Strong Culture. Strong Futures.

Are you a values-led educational leader who can bring together sound judgement, cultural humility, community connection and organisational leadership?

Hymba Yumba Independent School is seeking a Principal to lead the school through its next stage of growth and sustainability.

This is an opportunity for a leader who can provide stability without stagnation, confidence without ego, and strong leadership without needing to personally hold every area of expertise.

About HYIS

Hymba Yumba Independent School (HYIS) is an independent, coeducational Prep to Year 12 school located in Springfield, Queensland, on the traditional lands of the Jagera, Yuggera and Ugarapul peoples.

HYIS is grounded in First Nations ways of knowing, being and doing. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledges, identities and perspectives are embedded throughout the life of the school and shape how HYIS approaches learning, relationships, community, wellbeing and the development of every child (jarjum).

First and foremost, HYIS is a school committed to high-quality education. Its distinctive strength is the way educational excellence is brought together with culture, identity, belonging, strong relationships and high expectations.

While the majority of HYIS enrolments are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander jarjums, the school welcomes students and families from all backgrounds who value and choose to be part of this distinctive educational environment. HYIS’s First Nations grounding is not a boundary around who can belong; it is the foundation that shapes how the school teaches, leads, builds relationships and creates community.

The Opportunity

HYIS is entering an important next stage of growth and sustainability.

Building on a strong cultural foundation and an established educational approach, the school is focused on strengthening educational outcomes, deepening cultural practice, growing family and community confidence, building workforce and organisational capability, strengthening enrolment and reputation, and ensuring the financial, operational and governance foundations required for long-term sustainability.

Growth at HYIS is broader than increasing enrolment. It is about strengthening the experience of jarjums and families, building trust and confidence in the school, creating opportunities through partnerships, developing its people and ensuring that growth is thoughtful, sustainable and connected to purpose.

As the senior educational and executive leader, the Principal will be responsible for bringing these priorities together and translating the Board’s strategic direction into clear organisational action.

This is a role for a leader who can understand HYIS deeply, recognise what should be preserved and strengthened, identify where change is required, and lead that change at the right pace.

Location: Springfield, Queensland
Appointment: 3-year contract (with the possibility of an extension)
Hours: Minimum 38 hours per week
Commencement: January 2027
Remuneration: Competitive executive remuneration plus superannuation
Benefits: Vehicle arrangements, mobile phone, laptop and salary packaging where applicable
Relocation: Assistance may be available by agreement

The Leader We Are Looking For

We are seeking a Principal with strong educational credibility, cultural judgement, relational capability and organisational maturity.

You will be a leader who understands that successful school leadership is not only about what decisions are made, but how you listen, communicate, explain, engage and bring others with you.

You will bring the ability to:

provide visible and credible educational leadership across a P–12 environment;
maintain high expectations for learning, wellbeing, engagement and future pathways for jarjums;
lead with cultural humility and work respectfully across diverse Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities;
exercise sound and proportionate judgement in complex or high-pressure situations;
build trust with staff, families, Elders, community, the Board and external partners;
develop people, strengthen leadership capability and create clear accountability;
understand the drivers of enrolment, reputation, family confidence and sustainable growth;
translate strategic direction into clear priorities, action and organisational discipline; and
maintain effective oversight of finance, risk, compliance and operations, and work effectively within the school’s governance framework.

Candidates may bring different combinations of strengths and experience. HYIS is not seeking someone who personally holds every area of specialist expertise. It is seeking a Principal with the judgement, leadership maturity and capability to know what they need to lead directly, where to draw on others, and how to remain accountable for the whole school.

Candidate Eligibility

HYIS welcomes applications from suitably qualified candidates from all backgrounds.

Candidates must hold relevant tertiary qualifications in education and hold, or be eligible to obtain and maintain, teacher registration in Queensland.

Candidates must also be Australian citizens, permanent residents, or otherwise have existing rights to work in Australia for the full duration of the appointment. HYIS is unable to provide employer-sponsored visa arrangements.

As a school grounded in First Nations ways of knowing, being and doing, HYIS is committed to strengthening Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership and representation.

Where candidates are assessed as suitably qualified and capable of performing the role, preference may be given to an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander candidate as an equal opportunity or special measure in accordance with section 105 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 (Qld) and, where applicable, section 8(1) of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth).

Any preference applied under these provisions will operate within a merit-based recruitment process and will not replace the requirement for candidates to demonstrate the capability, experience and readiness required to perform the Principal role.

How to Apply

Candidates are invited to submit:

a current Curriculum Vitae; and
a concise cover letter or Expression of Interest demonstrating their relevant leadership experience, alignment with HYIS and suitability for the role, with reference to the selection criteria and requirements outlined in the Principal Candidate Pack.

Candidates are strongly encouraged to review the Principal Candidate Pack before submitting an application, as it contains the full role requirements, Leadership Profile, key accountabilities, selection criteria and recruitment process.

Applications can be submitted via the Thanbarran Careers application portal or by email to Taylor Bamin at connect@thanbarrancareers.com.au.

Candidates progressing to the final stages of the recruitment process will also be required to nominate:

two professional referees; and
two Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural referees able to speak to the candidate’s cultural and relational capability.

Interested in Learning More?

A comprehensive Principal Candidate Pack is available and should be reviewed before submitting a formal application.

For a confidential discussion or to request a copy of the Candidate Pack, contact Taylor Bamin at connect@thanbarrancareers.com.au.

Applications close: Sunday 18 October 2026, 11:59pm AEST.

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