An interview with Greater Shepparton Secondary College Executive Principal, Barbara O’Brien
By Natasha Fujimoto
IN a region as culturally diverse, complex and unique as Greater Shepparton, transforming public secondary education was never going to be easy. The Shepparton Education Plan, the largest state government investment in the region’s education history, set out to do just that. Boldly merging four existing campuses into one, new, unified public secondary college- Greater Shepparton Secondary College (GSSC)- the goal was clear: to build a school that reflected the region’s rich cultural diversity, created new opportunities for students, and set a high bar for educational excellence. A place where young people could thrive and become the future drivers of the region’s social and economic growth.
A monumental venture, driven by such a bold educational vision, required more than funding. It demanded clarity, determination, and, above all, strong leadership.
Executive Principal Barbara O’Brien brought all of that and more. With over four decades of progressive experience in education, she was uniquely prepared to guide this transformation, even if it wasn’t a role she had ever expected to take on.
“It is an absolute privilege and honour to be the executive principal at GSSC and it’s not something that I ever thought would be in my career, that I would be in this position. So, I am very grateful that I was selected for the role here – that people trusted me, particularly in the early days with the development of the school and continuing into the next phase, which is where we are moving now,” Barbara said.
Barbara grew up in a local farming family that deeply valued education. She and her siblings were encouraged to make the most of every opportunity to succeed. With the support of a studentship, Barbara completed three years at Teacher’s College, followed by a Bachelor of Education at Deakin University. It was during her time at university that she discovered a genuine passion for making a difference in students’ lives through education.
Driven by a deep, professional curiosity about how students learn and what truly motivates both students and teachers, Barbara began her teaching career at Glengala Park Primary School, Sunshine West. She later taught at Mooroopna, Wilmot Road, Tallygaroopna, and Gowrie Street Primary Schools. Throughout her time in the classroom, Barbara explored a range of teaching approaches to better engage her students and help them achieve their best. She especially valued the daily interactions with her students and the energy of face-to-face learning.
Reflecting on her experience, Barbara said, “I’ve taught every year level from Prep to Grade Six and I loved them all. What I enjoyed most was building strong relationships with the kids. I also loved the camaraderie among colleagues and the support we gave one another. That sense of community was always strong, no matter which school I was in.
“As my career progressed, especially working in low socio-economic and highly disadvantaged schools, I started to really see the difference I could make.
“To me, relationships are everything. The bonds we form with students and staff have the biggest impact. That’s what drives me, knowing that through education, I can change lives.”
After many years in the classroom, Barbara moved into leadership—first as assistant principal, then as principal at Wilmot Road Primary School and later at Grahamvale Primary School. As the inaugural principal of Benalla P-12 College, she successfully led the merger of three primary schools and a local secondary school into a single, unified college. It was through these roles that Barbara not only gained invaluable experience to lead the merger of four secondary schools into Greater Shepparton Secondary College, but also remained steadfastly committed to building strong, trusting relationships to support student engagement and enhance teaching and learning.
She went on to serve as a Regional Network leader and later as a Senior Education Improvement Leader in the Goulburn Valley. These roles gave her the opportunity to make a meaningful impact across the region, an experience she describes as both significant and humbling.
A strong advocate for continuous teacher learning and development, Barbara firmly believes in its vital role in improving student outcomes. Reflecting on her leadership journey, she said:
“I’ve had the privilege of working with some of the most experienced and knowledgeable educators through my roles as Regional Network Leader and Senior Education Improvement Leader, including Richard Elmore. These experiences exposed me to exceptional professionals who taught me what good practice looks like, and what it doesn’t. I learned how to improve practice and, more importantly, how to support others in improving theirs. I look back on those days and reflect on how amazing it was, and how privileged we—the 72 Regional Network Leaders—were to have that level of professional learning provided to us.”
After a year as Acting Executive Principal, Barbara was officially appointed to the role at Greater Shepparton Secondary College (GSSC) in 2021. Her appointment came at a pivotal time as the school prepared to transition thousands of students to its new, state-of-the-art campus on Hawdon Street.
Barbara was selected after an extensive national search, with Terry Bennett, Regional Director for the Department of Education and Training in North-East Victoria, describing her as a standout candidate.
Drawing on her wealth of experience and leadership, Barbara is well-positioned to provide every one of GSSC’s 2,000 students with a tailored education. She leads a dedicated team of over 300 staff who are committed to ongoing professional development and building strong, authentic relationships with students to identify and meet their individual needs.
“Every student wants to succeed. What we want them to see is that they can be successful—whether that’s in school, in their future careers, or in life. We want students to experience success from the moment they step into the college until the day they leave. And we want them to recognise those achievements as their own,” Barbara said.
“I have a great team working with me. Our focus now is on asking ourselves the right questions: Are we truly meeting the needs of our students? Are we serving our community in the best way possible? Where can we improve to help our students achieve more, and define what success means for them?”
Barbara is focused on building a strong school culture that promotes student success, leadership, and voice, as well as continuous professional growth for teachers.
“We’ve moved past the early stages of setting up the school. Now, we’re in a phase where we’re focused on growth and building stronger outcomes for kids. Last year was a great year for our VCE students, they performed extremely well, and we want to continue that trajectory. Each year, we aim to strengthen teaching and learning in Years 11 and 12, while also building up the foundations in Years 7 through 10.”
A walk around the GSSC campus at break time reveals a vibrant school community. The sense of belonging is clear: students fill the oval playing football and soccer, courts buzz with basketball and downball games, and quiet corners are filled with groups of friends enjoying their time together.
Though she misses spending more time in the classroom, Barbara sees the college as a reflection of Greater Shepparton’s rich multicultural community, and as a foundation for its future.
“We have over 50 cultural groups represented at the college, and 60 to 70 per cent of our students will go on to live and work in the region. Our kids are the future of Shepparton, so we’re working hard to build strong partnerships with local businesses, industries, universities, and TAFEs to give our students viable career pathways that allow them to stay and contribute to the local economy. “Yes, we face challenges and setbacks, but we have so many more wins. For us, it’s about showing our students that there is a future here for them, that there are many opportunities across different careers, and that we can help them get there.
“I was given so many opportunities in Shepparton. Now, it’s my turn to give back to this community,” Barbara said.
