People you may not know attended an ACT public school

Comedian Kirsty Webeck is just one household name to have gone to a public school in Canberra. Photo: Michelle G Hunder

30 June 2025

In brief

Over the years, many well-known people have attended a Canberra public school.
Some attended for a short time, for university or alongside training at the Australian Institute of Sport.
This article lists some of these people.

It’s no secret Canberra is a great place to live. It’s also, unsurprisingly, a great place to go to school.

We’ve pulled together a list of well-known people who have attended an ACT public school or university.

From actors to authors and artists to activists, plenty of impressive Aussies were educated right here in Canberra.

Some may have stayed only a while. Some came just for uni or a sporting scholarship. Regardless, we’re happy to claim them.

While this is not an exhaustive list, you’re bound to discover something new as you scroll.

SCREEN AND STAGE

Alan Alder – Ballet Dancer and Teacher

Canberra High School

Wil Anderson – Comedian and TV Presenter

University of Canberra

Imogen Bailey – Model, Actress and Singer

Melrose High School, Phillip College (now Canberra College)

Jon Casimir – TV Producer and Executive

Hawker College

Jackie Chan – Actor

Dickson College

Ronny Chieng – Comedian

Australian National University

Gary Eck – Comedian and TV Presenter

Latham Primary School, Belconnen High School, Hawker College

Tim Ferguson – Comedian and TV Presenter

School Without Walls (now closed), Narrabundah College

Leon Ford – Director and Screenwriter

Telopea Park School, Narrabundah College

Hannah Gadsby – Comedian

Australian National University

Richard Glover – Writer and Radio Presenter

Australian National University

Alister Grierson – Director and Screenwriter

Australian National University

Liv Hewson – Actor and Playwright

Alfred Deakin High School, Canberra College

Matthew Le Nevez – Actor

Telopea Park School

Paul McDermott – Comedian and TV Presenter

Dickson College, Australian National University

Rhys Muldoon – Actor

Scullin Primary School (closed, now Southern Cross Early Childhood School), Belconnen High School, Hawker College

Alex O'Loughlin – Actor

Macquarie Primary School

Felicity Packard – Screenwriter and Academic

Lyneham High School, University of Canberra, Australian National University

Rachel Perkins – Director, Producer and Screenwriter

Melrose Primary School (now closed)

Tanzeal Rahim – Director and Writer

University of Canberra

Helen Razer – Radio Presenter and Writer

Weston Creek High School (closed, now part of Mount Stromlo High School), Narrabundah College

Richard Roxburgh – Actor

Australian National University

Ben Snow – Visual Effects, Writer and Director

Narrabundah College, University of Canberra

James Wan – Director

Lake Tuggeranong College

Mia Wasikowska – Actor

Cook Primary School (now closed), Ainslie Primary School, Canberra High School

Kirsty Webeck – Comedian

Mt Stromlo High School, Narrabundah College, University of Canberra

Sara Zwangobani – Actor

Cook Primary School (now closed), Hawker College

BOOKS AND NEWS

Bettina Arndt – Journalist

Australian National University

Cynthia Banham – Journalist and Academic

Australian National University

Rosemary Church – International News Anchor

University of Canberra

Morris Gleitzman – Author

Canberra College of Advanced Education (now the University of Canberra)

Irma Gold – Author and Podcaster

University of Canberra

Stan Grant – Journalist and Author

Australian National University

Emma Grey – Author

Garran Primary School, University of Canberra, Australian National University, Canberra Institute of Technology

Marion Halligan – Author

Australian National University. Marion also taught English at Canberra High School.

Sonya Heaney – Author

Melrose High School, University of Canberra

Jack Heath – Author

Lyneham High School, Narrabundah College

Ingrid Jonach – Author

University of Canberra

Emma Macdonald – Journalist

North Ainslie Primary School, University of Canberra

Andrew Marlton aka First Dog on the Moon – Cartoonist

Yarralumla Primary School

Karen Middleton – Journalist

Belconnen High School, Hawker College

Garth Nix – Author

Turner Primary School, Lyneham High School, Dickson College

Dan O’Malley – Author

Garran Primary School

Sarah Oakes – Editor and Journalist

University of Canberra

Debra Oswald – Screenwriter and Author

Australian National University

Stephanie Owen Reeder – Author

University of Canberra

Jamila Rizvi – Author and Journalist

Lyneham High School, Hawker College

Brendan Shanahan – Author and Journalist

Narrabundah College, Australian National University

Kimberley Starr – Author

Garran Primary School

Gabrielle Tozer – Author and Journalist

University of Canberra

Karen Viggers – Author and Vet

Australian National University

Sam Vincent – Author and Journalist

University of Canberra

Amanda Whitley – HerCanberra Founder

University of Canberra

SPORTS

Suzy Batkovic – Basketballer

Lake Ginninderra College (now UC SSC Lake Ginninderra)

Darren Beadman – Jockey

Garran Primary School, Lyneham High School

Michael Bevan – Cricketer

Stirling College (became part of Canberra College)

Abby Bishop – Basketballer

Lake Ginninderra College (now UC SSC Lake Ginninderra)

Justin Blumfield – AFL Player

Melrose High School

Andrew Bogut – Basketballer

Lake Ginninderra College (now UC SSC Lake Ginninderra)

Edwina Bone – Hockey Player

University of Canberra

Caroline Buchanan – BMX and Mountain Bike Rider

Duffy Primary School, Lanyon High School, Erindale College

Liz Cambage – Basketballer

UC SSC Lake Ginninderra (now UC SSC Lake Ginninderra)

