Welcome to Freshwater
It is my privilege to extend a warm welcome to prospective families at Freshwater Christian College. At Freshwater, we provide the context and conditions for each child to flourish, both spiritually, academically and socially.
The College’s Mission – LIFE, LOVE, LEARN – defines our core purpose in creating an inspirational and holistic learning environment that celebrates and acknowledges the wonderful gift of life and the uniqueness of every child. Freshwater is more than a school, it is a community. One in which students are known and valued for who they are and encouraged and guided to explore their God-given talents.
I would invite you to consider our College as one which will serve the needs of your child, both now and in the future.
Principal
Matthew Scott
Our Story
For over 40 years, Freshwater Christian
College has been supporting, encouraging, and inspiring children at our Brinsmead campus in the beautiful tropical city of Cairns. The College began as a bold step of faith by Freshwater Church, driven by a vision to offer a biblically grounded education for children in the region. Today, we remain committed to our mission of delivering high-quality education from a Christian worldview—developing students to be active, faith-filled citizens in our community and globally.
Our Story
Freshwater Christian College has been supporting, encouraging and inspiring children at our Brinsmead campus, in the tropical city of Cairns, since 1983. The College was birthed out of the bold and courageous vision and faith of Freshwater Church to provide a biblically-focused education for children in the region. The College has consistently maintained its Mission to provide high-quality education, from a Christian Worldview perspective infused with biblical virtues and godly wisdom.
Mission & Virtues
The College’s Mission – LIFE, LOVE, LEARN – defines our core purpose in creating an inspirational and holistic learning culture that celebrates and acknowledges the wonderful gift of life and the uniqueness of every child. Our Christian learning community is inspired by and dedicated to love, care and compassion.
We seek to educate the whole child, ensuring that every student is nurtured and encouraged to grow in the important character qualities that will serve them for a lifetime of positive engagement with their community. We educate our students to understand the importance of Compassion, Courage, Humility, Honour, Integrity and Wisdom. These six important College Virtues represent the character qualities that we seek to develop in our students.
Our Leadership Team
Our highly qualified and experienced College Executive Team provides inspirational and visionary leadership for the College. This creative, innovative and cohesive team utilise a servant-leadership approach in building a whole-school culture of continuous improvement. The Executive Team meets on a regular basis and has a passion and commitment to ensuring that educational practice, research and policy are aligned effectively to empower the College to provide a blend of relevant and high-quality learning experiences for all Freshwater students.
Mr Matthew Scott, College Principal
Matt is an experienced educational leader with a diverse professional background, encompassing roles in Melbourne, Cairns, and Singapore. His commitment to lifelong learning is evidenced by his ongoing studies, including a Bachelor of Education from Melbourne University, a Master’s of Education from Monash University, a Graduate Diploma of Psychology from Monash University and a Graduate Certificate in Education (IB, PYP).
He actively contributes to the educational community, presenting at conferences such as ACEL National and EduTech Asia, authoring educational eBooks, and mentoring fellow educators. His speaking engagements also include ACCE, CSA Conferences, Digicon, and PESA. He has expertise in diverse curriculum models and has played a key role in developing national curriculum resources for Australian schools.
Furthermore, he has provided consultancy on 21st century pedagogy across the state of Victoria. Matt has completed Mindfulness-Based Strategic Awareness Training (MBSAT) at Singapore Management University and has engaged in international collaborations, working with schools in Southeast Asia to implement wellbeing programs and advise non-profit Organisations focused on enhancing educational outcomes.
He advocates for a socio-constructivist approach to teaching and learning, and he is dedicated to fostering both academic and personal growth in students. He aspires to see all students flourish, through spiritual, academic, and social-emotional learning
Mr Paul Hutchinson, Business Manager
Paul comes to the Freshwater team with deep corporate experience in the government and Christian not-for-profit sectors.
Paul has qualifications in project management, business management and disaster management.
He has practical experience in financial management, policy, and procedure development, and is passionate about improving systems and processes to support the College’s business activities.
Mr Richard Schwarz, Deputy Principal / Head of Secondary
Richard is a dedicated educator with over 20 years of experience in the Christian Schools sector. As Deputy Principal and Head of Secondary, Richard’s vision is to develop young leaders of character who will
influence their community for God and for good.
