David Terry is a teacher at St Joseph’s Catholic College East Gosford where he’s also the union rep and a delegate to IEU Council, representing the Central Coast sub branch.
David’s been a teacher for 54 years, and a member of the IEU ever since he came to Australia from New Zealand just over 40 years ago.
“I love the students, I love seeing them learn,” David said. “And I love the challenges. I love trying to be innovative in the way kids learn.”
David became the rep at his school not just because his colleagues voted for him, but because he believes in advocating for people’s rights in the workplace.
If he could change one thing this year, it would be workloads (see page 2).
“Teachers are always coming to me and saying that pay is one thing, but they really struggle with the workloads,” he said. “Teachers are doing it tough in terms of demands, in terms of their scrutiny by a lot of different bodies, in terms of ticking boxes and jumping through hoops.
“Teachers love the students, but it’s all the bureaucracy that’s really driving us up the wall and exhausting us.”
The IEU honoured David’s 40 years of membership at its Council meeting in Sydney on 15 June.