Bradley Clyde – Rugby League Player

Hawker College

Matthew Dellavedova – Basketballer

Lake Ginninderra College (now UC SSC Lake Ginninderra)

Brennon Dowrick – Gymnast

Lake Ginninderra College (now UC SSC Lake Ginninderra), University of Canberra

Danté Exum – Basketballer

Lake Ginninderra College (now UC SSC Lake Ginninderra)

Linley Frame – Swimmer

Lake Ginninderra College (now UC SSC Lake Ginninderra)

George Gregan – Rugby Union Player

University of Canberra

Aaron Hamill – AFL Player

Fadden Primary School, Melrose High School, Phillip College (became part of Canberra College)

Lincoln Hall – Mountain Climber

Telopea Park School, Australian National University

Shane Heal – Basketballer

Lake Ginninderra College (now UC SSC Lake Ginninderra)

James Hird – AFL Player

Ainslie Primary School

Andrew Illie – Tennis pPlayer

Lake Ginninderra College (now UC SSC Lake Ginninderra)

Joe Ingles – Basketballer

Lake Ginninderra College (now UC SSC Lake Ginninderra)

Lauren Jackson – Basketballer

Lake Ginninderra College (now UC SSC Lake Ginninderra)

Stephen Larkham – Rugby Union Player and Coach

Australian National University

Scott Miller – Swimmer

Lake Ginninderra College (now UC SSC Lake Ginninderra)

Patty Mills – Basketballer

Lanyon High School, UC SSC Lake Ginninderra

Joanne Morgan – Netballer and Coach

Lake Ginninderra College (now UC SSC Lake Ginninderra)

Cameron Myers – Athlete

UC SSC Lake Ginninderra

Lucas Neill – Soccer Player

Lake Ginninderra College (now UC SSC Lake Ginninderra)

Rennae Stubbs – Tennis Player

Lake Ginninderra College (now UC SSC Lake Ginninderra)

Petria Thomas – Swimmer and Commonwealth Games Chef de Mission

Lake Ginninderra College (now UC SSC Lake Ginninderra), University of Canberra

Marianna Tolo – Basketballer

Lake Ginninderra College (now UC SSC Lake Ginninderra)

Emily Van Egmond – Soccer Player

Lake Ginninderra College (now UC SSC Lake Ginninderra)

Mark Viduka – Soccer Player

Lake Ginninderra College (now UC SSC Lake Ginninderra)

Todd Woodbridge – Tennis Player and Commentator

Lyneham High School, Lake Ginninderra College (now UC SSC Lake Ginninderra)

Ned Zelic – Soccer Player

Lake Ginninderra College (now UC SSC Lake Ginninderra)

MUSIC

Peter Blakeley – Singer and Songwriter

Hughes Primary School

Peter Casey – Musical Director

Cook Primary School (now closed)

Matt Cooper, Matt Parkitny, Alex Pearson, Joel Tyrrell, Trenton Woodley – Hands Like Houses band members

Melba High School and Copland College (amalgamated to become Melba Copland Secondary School) and Canberra High School between them

Martin Craft – Sidewinder band member

Narrabundah College

Cameron Emerson-Elliott, Toby Martin – Youth Group band members

Narrabundah College

Frank Gambale – Guitarist

Canberra High School

Peter Garrett – Midnight Oil band member and politician

Australian National University

Adam Hyde, Reuben Styles – Peking Duk band members

Lyneham High School and Dickson College between them

Hayley Jensen – Singer and Songwriter

Australian National University, University of Canberra

Steven Kilbey – The Church band member

Lyneham High School

Lisa Moore – Pianist

Telopea Park School

Tim Omaji aka Timomatic – Singer, Songwriter and Dancer

Narrabundah College

Tim Rogers – Musician, You Am I band member

Australian National University

Sally Whitwell – Classical Pianist and Composer

Australian National University

AND STILL MORE

Jess Cochrane – Artist

Mt Stromlo High School

Stefania Ferrario – Activist and Model

Telopea Park School, Narrabundah College

Rosalie Gascoigne – Artist

Australian National University

Bob Hawke – Former Prime Minister of Australia

Australian National University

Tziporah Malkah (formerly Kate Fischer) – Model and Actress

Narrabundah College

Sam Mostyn – Current Governor General of Australia

South Curtin Primary School (became Curtin Primary School), Woden Valley High School (became part of Alfred Deakin High School), Narrabundah College

Hetti Perkins – Art Curator, Writer and Activist

Melrose Primary School (now closed)

Patricia Piccinini – Artist

Narrabundah College

Sam Prince – Zambreros Founder, Entrepreneur and Doctor

Lake Ginninderra College (now UC SSC Lake Ginninderra)

Kevin Rudd – Former Prime Minister of Australia

Australian National University

Gough Whitlam – Former Prime Minister of Australia

Telopea Park School

A COUPLE OF NOTABLE MENTIONS FROM OVER THE BORDER

David Campese – Rugby Union player and commentator

Queanbeyan High School

Mark Webber – Formula One driver and commentator

Isabella Street Primary School, Karabar High School

ENROL YOUR CHILD IN AN ACT SCHOOL

Today, more than 50,000 students are enrolled across the ACT’s 92 public schools.

To find a school or enrol your child, visit the ACT Education website.

To apply for university in Canberra, you'll typically apply through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) or directly to the university.