy Rajan

Year 1 teacher

Irene Brownlie

Year 1 teacher

Magda Tripodi

Year 1 teacher

Rita De Ieso

Year 1 and 2 teacher

Chloe Merchant

Year 2 teacher

Sinead Giorgio

Year 2 teacher

Karen Petruzzelli

Year 2 and 3 teacher

Matthew Nardecchia

Year 3 teacher

Jamie Battista

Year 3 and 4 teacher

Deb Williams

Year 3 and 4 teacher

Andy Read

Year 4 teacher

Kim Broughton

Year 4 and 5 teacher

Kelly Smith

Year 4 and 5 teacher

Tyson Soulsby

Year 5 teacher

Jessica Quinn

Year 5 and 6 teacher

Mike Sweeney

Year 5 and 6 teacher

Justin Quist

Year 6 teacher

Christina Eustice

Specialist teacher LOTE (German) and HASS

Ebony Edwards

Specialist teacher ARTS and HASS

Emily Greenhalgh

Specialist teacher PE and HASS

Michael Marino

EAL/D teacher

Esther Casbarra

Autism inclusion teacher

Kelly Smith

Reading engagement teacher

Sinead Giorgio

Support staff

SSO classroom support and admin

Muniza Qasim, Mary Cooper, Cathy Lainio, Lyn Henderson, Katie Crawford

ESO classroom support

Kinnari Bhavsar

SSO Administration Officer

Vanessa Mack

Business Manager & Enrolment Officer

Callum Gipson

IT support

Chen Wu

Groundskeeper

Dennis Kaszas