Meet our Members

Gabie Madden: Devoted and enthusiastic

Teacher Gabie Madden, left, and Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle’s Directorof Schools Jacqueline Wilkinson.

Early career teacher Gabie Madden is dedicated to the wellbeing of students, writes Andrew Taylor.

Every Wednesday morning at St Joseph’s College in Lochinvar, Gabie Madden invites students to sit down for a hearty breakfast.

An HSIE teacher at the Hunter Valley school, Gabie said the Breakfast Club provides a welcoming, safe space where students can start the day with a healthy meal.

“For many students, this helps reduce stress and anxiety related to hunger or feeling isolated,” she said. “It sets a positive tone for their learning day ahead, especially before they go and run around at sport.”

Devoted and enthusiastic

The wellbeing program is one of the tasks at the school undertaken by Gabie, who received an early career teaching award at this year’s Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle’s Emmaus Awards.

Gabie said it was “really humbling” to win the award and an “encouragement to keep learning and growing”.

“I know I still have so much to develop, but this recognition gives me a little reassurance that the effort I’m putting into my teaching and relationships with students is having a positive impact,” she said.

The award judges described Gabie as a devoted and enthusiastic teacher whose “professionalism and maturity surpass her age”.

“Gabie is highly regarded by her colleagues and frequently approached for assistance and collaborative teaching,” the judges said.

“Her dedication to holistic education is evident in her leadership roles within the College’s social justice efforts, including Socktober, Caritas and Bake Sales.”

The judges also noted her significant role in the school’s spiritual life by co-leading retreats and formation days: “Additionally, her coaching of netball teams underscores her commitment to fostering student engagement and growth.”

Welcoming and supportive

Gabie’s commitment to student wellbeing also led to her appointment in 2024 to lead the school’s wellbeing and transition program – a role in which she helped 31 new students join the school.

“It was such a privilege to build those initial relationships and help new students and their families feel like valued members of our community from day one,” she said.

Gabie also manages Queen Talk, which provides a forum for female students to discuss the challenges they face.

“These sessions promote empowerment, resilience and a strong sense of community,” she said.

Gabie teaches business studies, commerce and religion to students in Years 9 to 12 at St Joseph’s, which she said has a strong sense of community.

“You can feel it the moment you walk through the gates,” she said. “The relationships between staff and students are genuine, and it’s a really welcoming and supportive environment to be part of.”

''I really value the idea of being part of a wider professional network that advocates for teachers.''

Collective voice

An IEU member since 2022, Gabie said she joined the union “because I really value the idea of being part of a wider professional network that advocates for teachers and supports our rights and wellbeing in the workplace”.

Gabie comes from a family of teachers and was especially inspired by her grandfather, Dennis, who was a primary school principal.

“I feel strongly about contributing to a school environment that supports not just academic development, but spiritual and moral growth as well,” she said.

Early career teachers face a wide range of challenges – managing workload while building confidence and refining their teaching practice.

“In our first years, we’re often given a full-time load, expected to meet the demands of various stakeholders, and required to complete our NESA proficient accreditation, all at once,” Gabie said.

Gabie said the union was a vital source of support, helping early career teachers understand their workplace rights and responsibilities, which “provides clarity and reassurance during what can be a very intense period of professional growth”.

Teacher Liam Bleakley with his father Tim at the Emmaus Awards.

Liam Bleakley: Promising young teacher

Early career teacher Liam Bleakley relishes the opportunity to connect with students, writes Andrew Taylor.

Teaching is a tradition in Liam Bleakley’s family. His father, Tim, is a primary school principal. His mother, Joanne, was an early childhood educator before becoming a TAFE teacher and later joining the Department of Education. Liam’s brothers, Justin and James, both teach in primary schools.

Yet Liam was adamant he would never follow in his parents’ footsteps – until a teacher inspired a change of heart and love of geography.

“School wasn’t exactly my cup of tea,” Liam said. “I wasn’t a straight-A student by any means.”

Liam said he now has a passion for geography, which he teaches alongside history, legal studies and business studies.

“I also love the idea of being a teacher and having an impact on people’s lives and yeah, I became another teacher in the family,” he said.

