New Director announced

Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Rockhampton, the Most Reverend, Michael McCarthy, has announced the appointment of Mr Michael McCusker as the new Director of Catholic Education for the Rockhampton Diocese effective from 1 July 2024.

The appointment of Mr McCusker follows the announcement by current Director Miss Leesa Jeffcoat, that after 23 years she will be concluding her time in the role at the end of 2024 and will be on leave from 1 July 2024. 

In congratulating and welcoming Mr McCusker to the role, Bishop Michael took the opportunity to thank Miss Jeffcoat for her outstanding service as Diocesan Director of Catholic Education.  

Mr McCusker is well known to many in Catholic Education having served as a teacher and principal in both the Diocese of Rockhampton and the Archdiocese of Brisbane. For the past 12 years, Mr McCusker has been a member of the Catholic Education Leadership Team in the Diocese of Rockhampton serving as Assistant Director: Schools - Northern Region.

“I am humbled by the faith and confidence that Bishop Michael has placed in me by appointing me to this role and I am looking forward to working closely with the wonderful people in our schools, parishes and offices to take forward the Mission of Catholic Education,” Mr McCusker said.

Mr McCusker also paid tribute to the amazing legacy in Catholic Education that Miss Jeffcoat had created over the past 23 years.

“I am very grateful for Miss Jeffcoat’s mentorship of me and with God’s help and the prayerful and practical support of the dedicated, talented and faith-filled people who serve in the ministry of Catholic Education, I look forward with hope to continuing her great work,” Mr McCusker said.

Miss Jeffcoat said she had been humbled to have served as Diocesan Director of Catholic Education for the past 23 years and was very grateful for the trust Bishop Michael had placed in her to serve as Director and for the care and support that he had always provided for her.

“I am delighted that Mr McCusker will be the next Director of Catholic Education in this Diocese. From working closely with him these past many years, I know him to be a man of deep faith who has the personal gifts and the professional skills to be an outstanding leader of Catholic Education,” Miss Jeffcoat said.

Photo: (L-R) Newly appointed Director Michael McCusker, current Director Leesa Jeffcoat and Bishop Michael McCarthy with students from St John's Catholic Primary School, Walkerston, during a recent school visit.