Welcome to a new year and new opportunities in the Visual Arts. I am honoured to be joining Kilbreda this year as the Learning Leader of Visual Arts. I look forward to working alongside staff to support our students as they flourish through creativity, curiosity and skill development. I am excited for the journey ahead and grateful for the opportunity to contribute to Visual Arts at the College.

I am also pleased to introduce several new and returning members of our Visual Arts team. Matthew Wardell also joins Kilbreda this year teaching Visual Communication Design. Sonya Hood will be taking Art classes, and Olivia Stott and Emma Cairns will be teaching Media. Elaine Hawthorne and Bobby Campbell will also be supporting the faculty as Art Assistants. We also take this opportunity to wish Camille Riordan-Brown all the very best for her retirement and thank her sincerely for her many years of service to Kilbreda.

I would like to acknowledge the Visual Arts Leaders for 2026, Eve E and Kate F. Both are Year 12 students who are passionate about the Visual Arts and bring a wonderful sense of enthusiasm, creativity and leadership to the faculty. Eve and Kate are committed to supporting the Visual Arts community at the College, and I look forward to working alongside them throughout the year as they help promote student voice, encourage participation, and contribute to the continued growth of the Visual Arts at Kilbreda.

At the end of last year, we were delighted to learn that some of our students were selected to have their artworks displayed at the upcoming Creative Arts Exhibition. The exhibition will be held at the Catholic Leadership Centre in East Melbourne during Catholic Education Week, from Sunday 15 March to Saturday 22 March 2026. Congratulations to Visual Arts students Grace F (Year 12) and Felicity N (graduated Year 12 last year), whose outstanding Art and Media works were selected from more than 400 submissions across Victorian catholic schools.   

There are already exciting things happening across our Visual Arts classes, with teachers sparking imagination and creativity as new topics launch. In Visual Communication Design, our Unit 3/4 students recently had the opportunity to hear from Hugo, a former top-scoring VCD student who is now studying Architecture at The University of Melbourne. Hugo shared valuable insights into his VCE experience, highlighting the importance of consistent study habits, regularly revisiting past exam content, building strong connections with teachers and seeking feedback at every opportunity. We thank Hugo for his generosity and look forward to welcoming him back throughout the year.

The Visual Arts team is currently planning a range of enriching opportunities for 2026, including excursions to the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne Museum and an Artist-in-Residence program designed to support students in developing skills and techniques across all Visual Arts subjects. These experiences will celebrate student talent, strengthen creative practice and encourage deeper engagement in the Visual Arts. We look forward to sharing more details with the community soon.

The Visual Arts team offers students the opportunity to develop artistic expression through Art, explore design thinking and problem-solving in Visual Communication Design and respond to narrative and storytelling in Media. We are excited and hopeful for the year ahead as we support students to reach their potential and use their God-given talents.

Ysabelle Ruddle

Learning Leader: Visual Arts