He is passionate about creating a relevant, relational, and innovative learning environment through curriculum leadership and staff, and student development.
A seasoned teacher across diverse subjects, Richard regularly speaks at conferences and professional development events on contemporary education issues, including the impact of generative AI in the classroom.
Dr Jane Greenlees, Head of Primary
Jane is an educator with over 20 years of experience in the independent and public school sectors. She has held key leadership roles, including University lecturing, and is passionate about developing best teacher practice.
She believes in recognising the importance of the student in guiding curriculum development and inquiry-based learning.
With a PhD in Mathematics, Jane continues to use current research to inform pedagogy and programs in the classroom.
She enjoys providing engaging learning experiences that celebrate the diversity of learners and the creation of beautiful learning environments for them to flourish in.
Mr Caleb DeVries Deputy Head of Secondary (Wellbeing)
As Deputy Head of Secondary – Wellbeing at FCC, Caleb has the privilege of working with an amazing team to ensure students feel supported, valued, and ready to thrive—both academically and personally. Having been a student at FCC himself, it’s incredibly special for him to now be part of the leadership team, giving back to
the community that shaped him. His goal is to help create a school environment where every student feels safe, empowered, and excited to learn.
He has been in education for 19 years, spending 7 years with Education Queensland and 12 years in Christian Education. Most of his career has been in HPE and as Head of Sport, where he developed a strong passion for physical activity, teamwork, and helping students grow through sport.
Moving into the Wellbeing space has been a fantastic transition, allowing him to make a broader impact by supporting both students and staff in building a positive,
connected school culture.
He loves helping students develop the skills, values, and confidence to become strong, positive leaders in their community.
He hopes to see students find their purpose and their faith in God. He wants to see them leave school as well-rounded individuals, ready to make a real difference in the world.
Mr Aaron Hammill, Deputy Head of Primary (Wellbeing)
Aaron joined the Freshwater team in 2021. He and his family relocated from Victoria, where he spent 20 years developing his skills in various classroom teaching roles, as well as serving as a specialist physical education and music/instrumental teacher.
Aaron was the Head of Sport at his previous school and worked for School Sport Victoria as a district coordinator. He also led the development and implementation of a school-wide positive behaviour support framework, as well as professional learning communities. He believes ‘connecting with students is the key to connecting students to learning’.
Mrs Sarah Thomas, Kindergarten and OSHC Assistant Director
With 25 years of experience spanning New Zealand, the UK, South Africa, and Australia, Sarah brings a wealth of educational expertise to our team. Specialising in both Primary and Early Childhood education, she has spent the last eight years in management, passionately supporting staff growth and development. Having moved from Sydney to Cairns, Sarah and her family have become active members of the FCC community.
Mrs Julieanne Lomas, Director of People Operations
Julieanne is the Director of People Operations and the Executive Assistant to the Principal at Freshwater Christian College.
With over 16 years of experience at Freshwater, she leads the administration and café teams across the college. Her motto is, ‘together we are stronger’.
With qualifications in leadership, business administration, and human resources, she believes in lifelong learning and is passionate about helping people grow, develop and flourish to their full potential.
Mrs Helen Schwarz, Director of Curriculum
Helen is a dedicated educator with a profound enthusiasm for curriculum development and Christian education. With a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Education degree, she has honed her skills in teaching senior English and junior humanities.
Helen firmly believes in nurturing inquiry-based learning, encouraging students to explore and develop their curiosity. With 25 years in Christian education, Helen has held various leadership roles, including leading English and humanities departments and serving as Director of Curriculum.
Her unwavering commitment is to delivering high-quality Christian education that equips students for their future.
Freshwater Church
Freshwater Church has been a cornerstone of the Cairns community for over 100 years. Established in 1924, the church has faithfully ministered to the people of Cairns and beyond, growing into a vibrant and welcoming congregation. As a member of the Australian Christian Churches network, Freshwater Church is dedicated to equipping individuals to fulfill the ministry of Jesus Christ, fostering a community where everyone feels at home.
Senior Pastors Stewart & Jane Moncrieff
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Connect With Us
(07) 4243 3600
info@fcc.qld.edu.au
369-401 Brinsmead Road,
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