We are always thrilled to have alumni return and share, and recently SPCC students were blessed to hear from sought-after international speaker and author, Sarah McCutcheon (class of 1999). Sarah shared passionately about the influence we each have, and on the importance of building strong and healthy relationships.

Sarah stepped straight from graduating Year 11 into Ministry Training and has since invested two decades into youth ministry and leadership locally and globally. After spending time living and working overseas, Sarah again calls Newcastle home. Now working for the Global Leadership Network Australia ‘Next Gen’, Sarah spends her days equipping young people with leadership skills and sharing the importance of their impact.

We sat down with Sarah between her time with Senior School and Middle School to hear more about her work supporting and empowering young people, her recent book, and her time at the College.

Name: Sarah McCutcheon

I’m currently…An author, lecturer and the GLS Next Gen Relationship Manager for Australia with the Global Leadership Network Australia (GLNA).

I was at SPCC Newcastle from … 1996 to 1998 (PS: I’m class of 1999 but left after Year 11 to pursue training in mission work).

At school I... loved English, History and Art

A staff member that particularly impacted me was…Graeme Irwin. While he never taught me, my interactions with him left a huge impact. He was so calm, personable, and approachable. I can still remember situations where he needed to bring correction, and he did so in kindness and with the person’s dignity in mind.

I am passionate about… empowering people to step into their identity and calling.

I never dreamed I would… get to travel all over the world. I love experiencing other cultures. I have been to 19 countries, mostly on service trips leading teams to developing nations. I also had the chance to live and work in Paris to run discipleship courses, it was an amazing experience.

The biggest influence in my life…is definitely my faith.

I’m most proud of… who I am becoming. I have found myself so far out of my comfort zone and I am thankful for the chance to continue to grow. We map out our lives and make plans, but I have learnt that while plans can change, purpose remains. I am thankful for the chance to share this with young people - that even when things don’t go to plan, there is more life on the other side of those plans.

My greatest achievement is... yet to come!

The thing I wish I had done but never got around to... go with my friend as their +1 to the Emmy Awards Ceremony in LA. My friend’s mum won an Emmy, and he asked if I wanted to go – I still can’t believe I passed it up.

To learn more about Sarah’s book, The Relationship Status, and her journey to write it, visit https://therelationshipstatusbook.com.