Immanuel Lutheran College principal Colin Minke announces departure

The respected head of one of the Sunshine Coast’s top schools has revealed when he will head south to take up a major interstate education role. Read the full story here.

Principal Colin Minke at Immanuel Lutheran College.

One of the region’s top educators has announced his resignation as he prepares to take up a leading interstate role.

Immanuel Lutheran College principal Colin Minke has confirmed he will depart at the end of this year to take up the position of executive director for Lutheran Education Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania, from January 2024.

Mr Minke’s departure calls time on and 8.5-year stint in charge of one of the region’s most prestigious private schools.

The college ranked 10th in primary school NAPLAN results and third in secondary school performance in analysis of results from the past five years.

Mr Minke guided the college through several heartbreaking moments including the tragic deaths of Saxony Walker, 15, who died in a pool incident in November, 2021 and former student Lleyton Bartlett, 22, who was hit by a car while repairing a broken down bus on the side of the road in Woombye in April, 2022.

He nominated Covid as one of the greatest challenges of his tenure as well as the major refurbishment that has been undertaken on campus.

“ILC (Immanuel Lutheran College) has been in a redevelopment phase for most of the last eight years, so ensuring ‘normal’ operations while almost the entire College has been rebuilt has been challenging at times,” he said.

“However, staff, students and parents have been incredibly patient, and we are now seeing the benefits of this investment in student outcomes and engagement.”

Immanuel Lutheran College's $6.5m refurbishment that sees a complete overhaul of the secondary Mathematics, Design Innovation and Business Departments. The College has undergone major redevelopment works throughout Mr Minke’s tenure.

The scale of works included a complete redevelopment of the primary school, creation of a new performing arts facility and refurbishment of major secondary school areas.

Mr Minke said the growth of service activities within the college during his time had been beneficial to both students and marginalised community and he said would most miss the people and relationships when he made the move south in January.

College Council chairman Matt Webster wrote to parents on Monday, July 10, advising of Mr Minke’s resignation, which he said had “not been an easy decision”.

Mr Webster said enrolments had increased 25 per cent under Mr Minke’s leadership, with waiting lists “now in place at key entry points into the College”.

The recruitment process was now under way with the College Council, in consultation with Lutheran Education Queensland, on the hunt for Mr Minke’s replacement.

Mr Minke said educators needed to embraced new developments like artificial intelligence and automation, without fear of what change might bring, but remembering that relationships and connection would always remain at the heart of education.

“Immanuel’s facilities now place us at the cutting edge for innovation and 21st century learning, and we should be excited about what the next decade will bring,” he said.

Mr Minke would continue to oversee school operations for the remainder of the year, including the refurbishment of the Lillypilly block and the building of the cafe.

Originally published as Immanuel Lutheran College principal Colin Minke announces departure