Our College
Our Principal
Mr Joel van Bentum
The Principal of Â鶹´«Ã½AV, Mr Joel van Bentum began working at GPCC in January 2023 following fourteen years in various roles as part of NT Christian Schools in the Northern Territory. During his tenure he held the roles of Principal of Transforming Training, a Registered Training Organisation catering to both secondary students and adults. Principal of NT Christian College, a multi-campus senior secondary college serving students in five campus’ across the breadth of the NT, and Principal of Marrara Christian College, a Preschool to Year 12 Christian College in Darwin.
Joel has extensive training and experience as an educator, holding a Bachelor of Human Movement and Health Education from the University of Sydney and a Master of Education (Leadership) from the National Institute for Christian Education. He has over 20 years' experience in various educational roles from PDHPE teacher, Year advisor, Faculty Coordinator, Head of School and various Principal roles.
Joel is passionate about holistic Christian Education that seeks to support every student to find the gifts and talents that God has given them and to see them stretched and developed in those gifts. He is also committed to seeing parents equipped in their God given roles and to support them in partnership in supporting and forming young people. Joel is married to Phoebe and has 3 adult children.
Our Deputy Principal K-12
Mrs Jane McLarty
Mrs Jane McLarty began her career at Â鶹´«Ã½AV in 2007 as Assistant Head of Middle School, following her experience teaching in the State system. Her academic background is in the Technologies Faculty, with qualifications in Food Technology, Hospitality, Textile Technology, and Technology Mandatory. In 2016, she completed a Master of Education (Leadership).
Throughout her time at GPCC, Jane has held a variety of leadership roles including Classroom Teacher, Head of Middle School, Acting Head of Primary School, and Acting Principal.
Jane is a trained instructor in both Mental Health First Aid and The Resilience Doughnut framework, equipping students and staff with practical tools to support emotional resilience and mental health.
Jane notes her most significant qualification as a mum of two, who both attended GPCC from Kindergarten to Year 12.
Our Business Manager
Mr Brendan Wood
Mr Brendan Wood joined GPCC in 2019 as the Marketing & Â鶹´«Ã½AV Relations Manager and was then appointed Assistant Business Manager in 2021. Prior to coming to Â鶹´«Ã½AV Brendan served in pastoral roles in Baptist Churches, and across several Christian for purpose organisations including BaptistCare NSW & ACT and Baptist World Aid Australia.
Brendan has a Bachelor of Applied Science, a Bachelor of Ministries, an Advanced Diploma of Theology, an Advanced Diploma of Leadership & Management, and is currently undertaking Governance training through Bond University.
Brendan is a member of the Association of School Business Administrators. Brendan is married to Kylie, and together they are raising three young adult and teenage daughters.
Our Head of Primary
Mrs Amanda Rutlidge
Mrs Amanda Rutlidge joined Â鶹´«Ã½AV in 2023 as the Primary Curriculum Coordinator. In 2024, she served as Acting Head of Primary from Term 1 to Term 3 before being appointed as Head of Primary. Amanda brings over 18 years of experience in Christian education, having previously taught in a Christian College in Sydney. She holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Diploma of Education.
Amanda is committed to staying current with the latest research in teaching and learning, and leads with a forward-thinking approach to curriculum development. She is particularly focused on supporting staff to meet the evolving educational and developmental needs of young learners in a rapidly changing world.
Amanda is married to Oliver, and together they have two teenage children.
Our Head of Secondary
Mr Steve Lobsey
Mr Steve Lobsey joined Â鶹´«Ã½AV in January 2023, bringing with him extensive experience, including leadership roles, Head of Department, Year Advisor, and Leading Teacher in schools across NSW.
Steve has a particular interest in neuroscience, metacognition, and cognitive load theory, and enjoys equipping both students and teachers with strategies to strengthen learning and promote student wellbeing.
He is a Business Studies teacher with Highly Accomplished teacher accreditation and a long-standing passion for supporting HSC students. Steve is also a Senior HSC Marker in Business Studies and has experience teaching across a wide range of subjects.
Steve is married and has two children.
Our Director of Enrichment K-12
Mrs Sarah Brown
Mrs Sarah Brown began her career as a Primary teacher at Â鶹´«Ã½AV in 2001 after graduating with Honours in a Bachelor of Teaching/Bachelor of Social Science double degree from The University of Newcastle. During her time at university, and in her early teaching years, Sarah developed an interest in learning about students with additional needs and has since endeavoured to meet them by means of adjustments and differentiation within the mainstream setting.
As the Director of Enrichment K-12 she manages a large team of support staff at the College who work together with classroom teachers to ensure our students are thriving, whatever their needs.
Sarah’s husband, Jay, is also a teacher and together they have three children.
Our Director of Teaching Development K-12
Mrs Fiona Fordyce
Mrs Fiona Fordyce joined GPCC in 2022 as the Head of HSIE, then appointed the Director of Teaching & Learning at the start of 2023. Prior to coming to Â鶹´«Ã½AV Fiona was the Head of HSIE Department at Penrith Christian School and has been working in CSA schools since 2013.
Fiona also has a Bachelor of Business (Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations) and a Bachelor of Law –from the University of Sydney.
Fiona is a member of the CSA Communities and Practice Steering Committee, and since coming to GPCC has become the leader of CSA Central Coast Â鶹´«Ã½AV of Practice.
Fiona is currently studying a Master of Education (Leadership) at UNSW. She is married to Nick, and together they have two primary aged children.