Steven has over 25 years’ experience in the banking industry working with both domestic and international financial institutions. He has a broad experience in corporate and institutional banking in relationship management, lending and risk management. Steven is currently focusing on the area of Conduct Risk with a major Australian bank. He married with two children and has attended Menai Baptist Church since 2001.
Principal's Welcome
Welcome to the Inaburra community.
Since its beginning in the early 1980s, Inaburra School has built a strong reputation as a school of first choice in the Sutherland Shire and the surrounding areas. Inaburra continues to be a community in which every individual is known and loved – a place where every student is valued as a person made in the image of God. It is, first and foremost, a learning community in which staff and students learn with, and from, one another in a Christian environment. While we seek to encourage all students to grow in their understanding, we recognise that students will need more than just knowledge and understanding to flourish today and into the future. They will need to become competent and confident learners, ready to learn, perhaps even unlearn and relearn, how best to engage in different activities throughout their lives.
Education at Inaburra, however, is not about ensuring that our graduates, as a result of developing their capacity to learn, are empowered to accumulate more resources over the course of their lifetimes. Our desire for our students rather is that they might become people of generosity rather than accumulation, humility over arrogance and compassion opposed to self-importance. We seek to encourage our students to be generous in the classroom, humble enough to admit when they don’t understand something and compassionately supporting their classmates who are struggling with a particular concept or idea. As a Christian school, our focus is on the development of character. Staff and students alike are encouraged to become people who are gracious, compassionate and self-controlled learners, ready, willing and able to be a blessing to those around them now and into the future.
You are very welcome to come and experience for yourself the life and ethos of Inaburra School.
Dr James Pietsch became Principal of Inaburra School at the start of 2018. Prior to commencing at Inaburra, Dr Pietsch was the Dean of Professional Development and Learning at St Luke’s Grammar School in Dee Why where he had previously been Head of Mathematics. He has also held positions as the Dean of Residents at New College at the University of NSW, and as a lecturer and tutor in educational psychology at the University of Sydney. He holds a doctorate in educational psychology and brings a wealth of experience in education and leadership to his role as Principal.
Our Mission
Inaburra exists to be a Christ-centred learning community pursuing excellence in education where every individual is known and loved.
- FAITH: We commend belief in God who makes himself known to us in and through his Son, Jesus.
- KNOWLEDGE: We pursue wisdom, delighting in the gift of learning for the common good.
- LOVE: We show humility, integrity, kindness and generosity for the good of others.
Our Story
In the late 1970s, after surveying their local community, Sutherland Baptist Church saw a need to establish a Christian school in the local area. On 10 August 1980, the church accepted the recommendation of an education sub-committee that a high school should be established in the Menai district. Thus, in pursuit of a dream, they sold their church property in Sutherland and crossed the Woronora River to establish Inaburra School and a new church now known as Menai Baptist Church.
Facing significant financial risk and overcoming many obstacles, a portable building was erected on the corner of Billa Road and Bangaroo Street for the use of the preschool and church in 1980.
Inaburra High School opened in 1982 in temporary accommodation at Gymea Baptist Church. The School comprised of 60 Year 7 students and 24 Year 8 students. Stage One of the Inaburra Complex was still being built and it wasn’t until Term 2 of that year that the School moved to the present site. On Monday, 24 May 1982 at 8:30am the staff and students of Inaburra High School began their first day in their newly built facility on the Billa Road site.
Over three decades later, the dream of the founders has now been realised and continues to be realised with over 1000 students.
Our Future
2022-2025 Strategic Directions
Since it was founded in 1982, Inaburra has built a strong reputation as a school of first choice in the Sutherland Shire and surrounding suburbs. Historically, the school’s strengths have been in Christian education, pastorally-caring relationships, creative and performing arts, and future-oriented innovation. In recent years these strengths have been broadened to include the quality of our facilities, the professionalism of our operations, the use of ICT for student learning and the holistic nature of our education. Inaburra is increasingly becoming an exemplar school in the independent sector in NSW.
Our Goals
As we look ahead to the next three years, Inaburra will be focusing on building three aspects of our school community. We will seek to be:
- A kingdom-of-God shaped community – in which students, parents and staff are encouraged to put on the virtues of grace, humility, kindness and compassion.
- An academic community – in which students engage regularly in rigorous and challenging learning activities designed to build learning character and understanding.
- A flourishing community – in which students and staff are supported so they might flourish as lifelong learners.
How we go about achieving these goals is outlined in the Strategic Directions 2022-2025 publication.
Governance
Inaburra School is operated by Inaburra School Limited ABN 51617812558 (ISL). ISL is a company limited by guarantee and is the legal entity responsible for the conduct and operations of the School. Inaburra Communications Limited ABN 78001998876 (ICL) is the sole member of Inaburra School Limited.
All affiliated activities including: Inaburra School Canteen; Inaburra School Uniform Shop; and Inaburra School Foundation are operated under ISL.
The Principal and all staff are employed by ISL. The Principal attends ISL Board meetings by invitation. The School’s Administrator acts as Company Secretary.
ISL may form committees, either standing or occasional, with particular briefs for oversight of aspects of the School’s operation. These committees may be chaired by a Director of the company and will include the Principal. These committees may include other Directors, staff or members of the community as deemed appropriate and necessary. These committees are advisory bodies that report to ISL.
The Principal is appointed by ISL. The Principal has general authority to conduct the operations of the School on a day-to-day basis. The Principal is effectively the Chief Executive Officer of the School. One of the Principal’s primary functions is to ensure that the NSW Education Standards Authorities (NESA) requirements are met for School registration/accreditation.
