Di McLean

What is your official job title? Deputy Principal – Talkabout

How long have you worked at TSH? I have been at Telethon Speech & Hearing for twelve years in many amazing roles, including Talkabout, Outpost (from Kindergarten to Year 12) and Early Intervention for children with hearing loss.

Briefly, please explain what your role entails. My role is to support and empower students, families and staff in our Talkabout program.

What is the single best thing about your job? I love getting to know all our families and the children in each of our classes and seeing our students all reach their amazing potentials. When past students come back to visit, we all feel so immensely proud of them!

What does an average day in the job entail? My role is very different from day to day, but I always check in with the Talkabout team every morning, then I am usually meeting families and children to support their early intervention journey. A big part of my role is also looking after our wonderful Talkabout team and keeping things running smoothly.

What is something that people probably don’t know about your role? It is a role with many parts, which I thoroughly enjoy, and every day is different to the one before. Also, there is a huge team of wonderful and passionate people supporting behind the scenes. Families don’t often get to meet them all, but they are so supportive to my role as Deputy Principal and to Telethon Speech & Hearing.

What do you wish there was more of? I wish every school had a multidisciplinary team as amazing as ours, supporting the needs of all students in every class.

How do you like to unwind after a busy day? I love walking my dogs and going on beach walks. I also love listening to music to unwind and I practice daily meditation.

Tell me a little about your life outside of work. I live with my husband and two grown up children. We all spend our spare time looking after our two adopted and very sweet, old Labradors and making sure they are living their best lives. I also love to travel and learn about other cultures and to catch up with friends and family.

Di’s Super Six

Food: Something spicy!

Holiday destination: I love to travel, so anywhere! I have a special place in my heart for Seoul in South Korea because we spent a lot of time there as a family when my daughter studied university in Seoul. I’ve also lived, studied and worked in Singapore and Malaysia, so they feel like home to me. My next holiday is to Mauritius!

Sports team: Doosan Bears (Baseball)

Restaurant: Anywhere with good tapas. Actually, street food when travelling is my favourite… eat local!

Season: Summer

Guilty pleasure: Life is too short for guilt… enjoy it! (Chocolate!)

What is something that people probably don’t know about your role? I occasionally help out at the reception desk.

What do you wish there was more of? Donations to help improve the lives of children who suffer with hearing loss and/or speech delay.

How do you like to unwind after a busy day? Volunteering at PCH, reading a book, listening to music, watching a movie… relaxing and sleeping!

Please tell me a little about your life outside of work. I come from a small family of three. My parents have an American Bulldog named Bubbles who I adore. My hobbies are pottery, Muay Thai and gardening.

Bonnie’s Super Six

Food: Anything Japanese or Italian

Holiday destination: Japan or Italy

Sports team: None (but France for the World Cup)

Restaurant: Depending what time, the weather and my mood. It is too hard to narrow down to just one

Season: Spring - not too cold, not too hot, but I do enjoy all four seasons

Guilty pleasure: Wine

What is something that people probably don’t know about your role? Child safety is a significant focus in my position and is a consideration in every activity I undertake or decision I make.

What do you wish there was more of? TIME!!!

How do you like to unwind after a busy day? Asking my girls about their busy day! There is always something happening!

Please tell me a little about your life outside of work. I have two gorgeous primary school aged girls, two dogs and two canaries. I love gardening, cooking, reading, camping and spending time with family and friends.

Caroline’s Super Six

Food: Pasta

Holiday destination: Broome, but anywhere in WA really– we are so lucky to live in such a beautiful state

Sports team: Hawthorn

Restaurant: Locale Mio in Guildford

Season: Spring

Guilty pleasure: Malbec

Please run me through an average day in the job. I wish there was an average day. One day it might involve talking with the Premier, then next it might be working out a way to support more families, then the following it could be finalizing budgets. There is so much to do and so much variety in the work.

What do you wish there was more of? Time. There are only 24 hours in one day. Some days I need 26.

How do you like to unwind after a busy day? I love walking, that can be at the beach or in the hills, it doesn’t matter. This gives me time for me to relax and unpack my busy day.

Please tell me a little about your life outside of work. I have two children – a 21-year-old daughter and a 15-year-old son. I love being active (so I will run or ride or do something outside each week). When I can be outside and do some active with my family it is my version of heaven. Part of this is coaching my son’s basketball team which I look forward to each week. Seeing my kids grow into beautiful, well-adjusted, caring young adults is the best thing in life.

Mark’s Super Six

Food: Seafood

Holiday destination: Anywhere with family (mainly near water would be nice)

Sports team: Carlton Football Club

Restaurant: Prego

Season: Spring

Guilty pleasure: Chocolate