Wesley College was delighted to have Mr Stephen Roberts join us in 2021. On his way to becoming Head of Arts at the College, he’s spent time as a professional actor, director and producer as well as being named as one of Australia’s most innovative educators.

What were doing prior to joining Wesley?

In 2005, after teaching Sport and Drama at home in the UK, I left for a holiday in Australia and subsequently had to work as a labourer to supplement my adventure, however, after a week of real hard work I realised that I was better suited to continue in the teaching profession. Before joining Wesley College, I was the Director of Arts at All Saints’ College where I was proud to be named among Australia’s Most Innovative Educators by the Future Schools Alliance, an honour that recognised years of attempting to break what didn’t need to be fixed!

What made you choose to join Wesley?

I chose to come to Wesley as I relished the opportunity to move away from what I was most comfortable with. I had heard that the College was going through a period of evolution and I really fancied the opportunity to provoke change and be part of something exciting and challenging. I have always found it necessary to look beyond what is in front of me and when I learnt that the motto of the College was ‘By daring & by doing’… I was sold!

What do you enjoy about working at Wesley?

I love coming to work and being met by the energy and enthusiasm of the Arts department. Their passion for what they do is intoxicating and feeds me with the motivation to do the best I can to support their vision. The students who I have been lucky enough to work with so far are full of energy and genuinely care for each other, which is key to any successful community. The staff and students are really welcoming and committed to the cause – there is a team mentality evident across the school, which is definitely something that I welcome.

What are you looking forward to now that you are settled in?

I am looking forward to assisting in making the Arts a vital and visible component of Wesley, a department that prides itself on constantly evolving with the needs of the students and providing our community with something to champion. We are already committed to growing our opportunities to collaborate in order to provide our students with the best possible outcomes and to prepare them for the real world beyond the boundaries of the College – so we will now strive to practice that philosophy. I am looking forward to being a part of a team that will build a legacy for the future of Arts education.

Outside of the College, what are your favourite things to do?

I love sport and, as a proud Welshman, I follow the ups and downs of the national rugby team. Curiously, they have been far more successful since I moved to Australia. I am addicted to sport documentaries and am constantly amazed by the drama and emotion that sport can evoke. I also feel that I should recognise my family. There is nothing better than being with my wife, watching our young sons play footy and then grabbing breakfast together at our local café.