Kathy Tarte appointed new Director of Professional Standards Office

By Josh Low

The Archdiocese’s Professional Standards Office has a new Director, with Kathy Tarte taking up the role after more than two decades in senior leadership with the Tasmanian State Government.

Commencing last month, she replaces Jacqueline Highfield who departed from the role earlier this year.

Having begun her career in banking and finance before joining the public sector in 2001, she went on to hold roles including Executive Director of People and Business Services with the Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management, Deputy Secretary of Corporate Services with Communities Tasmania, General Manager of Shared Services with the Department of Health and Human Services and Director of Service Tasmania for the Department of Premier and Cabinet.

After 24 years in government, Ms Tarte said she reached a “life pivot point”, with her adult daughter having moved to Melbourne and her son nearing completion of university studies.

 “I thought, it’s time for me to do something a little bit different. And then I was made aware of the opportunity to come and work for the Archdiocese,” she explained.

She said the chance to align her professional expertise with meaningful purpose drew her to the role.

“The opportunity for a fresh change and to work for the Archdiocese which is working hard to make our Catholic community a safe and welcoming place for everyone, whilst maintaining focus on its core mission really resonated with me.

“This is really purposeful work, and that’s what really drew me to come and do this, because we’ve all got a responsibility to keep people safe and make people feel welcome in the Church,” she said.

“It’s a privileged position to be able to help people who need our help, but we need to do that in a safe, welcoming and respectful way.”

She credited the work of the Archdiocese in building up an environment of safety and safe practices, and looks forward to utilising her experience in the role.

“There’s a genuine commitment to make this a safe place for everybody – I think that it’s a huge credit to the people who have been part of it up until now, and the people who are here now, it puts us in a really strong position for the future.

“I hope to really build on that, leveraging my own skills, knowledge, and experience that I bring to the role, but apply that within the church context with the team that’s here in the safe community space,” she said.