Housekeeping Manager Steve Mundy presented with the 2025 Burgmann College Staff Recognition Award in gratitude for his faithful service
Steve Mundy served on Burgmann’s Housekeeping Team for an impressive 24 years, working his way up from Homer Wing’s window cleaner on a casual contract to becoming a full-time Housekeeping Manager and a key shaper of Burgmann’s staff culture. After his long tenure, he has retired from his role at Burgmann College.
Steve is deeply respected not only by the members of his Housekeeping team, but the broader staff of Burgmann College, and residents past and present. He led through service, diving in and working hard alongside his team to keep the College's facilities spotless and efficiently running, quietly working in the background to ensure Burgmann’s daily operations run smoothly.
Our Housekeeping staff also play an integral role in the College’s provision of pastoral care to residents, and Steve approached this responsibility with compassion and discretion.
‘At the centre of everything Steve does at Burgmann is the residents’, said Acting Deputy Principal Monte Nathan. ‘From small things like the timing of his housekeeping inspections, to how he raises issues and concerns with residents, Steve always comes from a place of empathy, support and care. When Steve thinks a resident might not be doing so well, he brings it forward, and our pastoral care network would not be as strong without his vigilance and empathy.’
Before coming to Burgmann, Steve had been working in hospitality and had nearly left the industry before finding his role here.
‘Initially, I came to Burgmann College for 12 months between jobs in hospitality. I was actually thinking I was getting out of hospitality, but I found Burgmann so inclusive and such a great place to learn that I stayed, and stayed, and stayed.’
After 24 years, Steve saw many staff members come and go, and his own team has expanded from only four Housekeeping team members to 10. Certain people during his time at Burgmann remain central in his memories, like Vicki Guyer, Burgmann’s Manager of Residential Services for 27 years, who initially hired Steve. He also spoke warmly of Janice Ruru, his friend and Housekeeping Supervisor of over 10 years, and Margaret Cadman.
‘I’ve always been lucky in the colleague department. I’ve made lifelong friends at work and shared too many laughs to count’, said Steve.
Steve was also a key figure in Burgmann’s Staff Morning Tea, held every weekday. Team members from all departments gather and enjoy a light catered morning tea, catching up with each other to keep connected, before Steve would announce the start of what is now a staff favourite, known simply as ‘the Quiz’.
Using quizzes clipped from the Canberra Times, Steve read out the questions and staff members from all departments call out their answers. Amid the mirth and hilarity, presiding over the chaos with steadfastness and good humour has been Steve, often offering helpful hints when the staff are well and truly stumped.
Steve said the quiz started more than 10 years ago during Principal Philip Dutton's tenure. ‘I took over from Principal Dutton when he left and I've been doing it ever since’, said Steve. ‘It's such fun. [The staff] come up with some bizarre answers and just throw stuff out there at times!’
While he's grateful to be recognised, Steve insisted his work at Burgmann College has been a team effort, and feels honoured that so many of his Housekeeping Staff have felt comfortable and happy enough in their roles on his team that they’re building similar careers at Burgmann College.
‘Realistically, it's not just me. It's a whole team of people, including my own staff in the Housekeeping team. We’ve basically had no turnover of staff in 10 years. A lot of my staff are coming up to 10 years at Burgmann, and some more, so it's fantastic’, he said.
His leadership style was to keep an open-door policy to not only his Housekeeping Staff, but any colleague at Burgmann who needed a listening ear and advice.
‘I think having so many staff that have been here for such a long time, we get to know each other. We're basically like a family’, said Steve.
To current and future residents, Steve says: ‘Take up anything that Burgmann can offer you. There are there's a myriad of things: events like Inward Bound, sports, committees, leadership roles and that type of thing. Just get involved—it's just not just a place to live.’
