Joanna Rosewell was a resident at Jane long before she became their beloved Principal. Walking around the campus with Joanna, she knows the name of every student, what they are studying, and their interests and friendships. She remembers the nights when she was a resident, when they “danced the polish off the Dining Hall’s floor”, when rooms were renovated, and traditions began. But most of all, speaking with Joanna will assure you that Jane is the perfect place to transition from high school to adulthood, and to build life-long memories and friendships.
Joanna’s life began in WA. Her mum was a nurse, and her father a teacher; they had fallen in love with Tasmania while on holiday before moving here when she was young. Joanna studied Arts Law at uni and Honours in Political Science. This is when she first encountered Jane.
“I was so lucky that my parents said you are going to Jane whether you like it or not,” laughs Joanna. “They wanted me to have this amazing collegiate experience – I was so lucky I did.”
It was important to Joanna’s parents that she made friends, felt safe and was comfortable. They also wanted her to be in an environment that supported her to pass uni.
“Jane is a safe environment, without it being a prison or boarding school, They found the money to send me here, then they sent my sister and brother.”
Joanna has so many close friends from her time at Jane. “It’s like time doesn’t pass with friends from Jane. We have this bond.”
Jane is still Jane
Joanna loved her time at Jane as a resident, and so much of what made it so special then remains today. “The core of Jane is still Jane.”
The annual Jane Car Rally that she loved back then continues to this day. “The car rally is an amazing race around Hobart with teams picking up clues and everyone dressed up in a theme. The car rally is still huge – it’s so funny, it has bribes and dares leading up to the rally, like sleeping overnight outside the Dining Hall or going to Kmart and staying all night. If you do the dare, you accumulate points for your team, and then the team with the most points start the car rally.”
The Jane Ball is also a long-standing Jane tradition.
“The Jane Ball was hilarious – fun and ridiculous. Everyone would get dressed up in black tie or ball dresses, go for dinner beforehand, then at 11pm we’d dance to a live band with heels sinking into the muddy lawn outside the Dining Hall then to bed at 3 or 4 am depending on your stamina, it was so fun.”
Travels and Homesickness
After graduation, Joanna travelled around Europe, working at a school in Covent Garden in London and spending nine months teaching English in Madrid. As wonderful as this time was, Joanna got homesick: “I was having a big adventure, but I wanted to go home.” This time of her life has helped her understand how new Jane residents feel, and how she can help with their transition to college life.
“I know what it means to feel homesick, and I know how to make people not feel homesick. From the day they enquire to move-in day, I want students to see how warm and welcoming Jane is. You’ll get the same here at Jane as if you came to my home – hospitality.”
Joanna’s hospitality begins when a family has their first tour. “They are nervous when they arrive, but by the end of the tour, the young person has a smile on their face. I know this look so well, you just know that something has settled in their mind, they know they’ll be alright, and Jane is their place.”
Joanna’s time overseas also instilled a deep love of Tasmania, “I can’t begin to tell you how much I love Tasmania. Hearing the bells of St George’s Church while sipping tea or a cocktail – I dreamed of doing this in Italy, but I can have that experience here, at home in a place I know and love. I still get that emotional reaction to my hometown.”
The purpose of the college, community, and academic support
Jane is not a school, and Joanna is a CEO more than a Principal, overseeing every aspect of the college. To her the bottom line is that students have an awesome experience at Jane while completing their degrees. “We don’t seek out HD students – we want diverse students, including just passing or not quite there students.”
The academic support at Jane is something that Joanna sees as a critical component of Jane. Mental health issues have increased across society, and having Nick Brodie, Jane’s Dean of Academics, and Sarah Hopkins, Dean of Students, there to support students is an important component of that.
“Nick’s work helps their wellbeing, he is really building that reputation for supporting people with academic study. As well as helping students struggling with a result he helps them navigate the university system, which can cause more stress than anything. People struggle with organisation, discipline, and subject matter. We are trying to get them to start planning and organising and thinking things through. It’s a huge learning curve, and that’s what we are here for.”
Sarah the Dean of Students, who Joanna describes as “absolutely amazing” helps to create the magic of Jane as well as the rest of the staff and council. “They believe in what we do, they have seen how it has helped the kids.”
Joanna can’t remember her first day at Jane, but she does remember always having someone I could talk to, if that is what she wanted, knocking on a friend’s door and saying what are you up to?
The perfect job
Joanna’s love for her role and for the whole Jane community is so evident. The beauty of the grounds, the closeness and diversity of the community, and the difference it makes in people’s lives are something she believes in. She says it’s the best job she has ever had, and her love of the place and the respect and friendships that are evident when people walk around the campus, show that she is the right person to lead the staff, the culture and community of Jane.
“When a student says they have found their people – that is my greatest reward”