Teacher inspires with her many roles in Catholic education

21 January 2022

Catholic school communities involve many different groups – students, teachers, school staff, parents, and volunteers to name a few.  

As a teacher, parent and volunteer at Mater Dei Primary School, Toowoomba, Katie Mills has been involved in the school community from a variety of angles. 

In 2021, Katie received a Spirit of Catholic Education Award, recognising her role as a volunteer with Mater Dei Primary School’s Good Samaritan Table group. 

As a school founded by the Good Samaritan sisters, Mater Dei has a strong Benedictine tradition, committed to community life, justice, hospitality, and compassionate service.  

Katie Mills is one of the school’s parents and through her long-standing voluntary commitment to The Samaritan’s Table, lives this philosophy. The Samaritan’s Table provides home cooked meals to members of our community who are experiencing times of sadness, grief, hardship, or difficulty. 

During her service with the table group, Katie has looked for and implemented innovative and new solutions to support the school to achieve its goals of connecting both students and the school community to the Good Samaritan charism by encouraging a culture of looking out for others. 

Katie has also developed a sensitive, discreet and empathetic radar to somehow learn of hardship in our community. She also links the generosity and service of volunteers, as well as the humble gratitude of recipients, to the story of the Good Samaritan. 

Katie’s gentle manner when working with others has fostered relationships that inspire action and growth. This has been demonstrated for over six years through her management of more than 50 volunteers providing over 100 meals each year.  

The Samaritan’s Table has become an integral part of the culture of Mater Dei and many meal recipients have expressed their sincere and heartfelt gratitude. Katie’s dedication to listening with the ear of the heart and ensuring a compassionate response has built a sense of community that epitomises the story of the Good Samaritan. 

Find out more about Katie Mills and her involvement with Catholic education in the video here. For a more in-depth discussion, listen to QCEC’s podcast interview with Katie. 

If you would like to find a Catholic school in Queensland near you, visit the school directory on the QCEC website.