Alumni successes

Our alumni are a diverse and extensive group of people working and creating change around the world.  

Graduates of Catholic schools create social change, start businesses, invent new products and technologies, and do so much more in many corners of the world, 

They make significant and distinctive contributions to a range of fields and challenge the way we think.


 


“We know that being a part of our overseas emersion programs and what they accomplish at school is just the beginning of what they will achieve after graduation."

Year 12 Teacher
Assisi College, Coomera

​No matter where they go next, a Catholic education prepares graduates for fulfilling roles in the complex and changing world that lies beyond the school gates.

We believe that delivery of our mission to teach, challenge and transform can be measured by the positive impact on the world from our many thousands of graduates.

 

Joanne Blanchfield

Graduate of Our Lady’s College, Annerley | Class of 1987

After graduating as College Captain, Joanne Blanchfield completed a Bachelor of Science in chemistry and biochemistry at the University of Queensland.  She then went on to complete her Honours and PhD in Organic Chemistry moving to the USA to take up a postdoctoral research position at John Hopkins University in Baltimore.  Since returning to Australia, she has worked at the Australian National University in Canberra and is an Associate Professor and head of Teaching and Learning in the School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences at the University of Queensland.  She heads an active research laboratory which includes the development of safer vaccines. 

 

Dr Paul McMahon

Graduate of St Patrick’s College, Gympie | Class of 1986

Remembered at the college for his exceptional musical prowess, Tenor Paul McMahon is a graduate of Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University (Doctor of Philosophy, Graduate Diploma of Music), Sydney Conservatorium of Music (Master of Music (Performance) and the University of Southern Queensland (Bachelor of Creative Arts). In 2002, he was awarded a Churchill Fellowship for intensive study of Baroque repertoire at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague. Performing regularly as a soloist with symphony orchestras, chamber music groups and choirs throughout Australia, New Zealand and Asia, Paul McMahon is one of Australia’s leading exponents of baroque repertoire. ​

 

Emeritus Professor Maree Smith

Graduate of Our Lady’s College, Annerley | Class of 1975

Following her graduation from Our Lady’s College, Professor Maree Smith studied a Bachelor of Pharmacy Degree at the University of Queensland and then completed postdoctoral training in clinical pharmacology in the Dept of Medicine on the Herston Campus of UQ. She began lecturing in 1989 and was promoted through the academic ranks to Professor in 2004. Maree is the inventor of pain relief medication for chronically ill patients. In 2016, she was the recipient of the prestigious Clunies Ross Science Award and is the Director, CIPDD, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, at The University of Queensland.

 

The Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk MP

Graduate of St Mary’s College, Ipswich | Class of 1986

A proud alumna of St Mary’s College, Annastacia Palaszczuk is the 39th Premier of Queensland, serving since the 2015 election. She was studying for admission as a solicitor when her father announced his intention to retire at the 2006 election. In the wake of this, Annastacia contested and won Labor preselection for his seat of Inala. She has been a Labor member of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland since the 2006 election and has held various ministerial portfolios from 2009. Palaszczuk worked as a policy adviser to a number of Labor ministers, including Minister for Communities, Disabilities and Seniors and Minister for the Environment.

 

Raymart Walker

Graduate of St Patrick’s College, Gympie | Class of 2012

After graduating, Raymart Walker has undertaken a Bachelor of Education and Science, concurrently with a Bachelor of International Studies at the University of the Sunshine Coast. He is a proud recipient of the prestigious Australian Government New Colombo Plan scholarship, providing him with internships with the Australian embassy in Tokyo and the Australian New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Japan, plus study opportunities at Japan’s Hokkaido University. Raymart was selected to attend the United Nations Humanitarian Affairs 9th University Scholars Leadership Symposium in Bangkok, Thailand in 2018 and participated in the Global Student Leader Summit in Columbus, Ohio in 2017. He won an Outstanding Senior Leader award in the Australasian Peer Leader Awards in 2016 and was nominated as a Sunshine Coast Young Citizen of the Year in 2017. Raymart wishes to further his career in international relations, with a focus on education.

 

 

Rachel Ward

Graduate of Unity College, Caloundra West | Class of 2010

A musically talented past student of Unity College, Rachel graduated from courses in classical ballet and musical theatre and trained internationally with the Associated Studios in London. Playing the role of Margarita (Tango feature) in Opera Australia’s EVITA The Musical, her other roles have included, Roxie Hart and Mona in Chicago and Blue Girl in Shout! The Mod Musical, and Bombalurina in CATS the Musical for Royal Caribbean and in the French production at the Théâtre Mogador in Paris.  Rachael understudy the lead role of Lina Lamont in the Australian tour of Singin’ In The Rain and went on to tour the show to Tokyo.  Further musical credits include GFO’s Australian tour of the London Palladium Production Wizard of Oz – The Musical, the Production Company’s Hello, Dolly! and Jesus Christ Superstar.