A lifelong journey of faith and service: Angela Greathead recognised with Spirit of Catholic Education Award 

Congratulations to Brisbane Catholic Education’s 2026 Spirit of Catholic Education Award recipient, Learning Enhancement Teacher at St Joseph’s Primary School, Nundah, Angela Greathead.  

Through her dedication, compassion and unwavering faith, Angela embodies the spirit of Catholic education, making a lasting difference in the lives of students, families and her wider community.  

For Angela, teaching is about more than academic achievement, it is about nurturing confidence, building connection and helping every child discover a love of learning.  

“I work across Years 1 to 6, ensuring students who need additional support are equipped not just with content knowledge, but with the strategies to succeed,” Angela said.  

“It is so rewarding to see our students achieve, thrive at school and really learn to love learning.”  

At St Joseph’s, a small, close-knit school community, Angela says this sense of care and belonging is central to everything they do.  

“It is quite like a family as all teachers know all students and all students know all the teachers,” she said.  

“We are always looking out for those children who may have any need.”  

St Joseph’s Primary School Principal, Renae Collier, said Angela exemplifies the Josephite charism of the school to ‘never see a need without doing something about it’.  

“Angela’s quiet dedication and genuine care for her students, colleagues and families shine through everything she does,” Renae said.  

“As a school community, we support and challenge every child through collaborative teaching and multi-age classrooms that enable targeted learning from intervention to extension.”  

“Angela’s role is key to ensuring our students feel safe, valued and empowered within the school community.”  

Angela’s impact extends well beyond the classroom, having worked as the Sacramental Coordinator for more than ten years at St Joseph’s parish.  

“Through this work, she has played a vital role in strengthening the relationship between the school, the parish and our families.”  

“But more than that, Angela very much lives and enhances the Catholic tradition at the school.”  

Receiving the Spirit of Catholic Education Award was a deeply personal and humbling moment for Angela, who said the recognition reflected a lifetime shaped by faith, family and service.  

“I was incredibly honoured even to be nominated for the award, because for me, my Catholic faith is everything,” she said.  

Angela said the award also honours the influence of her family, particularly her late brother, Damian Gambley, who was the Principal at Our Lady of Fatima, Acacia Ridge.  

“Damian understood that the faith journey with families was so important that school wasn’t just about being at school, it was also about being with those families,” she said.  

“So this Award is incredibly special because it reflects the many experiences and blessings that have guided me throughout my life.”  

“It's about the children I support each day, it’s about all those years of walking with families through the Sacramental journey and it’s about looking back to my own family and how our Catholic faith has sustained us through challenging times.”  

Angela’s commitment to service saw her travelling to Cambodia in late 2025 to volunteer her time and expertise with the local organisation Harvest Cambodia.  

During this experience, Angela supported teachers and recent high school graduates at Stepping Stones School, working collaboratively to develop effective English reading strategies.  

“In 2026, we were able to continue to support the school through donations from the St Joseph’s community, enabling practical assistance and ongoing connection,” Angela said.  

For more information about St Joseph’s Primary School, Nundah click here.

About the Spirit of Catholic Education Award
 
The Spirit of Catholic Education Award celebrates the outstanding contributions of passionate educators within Catholic Education in Queensland. Individuals or teams including staff members, parents/carers, or volunteers are nominated for making an outstanding contribution to the life of their school community. See the winners from across Queensland here.

Image: SOCE Award Winner, Learning Enhancement Teacher Angela Greathead with St Joseph's Primary School students. ©Brisbane Catholic Education, St Joseph’s Primary School, Nundah (2026).