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Who We Are
At Mater Dei we work together with families and carers to provide innovative and contemporary education and therapy services to babies, children and young adults with an Intellectual Disability or developmental delay.
Mater Dei School is the oldest and original educational offering of Mater Dei, which began as an orphanage by the Sisters of the Good Samaritan Order in 1910.
More recently, Mater Dei’s offerings have expanded to include: Mater Dei Early Childhood Education, NextPath Continuous Learning and NextPath Assessment & Therapy.
You can explore the Mater Dei community by clicking on each logo below.
Mater Dei is a registered charity and tax deductible gift recipient. Donations over $2 are tax deductible.
Your generosity ensures we can continue to provide groundbreaking, Research and Evidence-based education and support to our school students, as well as high-quality, innovative services and resources across all programs.
Our Impact
50+
Young Adults enrolled in NextPath Continuous Learning, and counting. Up from just 6 Young Adults when it launched in 2018.
Leaders
in educational innovation and Universal Design for Learning.
60+
years experience providing services to children and young people with intellectual disability.
Organisational Leadership Team
Richard Drinnan
Interim CEO
Jennifer Foldes
Principal of Mater Dei School
Pamela Templeton
Director of Mater Dei Early Childhood Education
Sarah Ryan
Director of Development
Vanessa Black
Manager of NextPath Assessment & Therapy
Alycia O'Neill
Manager of NextPath Continuous Learning
Tony Lehner
Head of HR (Interim)
Mater Dei Board
Michael Lavorato
Chair of Board
Michael has been a member of the Board since 2014, Deputy Chair since 2015 and in 2020 was announced as the new Chair of Board. Michael is the General Manager of the Campbelltown Catholic Club. Member of the Development Committee. Member of the Governance, Risk and Compliance Committee.
Sherie Avalos
Director
Sherie has been a member of the Board since 2016. Sherie has 23 years experience in the Disability Sector as Executive Management. Chair of the Early Childhood Education Committee. Chair of the NextPath Committee.
Krystle Wolthers
Director
Krystle joined the board in May 2020. Krystle is a Partner at Marsdens Law Group, having joined the firm shortly after admission as a Lawyer in 2012. Marsdens Law Group have always been a proud supporter of Mater Dei and Krystle has worked closely with the past Chair, John Adam for many years. Krystle has a keen interest in social justice and enjoys working with a number of pro-bono programs. Chair of the Governance, Risk and Compliance sub Committee.
Alan Ibbett
Director
Alan joined the Board in June 2021 and is an Electrical Engineer. He comes to the Board with a wealth of experience – specialising in IT. Alan has taken up a new role at CE Net (Catholic Education Network) and has previously held the roles of Chief Information Officer for Eurobodalla Shire Council and Chief Information Officer for the Diocese of Wollongong. Alan has also assisted Mater Dei with IT over many years in these capacities. Member of the Foundation committee and the Building and Property sub committee.
Paul Burgess
Director
Paul joined the Mater Dei Board in May 2023. Paul is a CPA-qualified Accountant and since 2002 has been a Shareholder and Group Financial Director of Paul Wakeling Motor Group. Member of the Early Childhood Education Committee.
Adam Quinn
Director
Adam joined the Mater Dei Board in May 2023. Adam is a Senior Partner of the firm Kelly Partners, Chartered Accountants and brings a wealth of experience to the Board. Member of the Audit & Finance Committee.
Kerryn Barnett
Director
Kerryn joined the Board in October 2024. She has worked in the education sector for 28 years and is the Head of Wellbeing and Student Support at the Catholic Education Office, Diocese of Wollongong. Kerryn has collaborated closely with Mater Dei for several years as part of her work in the Wollongong Diocese and in her former role with Catholic Schools NSW as Senior Manager for Diverse Learning.
Mater Dei acknowledges and pays our respects to the Dharawal people who are the Traditional Custodians of Country, the land on which we meet and work today.
We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging of the Dharawal nation.
We extend our respects to all First Nations peoples who meet and work with us here on Dharawal Country.
We acknowledge that country was, and always will be, integral to the spiritual and cultural identity of the Dharawal people.