Overworked and feeling emotionally and morally exhausted (a legacy of the government's failure to value the teacher workforce), Mr. Damoon Mehlpur is organizing a state federation to change the fate of teachers and students. decided to work together with activists.
“I could see the impact that the Liberal government's wage policies were having on my colleagues and my children,” said Daymoon, who was then teaching at Moree Secondary College in the state's west.
“Co-worker morale was low. If you don't pay people a salary that's commensurate with their workload, skills, and responsibilities, it turns people away from becoming and continuing to teach.”
The statewide teacher shortage was having a major impact. Over his two terms in 2022, nine teachers transferred from Moree Secondary, left the state or left the profession.
“I was the only science teacher in my department of six who trained for nearly a month. We also invited students from other classes who were being taught to participate. [with CAPA, English or TAS backgrounds].
“Those students came to me, even outside of school hours, if they needed help with their assessments. The workload became overwhelming. I was emotionally and morally challenged. I was tired. As I took on more challenges, I started to feel like burnout. If it weren't for the kids, I would have left.
“My colleagues were having a really, really hard time covering classes, and it was really, really hard for the whole school community. They asked me if I thought they wouldn't be able to get a higher education.”
Don't leave the future to chance
In the run-up to the state elections in March 2023, Damoon, who had been participating in More Than Thanks broadcast rallies and protest activities with her school colleagues, was determined not to sit idle.
“I felt the results of the state election were so important to make a difference for my colleagues and students that I decided to hop on a plane on election day and support the federation’s More Than Thanks campaign,” he said. . “I have seen [ABC election analyst] After seeing Antony Green's pendulum swing, I identified the Penrith constituency as the place where I could make the most impact and registered on the Federation's website. ”
He said he invested in traveling to Sydney for the election because it was important to him to volunteer and get his message out for the future of the profession.
Damoon got out of bed before 5am and flew to Sydney. “I wanted to be in the booth at the opening. There's so much at stake in this profession that I couldn't allow anyone to walk through the gate without hearing the federation's message. I wanted to punch everyone. I had a strong desire to get as many people as possible to hear the Federation's message.If things continued as they were, public education in New South Wales would decline. I will continue.”
He worked at two election booths with other federation members, handing out flyers and speaking to voters.
“I'm not good at public speaking. I get pretty nervous trying to convince people I don't know, but I felt the message was so important that I had to push it through. .
“I focused the conversation on how government policies are impacting children, how pay caps are devaluing teachers' work and making it harder to attract and retain teachers. I explained that the teacher shortage is out of control, leading to classroom collapse and minimal supervision. It's a very easy message to send to parents who put their children in broken classrooms. Are there any parents you want?”
He enjoyed volunteering with other teachers' union members. “Spending time with people who are also trying to achieve their best results creates positive energy and ignites passion.”
After voting closed, Damoon joined other More Than Thanks volunteers for a drink and chat while watching election coverage. He said he feels “euphoric” about the election results. Penrith MP Stuart Ayres and the Perrott government were defeated. “I cried; I was buzzing. I felt like we had finally turned a corner in terms of valuing teachers and prioritizing the educational outcomes of our students.
“When I get back [to Moree], my conversations with colleagues felt optimistic for the first time in a while. It gave me great satisfaction. ”
Go back and learn more
A few months later, inspired by his election day experience, Damoon returned to Western Sydney, this time handing out leaflets and holding conversations in support of the Yes campaign for a parliamentary referendum voice.
“At Moree Secondary College, we have a large population of Aboriginal students, so it meant a lot to me to take part in the referendum day. A good result would mean a lot to their future.”
An energizing experience
“Working with like-minded people on the federation's campaigns lit a fire in me,” Damoon said. “I draw energy and inspiration from the passion of my colleagues.
“Participating gives me a sense of hope,” he added.
Never underestimate the difference you can make
Mr Damoon said teachers underestimated the impact they could have in changing minds and encouraged all members to contribute to the federation's campaigns to improve working conditions and student outcomes. He said that
“Even if you can't give people a lot of time, the smallest sacrifice goes a long way.”
An online video that suggested that the way to beat a bad idea is to use a better one made an impression on Damoon. He now encourages members to participate in the federation's forums.
“I've heard some good ideas from my colleagues and I'm telling them we need to bring them to the teachers' association meeting.”
Ms Daymoon currently works at Cambridge Park High School in the Penrith constituency.
Category: School
Tags: Activism, EQ Issue 9, Member Stories, More Than Thanks
