Our Inspiring Alumni Profiles

For Nicole Woods, discovering who she truly is has been her greatest achievement.

A member of the Class of 1994, Nicole has a passion for kindness and has lived this out to the fullest through her work in Vietnam. In 2004, while working as a lawyer, a short holiday led her to the Cahor orphanage in Hoi An - a trip that would change her life. Nicole moved to Vietnam, dedicating five years to supporting the children of the orphanage, and it was there that her daughter Emma was born. Now back in Perth, Nicole continues to maintain close ties with her friends in Vietnam, with her children Emma and Alexander proudly inspired by their mum’s commitment to making a difference.

Nicole’s fondest Sacred Heart memory is stepping onto the stage as Peter Pan on the opening night of the school production, feeling the support of her castmates and the wider College community. She also remembers the belief and encouragement of Miss Panizza, whose dedication helped her achieve her goals. Reflecting on Sacred Heart today, Nicole is inspired by the many opportunities now available to students across all Four Pillars.

Nicole’s story is a reminder that small acts of kindness can change the course of a life - and even a community.

For decades, Dr Helen Clarke (Class of 1971) has played an important role in the lives of countless Sacred Heart families as an Obstetrician, delivering thousands of babies across Perth. Yet, many of our families may not have realised that before her medical career, Helen was once a student at Sacred Heart herself.

Helen grew up in the country town of Coorow - also the hometown of our former Principal, Mr Bothe. She recalls, “There were only four Catholic families in Coorow at the time, so Helen and I and the others would go out of class for RE lessons in the bough shed!” Helen later came to Sacred Heart as one of our very first Boarders with the RNDM Sisters.

Reflecting on her school days, Helen remembers the strong influence of Mr Bingley, the first male teacher at the College: “I really loved mathematics and he was a very good teacher.” Her fondest memories, however, are the friendships formed through boarding. Looking at the College today, she marvels at the growth in size, the wide range of opportunities now available to students and the impressive new facilities that enrich student life.

In 2016, Sacred Heart captured a special moment - a photo of some of the Sacred Heart babies delivered by Dr Clarke, including a teacher's daughter, who is now a Sacred Heart student.

While she has delivered thousands of babies, Helen says her greatest achievement is her daughter, Erin.

Dr Clarke’s story is one of dedication, care and connection - a true example of a Sacred Heart education lived out in service to others.

From Sacred Heart student to global tech innovator, Melanie Perkins (Class of 2004) is the Co-Founder and CEO of Canva, one of the world’s most successful online design platforms.

With a passion for adventure and a drive to make the world better than she found it, Melanie’s proudest achievement is “building an amazing team of passionate, motivated people who are creating a product that is now loved by millions of people across the globe.” Today, Canva has more than 220 million monthly users, has been recognised as Australia’s coolest tech company by Job Advisor, and is valued at over $65 billion USD.

Melanie looks back fondly on her time at Sacred Heart, remembering the energy and fun brought to the classroom by her teachers, especially Mr Hart, Ms Fumi and Mr Rolls. She also loved the wide range of opportunities available to her, from The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award to debating, speech competitions, and other extracurricular activities that left her with lasting memories.

Mr Hart reflected on his former student with pride: “Melanie was a fab student to teach, such a ball of energy and a truly lovely person. She was also highly creative and had a great sense of humour. She was truly one in a million!”

Congratulations, Melanie, on your incredible global success - we look forward to seeing where your passion for adventure takes you next.

From community radio to the ABC newsroom, James Carmody (Class of 2013) has turned his passion for storytelling into a successful career in journalism.

After graduating from Sacred Heart, James studied Journalism at university while also writing and presenting news at a community radio station. His hard work paid off when he secured a role as a TV News Reporter with Channel 10. He later joined the ABC and then 7 News, where he has reported across radio, online and television, travelling the state, nation and world to cover everything from bushfires and cyclones to crime and politics.

Looking back on his time at Sacred Heart, James credits Mr Clarke’s Media classes as providing a strong foundation for his career in the media. Reflecting on his school years, he shared: “Along with a fantastic education and some lifelong friends, the values the College promotes have placed me in good stead in the short five years since I graduated. Sacred Heart has a wealth of experienced, supportive and brilliant teachers and staff members.”

We are proud to see James making his mark as a journalist and look forward to watching him continue his broadcasting journey.

From running cross country at Sacred Heart to becoming a two-time Australian Paracycling Champion, Andrew Bannister’s (Class of 2009) story is one of resilience, passion and achievement.