''You can see thedifference you’re making.''

Remarkable potential

An HSIE teacher at St Francis Xavier’s College in Hamilton, Liam was one of three early career teachers recognised at this year’s Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle’s Emmaus Awards.

The award’s judges said Liam was a deserving winner of the prize: “Since starting his career in 2021, Liam has demonstrated remarkable potential and influence in teaching and leadership.”

The judges also said Liam had built strong connections with students through his “patience, professionalism, and profound understanding of adolescent wellbeing”.

“He is a valued colleague, a positive male role model, and a committed educator with exceptional talent. Liam represents a promising young teacher.”

Making a difference

Liam said he felt privileged to play a part in his students’ lives. As the leader of Year 12 wellbeing, he helps students make choices about what to do after they finish school.

“You get to connect genuinely with students,” he said. “They don’t have to show their appreciation, but you can see the difference you’re making.”

Liam added: “We don’t go into teaching to be thanked. It’s just really cool to see the sort of positive impact you can have on students.”

Beyond the classroom, Liam has stepped into relieving leadership roles in administration, wellbeing and pedagogy. The latter role involved assisting colleagues with using technology such as digital whiteboards as well as teaching methods for younger students.

Liam has also gone above and beyond teaching duties by participating in retreats, which he said is a “really great way to get to know students”.

“I think better learning can take place because you’ve developed a relationship with students.”

Reassurance and support

An IEU member since 2022, Liam comes from a proud union family. When Liam asked his father, who joined the IEU in 1989, about signing up to the union, his advice was simple: “Mate, jump on it.”

Liam said the union provides reassurance, support and “gives me the confidence to be a better teacher”.

While Liam loves teaching, he is clear-eyed about the challenges posed by burgeoning workloads, staffing shortages and the risk of burnout from overwork.

“You feel you have a duty to the students,” he said. “That is rewarding but also a bit of a curse. I want to make sure every lesson is up to scratch and every single meeting with a student is productive.”

An avid sportsman, Liam is deeply involved in the school’s sports program, playing cricket and the rugby codes. He was also part of the teachers’ relay team in swimming and athletics.

“The teachers won the swimming side of things, but the running, I didn’t think the bones held up on the teachers,” he said.

Christian Bell: Experience of a lifetime

Christian Bell is one of three teachers selected to accompany students on a tour of South Korea and Singapore, writes Andrew Taylor.

Leading a group of high school students on a tour of the demilitarised zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea, is not for the faint-hearted.

But the opportunity proved irresistible for Christian Bell, an IEU member and Head of HSIE (History, Geography and Aboriginal Studies) at Christian Brothers’ High School Lewisham.

“I’m really looking forward to visiting some of the battlefield sites of the Korean War and, depending on the advice at the time, areas of South Korea near the demilitarised zone,” he said.

Christian is one of three teachers who will accompany 20 NSW secondary school students on a 12-day tour of South Korea and Singapore in September and October as part of the 2025 Premier’s Anzac Memorial Scholarship.

Sites on the itinerary include the Memorial Hall for the Incheon Landing Operation, National Museum of Korea, UN First Battle Memorial and Imjingak Park in the DMZ area.

The tour is designed to help students better understand the history of Australians who served during the Korean War.

They will also travel to Singapore and visit sites such as Changi Prison relating to the history of World War Two.

Invaluable experience

Joining the tour is an obvious choice for Christian given his interest in Australia’s military history and its impact on national identity.

“The opportunity to visit South Korea and Singapore with a study tour just seemed like an invaluable experience,” he said. “I was very lucky to get through the process and be selected.”

Christian is deep in preparation for the study tour alongside other participants and staff from the NSW Office for Veterans Affairs.

“We’ve been having meetings to go through the itinerary in greater detail and talk logistics, the aims of the tour and management of students,” he said.

Christian has previously been on school tours to visit rural communities in NSW, Timor-Leste and Israel. He also conducts amateur archaeological digs for his ancient history students to deepen their understanding and interest in the subject.

''I was fortunate to have incredible teachers who helped me build a deep love of history.''

Deep love of history

Christian has been a teacher for more than a decade and remains enthusiastic about the career he set his heart on as a teenager.

