One of the most influential mentors at Hunters Hill Public School isn’t a principal or a teacher, but a cleaner for government contractor Serco whose personal dedication has profoundly shaped the school’s culture.
A Beloved Community Figure
Since beginning her role in January 2020, Akessa Seru has become an essential part of the school’s daily life. Employed by Serco, a company providing complex services to governments across the Asia Pacific in sectors like defence and facilities management, Ms. Seru believes her job requires more than just fulfilling a contract.
She has expressed that honesty and dedication are crucial to making a real impact, stating that ensuring the school is clean is always her first priority. She feels a responsibility to tackle any job, big or small, to maintain a safe and welcoming environment for the children.
Cultivating More Than a Garden
Ms Seru’s most visible contribution is a vibrant green garden she started and maintains on the school grounds. This labour of love produces a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, and spices, including silver beet, beans, bok choy, and citrus fruits.
Some of the fresh ingredients are used in the school canteen to add homegrown nutrition to student lunches. Other produce is donated to the staff room for teachers to share, further connecting her work to the well-being of the entire school.
An Inspiring Presence
Her high standards and passion for her work have had a notable effect on those around her. Ms. Seru has shared that she always tried to mentor younger cleaners she worked with in the past. She was deeply touched when a former colleague, who later moved into nursing, called to thank her for the valuable lessons she had learned.
This influence is deeply felt at Hunters Hill, where the school principal has written a letter with glowing feedback. Each year, she is invited to the school’s Christmas party, where she receives presents and handwritten letters from students who talk about how amazing she is at home.
The daily interactions, from students and teachers greeting her in the morning to invitations to share lunch, show how appreciated she is. For Ms. Seru, who moved to Australia from Fiji, providing a clean and safe learning space is something she does with the care she would give her own grandchild. Her influence is so profound that one child told her they wanted to grow up to be a cleaner, just like her. She credits the flexibility and kindness from her Serco managers for enabling her to thrive and balance her work with her family life and faith.
Published Date 24-July-2025
