About
Welcome
Building upon the wonderful tradition of creative and performing arts, St Agnes’ Education is proud to welcome you to the Creative Arts Nest. The Nest is dedicated to fostering powerful, inclusive artistic experiences and a creative exchange of ideas across St Agnes’ Education Schools.
This is a significant development in how our schools utilise our size and effectiveness and work together to provide for students something that no other individual school can offer.
It’s purpose is to inspire, educate, connect and entertain through engaging cultural and artistic offerings.
The Nest is committed to enriching the St Agnes’ Education student experience by generating opportunities for participation in the arts, partnering with our schools, collaborating with local artists and forming connections within the greater community.
I thank you for visiting our website, and hope that you take time to connect with our newest venture.
Stephen Pares, Regional Services Leader Hastings Region, Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools.
Our Purpose
When viewed from the outside a bird’s nest can be scraggy and imperfect; however within the nest’s environment it’s perfect for growth.
When building every Creative Arts Nest project we strive for a creative environment that is, as much as possible, ideal for our children’s growth.
The perfect Creative Arts Nest environment, we believe, is one where every participant knows they always belong; should they wish. A developed environment where honest creativity can thrive. And an environment that facilitates and encourages our entire St Agnes’ Parish and wider community to better connect.
Our values aren’t just things we believe in. They’re our entire foundation.
Our Values
CONNECT
As a community we are stronger.
BELONG
Everyone has a place here.
CREATE
Nothing is the way it has to be.
WHY BEFORE WHAT
Always keep sight of our purpose and the larger picture.
FUN
Be kind and always have fun.
The Nest Team
Steph Maddren
Stephanie Maddren is the Director of regionally based production company, Got Ya Back Productions. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Dance) from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) and has since kept a very constant career in that and more.
She spent 5 busy years in Sydney and Melbourne as a commercial dancer, choreographer, model and teacher. Her work as a dancer took her to stages all around Australia from The Sydney Opera House to the Quarry Amphitheatre in Perth. She has danced in Film and TV including Baz Lurhmans’s Great Gatsby and So You Think You Can Dance (season 1).
As a choreographer, she has choreographed numerous dance numbers including 28 episodes of The Fo Fo Figgily Show in Abu Dhabi, featured performance for Paspaley Pearls at Qualia, Hamilton Island, and Zoggs International’s swimwear parades in Sydney.
As a model she has walked the runway for Project Runway Australia, Sydney and Melbourne Fashion Weeks and has headed up advertising campaigns for brands such as NIB Health Insurance, Blanco Kitchens and Brasilfit Sportswear. She has also done tourism shoots for VOMO Island, Fiji and Castaway Island, Fiji.
For the past 5 years Steph has also been a mentoring coach at the Sydney School of Protocol where she teaches the importance of positive body language, posture and presence to businesses and students.
Stephanie and her husband, Tim Maddren, formed Got Ya Back Productions on the NSW Mid North Coast in 2017. Since then, they have created and produced three original touring theatre productions, a feature length film, a drive in cinema, music/corporate videos and 14 separate theatrical productions for aspiring young performers across Taree & Port Macquarie.
Stephanie loves living and working on the Mid North Coast with Tim and their two sons, Banjo and Charlie. She’s proud to have Got Ya Back Productions at the forefront of the regional arts industry, and for this, she’s excited for the industry’s future in the regions.
Tim Maddren
Tim’s experience in the Australian performing arts industry is broad.
He is a WAAPA grad and as a performer, Tim’s credits include major roles in numerous Australian music theatre touring productions. The Rocky Horror Show, The Addams Family Musical, Topol’s Fiddler on the Roof & Altar Boyz.
He is a former member of the children’s group Hi-5. He filmed 135 episodes, released 3 albums with Sony Music Australia and toured internationally. Whilst in Hi-5 he was nominated, along with the rest of the group, for two TV Week Logie Awards, two ARIA Awards and an Asian Television Award.
As a writer, Tim was invited in 2015 to join the Australian Writers Guild Pathways Program. Since this he has had three original theatrical productions produced/toured and one feature length screenplay now in the early stages of development.
In 2017, he and his wife Stephanie formed Got Ya Back Productions. As producers they have produced over 20 separate theatrical productions and toured some throughout NSW and into QLD. In late 2020 Got Ya Back produced their first feature length film.
Tim is also the Artistic Director of the School of Hard Knocks Choir in the Hastings Area.
Michelle McKenzie
Having worked alongside St Agnes’ Parish for over 18 years, Michelle brings extensive project management, marketing and design experience to the NEST. She has a passion for helping businesses with purpose communicate their why with the world and the NEST certainly ticks this box!
2024 Nest Committee
Lisa Gilchrist (Chairperson) – St Joseph’s Primary School
Natalie Jennings – St Peter’s Primary School
Kim Post – St Agnes’ Primary School
Jennifer Grein – St Joseph’s Regional College
Sam Adams – MacKillop College
Amy Burrage – Newman Senior Technical College
Partners
The Creative Arts NEST is proudly part of the community of St Agnes’ Education and its schools.
