Association spotlight: Dubbo Teachers’ Association

Number of members 487
President Emily Phimmachanh
Secretary Susan Kirwood

Our meetings are held at a local bowling club. We try to get around to all the schools’ representatives during meetings to see how everyone is doing.

Our community is large for a regional location. There are a lot of events that bring schools together. We have a few primary schools, as well as a collegiate high school system, and distance education school.

Our challenges Dubbo is a beautiful limbo of a location. It’s too far from Sydney to make it desirable for a tree change, but not far enough to have teacher housing or to have schools of more than two points. We’ve had a shortage of casuals and even permanent teachers for a few years now. In the past seven years the city has grown and become more vibrant and interesting, recommending it for teachers who want a change of pace.

Our events At the beginning of every year we have a welcome to the year BBQ, cooked by treasurer Gary Black. It’s a great time to invite new teachers to the area and to come together knowing the support network that’s standing with you.

Our executive Susan, our Secretary, is very knowledgeable and helpful. Gary helps out whenever there’s a motion that is put forward in a meeting. They consistently encourage everyone to get involved in as much activism as they can and they care about the association and members a great deal.

The best thing our association has done in the past five years In 2017, Dubbo held its first Pride march for LGBTIQ people in the area. Our association was privileged to design and commission a flag to march in the parade with teachers dressed in rainbow.