In Year 12, Andrew proudly competed as a Parathlete in the College Cross Country and went on to represent School Sport WA at the Australian School Sports Cross Country - making history as their first ever Cross Country Parathlete. That milestone sparked a sporting journey that has seen him represent WA multiple times in Athletics and Cycling, win the WA Open Men’s Para Athlete Cross Country title, claim the Australian Paraduathlon crown in 2017 and compete at the 2019 Australian Cycling Championships.

Andrew looks back on his time at Sacred Heart with gratitude for the teachers and aides who supported and encouraged him, particularly Mrs Catherine Marcello, who was with him on both his very first day of school at Padbury Catholic Primary School and his last at Sacred Heart College. He also fondly remembers the dedicated staff of the Mary MacKillop Centre - Mrs Fiona Aitken, Mrs Jenny Magno, Mrs Michelle Gelmi and Mr Guy Gurney - who he describes as patient, inspiring and committed to helping him reach his potential. T

oday, Andrew continues to embrace sport as a central part of his life, while also giving back to the community through his volunteer work at Perth Children’s Hospital.

Andrew’s journey is a wonderful reminder of the impact of determination, the power of sport, and the lifelong support of our Sacred Heart community.

From Karate champion to fashion entrepreneur, Jessica Bratich-Johnson (Class of 1998) has always pursued her passions with determination and creativity.

Before she became known for her accessories label 'Jessica Bratich', Jessica was a world-class athlete. Coached by her father Branco, she won her first National Gold Medal in Kumite at just 13 years old. During her time at Sacred Heart, she balanced schoolwork with competing on the national and world stage, ultimately earning 17 National Titles, 18 Australian Open Titles and 16 International medals - including a Bronze at the 2006 World Championships in Finland.

In 2012, Jessica launched her own fashion label, transforming her love of design into a thriving business. Sacred Heart was proud to collaborate with her in 2016 for our 50th Anniversary celebrations, with Jessica designing the official scarves and ties. Reflecting on her involvement, she shared: “It’s so exciting to come back after all this time.”

Jessica remembers her Sacred Heart days fondly - from memorable Biology Camp mishaps (“I was telling my best friend Mel to stop teasing a wasp, and then it stung me!”) to the encouragement of teachers like Mr Cowan, whom she recalls as “easy-going and very relatable.”

While proud of her sporting and business achievements, Jessica says her greatest joy is her family. She and her husband, Mitchell, are parents to two children, Rubika and Leo.

Jessica’s story is one of talent, hard work and heart - and we can’t wait to see where her journey takes her next.

From Sacred Heart swimming pools to the Olympic podium, Blair Evans (Class of 2008) is our only dual Olympian, representing Australia at both the 2012 London and 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

Blair’s sporting career is decorated with remarkable achievements, including a Silver medal at the London Olympics, Gold at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi and two Silver medals at World Championships (2010 and 2011). She credits much of her success to the incredible support of her teachers, particularly during Year 12 when she was striving to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Team. She also remembers the guidance of her Principal, Mr Ian Elder: “He was always there for support, and helped through the whole process.”

Reflecting on her school days, Blair fondly recalls friendships, canteen chats and locker conversations, as well as the nerves of returning from swimming trips worried about unfinished schoolwork. She notes the biggest changes at the College include the Performing Arts Centre and the introduction of Year 7 students. Away from sport, Blair is passionate about animals and is known to have a house full of pets who surely miss her while she is travelling.

Blair has also maintained a strong connection with Sacred Heart, taking part in our 50th Anniversary celebrations as the first interviewee for 50 Stories compiled by students. She has returned for assemblies and to inspire College Captains, even sharing a little Heart message with students before her big race for the 2016 Olympic selection.

Blair’s journey is a testament to dedication, resilience and heart - and we are so proud of all she has achieved.

From Sacred Heart ovals to AFL glory, Brett Heady (Class of 1987) became a dual West Coast Eagles Premiership player - though he says his greatest achievement is being a dad to his two children.

Brett’s passion for footy began with a love of sport, the thrill of keeping fit and the camaraderie of playing alongside his mates. His natural talent and determination carried him to the highest level of Australian Rules Football, where he proudly wore the Eagles jersey and played a key role in their Premiership successes.

Looking back on his school days, Brett remembers the great social atmosphere and the support of his teachers, especially Mrs Lynne Thomson: “She was always keeping us on track and encouraging us to give everything a go and to be the best we could be.” He also acknowledges the influence of Mr Trevor Woodhouse and Mr Paul Clement on his sporting journey.

Since leaving Sacred Heart, Brett has noticed plenty of changes at the College - bigger buildings, a wider variety of subject choices, and, as he puts it, “a better canteen!”

Brett’s story highlights how the values of encouragement, teamwork and commitment developed at Sacred Heart can carry through to success on and off the field.