“I knew from about 15 years of age that I wanted to be a teacher,” he said. “I was fortunate to have incredible teachers who helped me build a deep love of history.”

Christian said he appreciates the opportunity to play a positive role in the lives of his students.

“Watching them as they grow into young men and women who are thoughtful, kind and open to learning is just so satisfying,” he said.

“Getting to work with colleagues who are passionate and dedicated is also incredibly rewarding.”

Speaking up and solidarity

An IEU member since 2016, Christian was encouraged to join the union by colleagues at his first school who were fantastic mentors and engaging teachers.

“They were all strong advocates of the union,” he said. “They emphasised the importance of speaking up for colleagues and standing in solidarity with people.”

He said union principles are closely aligned with the values he seeks to share as a humanities teacher.

“I think it’s a no-brainer, and that’s why I advocate for newer and younger teachers to join as well,” he said.

Christian said teaching can be challenging but “the trick is really just focusing on what drives us to do this work we love”.

“My own young children help ground me in terms of recognising what’s important,” he said.

“It’s important to engage with the challenges of teaching, to find ways of managing them, but also to push past that and recognise that our jobs are really special.”

Karen McKay: It’s an honour

Karen McKay was shocked to learn her name was on the King’s Birthday Honours List, writes Andrew Taylor.

When Karen McKay was told she would receive an award in the 2025 King’s Birthday Honours List, she felt a little overwhelmed and embarrassed.

“Initially I thought it was someone having a joke with me,” she said. “I am sure there are many people more deserving than me.”

An IEU member for more than four decades, Karen was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for outstanding service to early childhood education.

Karen said she accepted the award on behalf of the staff, children and families she has worked with at St Joseph’s Early Childhood Service in Laurieton on the NSW Mid North Coast “and my undervalued colleagues in the profession”.

Several generations

Karen taught up to three generations from the same families during her long tenure as director of St Joseph’s.

“I was part of the teaching staff for many years and only moved to a non-teaching role when the service’s operational needs became too great to fulfil the role of teacher and manager,” she said.

In the early days, children attended the community preschool for two days a week before they went to primary school. Some three-year-olds would also attend for half a day.

“We were a newer service without too many resources,” Karen said. “We made do with what we had – and ‘free’ was one of our favourite words. Parents worked hard to manage and run the centre and fundraised to keep it going.

“Paperwork was done by hand and as a state-funded community preschool we struggled to make funds last until the next cheque arrived.”

St Joseph’s now operates as a long day care centre and preschool for 64 children from six weeks to school age.

“From the start of my career to the finish, the nature of children and families has changed radically,” she said. “The centre worked hard to ensure we were providing a service that catered as best we could to those needs.”

Union membership vital

Karen joined the IEU in 1983 on the recommendation of a colleague and has participated in many union actions over the past four decades, including the Unite for Change campaign for pay rises in community preschools.

“I believe union membership is even more important today,” she said. “For all my time we advocated for better wages for the profession. I believe that issue has still not been adequately resolved.”

Karen also said she believed respect for the profession is lower today than when she began teaching in 1979.

However, Karen said it was rewarding to watch children and families grow – both educationally and as part of the local community.

She said students from her first years at St Joseph’s are now nearing 50 years old.

“I still run into some of them and have taught many of their children and even grandchildren as they continue to support the service,” she said.

New adventures

Karen said the most challenging aspect of the job involved bureaucracy rather than children.

“Too often policies and funding are determined by those who do not have any lived experience with the folk whose lives their decisions affect,” she said.

Karen expressed gratitude for the support of long-time IEU rep and former IEU Vice President Early Childhood Services Gabe Connell – “her advocacy made a difference” – as well as the parish and her family “who allowed me the space to bring St Joseph’s into so much of their life”.

Karen keeps in touch with colleagues since her retirement from St Joseph’s in 2024 but is busy these days running around after grandchildren and volunteer gardening at the aged care facility where her father lives. She also works part-time in customer service.

“I do lots of short courses on relevant subjects like Egyptian Mathematics, and I holiday with my husband,” she said.

“I realised early in my retirement that it was not good to be at home, and I needed to find something that provided social contact with the rest of the world.”