ISL Board of Directors
Steven Russell (Chair)
BCom, GDipAppFin
Jeremy Baillie
BBus
Jeremy has worked extensively in the aviation industry for the past 24 years. He has worked in a diverse range of areas including Engineering, Commercial Management and in Operations. Jeremy is currently the Manager of the Integrated Operations Centre for Qantas Airways. Jeremy is also the Chairman of the Leadership Council at Menai Baptist Church where he has attended with his wife and three children since 1996.
David Crawford
MAppLaw, DipLaw
After working in Government, David worked as a solicitor for the NSW Director of Public Prosecutions before practising in private practice in Bathurst subsequently moving to the Sutherland Shire in 1995. He is the Principal of Crawford Ryan Lawyers based at Miranda. He is a Law Society Accredited Specialist in his area of law. He is also a nationally accredited Mediator and Arbitrator. David is married, a former parent of Inaburra School students and has attended Menai Baptist Church since 1996.
Liz Mansour
BA, BCom, DipBibMissions
Liz is currently the Chief of Staff at Anglican Deaconess Ministries, a women’s Christian not-for-profit organisation. Prior to this, she served for over ten years as a senior staff member supporting students at the Sydney University Evangelical Union. Liz has also worked as a Regulatory Analyst with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and the Australian Energy Regulator. An Inaburra graduate, Liz attends Narwee Baptist Church and is married with three children.
David Sadler
MA, BSc, DipEd
David taught High School Mathematics for 36 years at Sydney Grammar School. He was Head of Department for seven years. He has had teaching roles at UNSW and is the author of several senior Mathematics textbooks. David currently works part-time as a consultant and lecturer at three coaching colleges.
Alison Wolf
BCom, CA
Alison has 15 year’s experience working as a chartered accountant for BDO. She spent nine years in audit working with clients in both the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors. Alison now works for BDO International’s Financial Reporting Advisory group. Alison is a former student of Inaburra School, attends Menai Baptist Church and is married with two children.
Emma Jonceski
MA, GradDipDiv, BSc
Emma has over 15 years experience in the superannuation sector, including 8 years focussed on investment strategy and operations and now specialises in enterprise wide strategy at Aware Super. Emma also has experience in corporate governance having served on a number of not for profit boards and advisory committees. Emma is married with two children, an Inaburra parent and attends All Saints Oatley West Anglican Church.
Academic Results
Congratulations to the Inaburra School HSC Class of 2024
Wednesday 18 December 2024
Today, we celebrate the Inaburra Class of 2024 as they complete their formal schooling and receive their HSC and ATAR results. While we take pride in their academic achievements, we recognise that it is not a measure of the value of our students. We commend each graduate for their personal growth and character development throughout their time at Inaburra and pray that these qualities will equip them for success in their future endeavours. Your teachers, parents, and the entire school community are proud of your efforts and dedication.
We acknowledge the achievements of all our students and highlight the following:
Outstanding ATAR Results
- 12 students received >95 ATAR
- 31 students received >90 ATAR
- 56 students received >80 ATAR
- Highest ATAR 99.05
High Achiever Results
- 2 students topped the State with ‘First in Course’ for Community and Family Studies and Food Technology.
- 1 student was recognised on the ‘All Round Achievers’ list with results in the highest possible band across 10 units of study.
- 4 students were recognised as ‘Top Achievers’ which identifies the top performing students in each course.
- 62 students were recognised as ‘Distinguished Achievers’ (students who achieved the highest band possible for one or more HSC courses).
Other Outstanding Results
- 123 Band 6 results (mark of 90 or more, or the equivalent for an Extension unit).
- 53% of results were in the top two bands (Band 5 and Band 6).
- 27 courses achieved above state average.
- 10 courses where all students achieved Band 5 or Band 6.
- 29 Year 11 students completed accelerated subjects in Studies of Religion 1, Mathematics Advanced and Mathematics Extension 1.
All Year 12 students at Inaburra completed HSC examinations including 6 students who achieved their Certificate III in Sport Coaching through Inaburra-delivered VET courses.
HSC Showcase Nominations
Dance
Nominated for possible inclusion in Callback.
- Kate Leong – Core Performance, Core Composition, Major Study Performance.
Drama
Nominated for possible inclusion in OnSTAGE.
- Jessica Bulmer – Individual Performance
- Tara Dunn – Individual Performance
- Hannah Luscombe – Individual Performance
- Sara Petrovski – Individual Performance
- Jayden Bates, Samual Jones, Sara Petrovski & Cameron Sprod – Group Performance
- Jessica Bulmer, Tara Dunn & Hannah Luscombe – Group Performance
Industrial Technology – Timber and Furniture
Nominated for possible inclusion in SHAPE.
- Conor Kremmer
- Nicholas Ricci
Industrial Technology – Multimedia
Nominated for possible inclusion in SHAPE.
- Alexis Kyte – Multimedia
- Christopher Myers – Multimedia
- Tarquin Spieker – Multimedia
Textiles and Design
Nominated for possible inclusion in SHAPE.
- Ella Francesconi
- Annabel Langley
- Alexis Paltoo
- Amy Clark
Music
Nominated for possible inclusion in ENCORE.
- Garrick Hinton
- Sara Petrovski
- Kai Taylor
Visual Arts
Nominated for possible inclusion in ARTEXPRESS.
- Sienna Burrell
- Alicia Carroll
- Malia Haining-Kelly
- Hannah Luscombe
Selected for inclusion in ARTEXPRESS
- Hannah Luscombe – Art Express at the Art Gallery of NSW and following this, the regional tour in Mudgee
- Sienna Burrell – Art Express at Hazelhurst Art Centre and following this, the regional tour in Mudgee
NAPLAN results
The My School website profiles Inaburra School and includes details of its NAPLAN results. Click here for a direct link to the website.
