At the centre of Junior School life, Emma Newling is dedicated to creating an environment where every student feels supported, inspired and empowered to thrive.
Emma Newling enjoys that no two days are the same in the Junior School. It is part of what appeals to her about her new role as Deputy Head of Junior School. Emma began the role at the beginning of Term 1, taking over from Selwyn Wu who has moved into the newly created role of Deputy of School – Co‑curricular for Kindergarten to Year 12.
Emma describes Selwyn’s shoes as difficult to fill but she brings her own unique life experience and skills to the role. Emma is an ordained Deacon in the Anglican Church and for the past 10 years has served Junior School and Gawura School Chaplain. She is also a former St Andrew’s classroom teacher and has been involved in the production of four Junior School musicals.
As Deputy Head of Junior School, Emma has two broad areas of responsibility: managing Pastoral Care and Educational Administration. While these may seem distinct, they have a strong interrelationship and impact student wellbeing.
Emma will work closely with the Head of Character and Wellbeing, Mrs Bronwyn Wake, and the Head of Specialised Learning, Mrs Cathy Dangar and the classroom teachers to support each child’s academic, social and emotional development.
Educational Administration, the second part of Emma’s role, is important and necessary work, which helps to ensure the Junior School’s operations run smoothly.
“The Junior School is an exciting place with many wonderful things taking place often at the same time. Part of my role is to make sure things run smoothly for the whole School.”
“It’s about taking care of the finer details (managing the timetable and the School Calendar) for the benefit of everyone. The Junior School is an exciting place with many wonderful things taking place often at the same time. Part of my role is to make sure things run smoothly for the whole School,” said Emma.
Emma will continue working with a dedicated group of staff who explore what it means for St Andrew’s to be an authentically Christian school.
What do you enjoy about working at St Andrew’s Cathedral School?
The people – the students, the teaching faculty and professional and operational services team and the parents – everyone. I enjoy the warmth of my colleagues and students, working towards shared goals and the joy of being part of a team. Work can be positively challenging and enjoyable when your values align. This is something I am thankful for every day.
What were your previous roles before starting here?
After having children, I retrained as a teacher and joined St Andrew’s as a teacher in the Junior School. For the past 10 years, I have served as the Junior School and Gawura Chaplain.
What are some highlights from your time at the School so far?
As Junior School and Gawura School Chaplain, our Easter and Christmas Community Chapels are always a highlight.
I have also loved being involved in the production of four musicals in four years: Mary Poppins: The Broadway Musical (2026), Alice in Wonderland Jr. (2025), My Son Pinocchio Jr. (2023) and Madagascar Jr. (2022). The musicals are wonderful opportunities to see students grow and develop as the production takes shape.
A student’s ‘aha’ moment is always special.
But it’s perhaps the quiet and gentle moments shared with students and the St Andrew’s community which have had an enduring impact on me; moments when a burden shared is genuinely a burden halved; conversations in the Chaplaincy staff room that push me to think deeper, to question more clearly, or to change my attitude; and, conversations with generous colleagues who are committed to serving others.
What do you hope to achieve in this new role?
My goal is to conduct this role with care and consistency, building on the solid foundations already in place. I want to support and equip staff, while leading initiatives that contribute positively to student wellbeing and growth.
Students learn best in an environment that is calm, safe, predictable and challenging. A key focus of my role is to ensure we have the policies and approaches in place to support this type of environment.
What does life outside the School look like for you?
My husband and I have three sons, all of whom have attended or are currently attending St Andrew’s.
One of the best things about being a mum is discovering the world through completely different sets of eyes. I never expected to talk about voice leading, economic policies, comedic drama, Formula One, apologetics, geo-politics, psychology, memes and so much more.
I also enjoy conversations over coffee, my faith, a brisk walk, a good laugh and finishing a project.
