Paula has lived and worked with her husband, Frank, and their two children on their family property south of Winton for the past 18 years. Throughout this time, she has experienced firsthand the unique opportunities and challenges that come with raising and educating children in rural and remote Australia.
A strong advocate for education, Paula was the home tutor for both of her children during their primary school years through the Longreach School of Distance Education. Her family is now navigating the next stage of their educational journey, with one child in Year 6 and the other in Year 8 at Townsville Grammar School. These experiences have given Paula a deep understanding of the educational pathways available to rural families and the challenges that can arise along the way.
Paula’s involvement with the Isolated Children's Parents' Association (ICPA) began in 2018 when she attended the State Conference in Winton as an observer. Inspired by the work of the organisation, she became actively involved in her local branch, serving in several leadership roles including Publicity Officer, President and Secretary. Her commitment to education and community engagement has also been evident through her involvement with the Longreach School of Distance Education P&C, where she served first as Vice President and later as President.
Having personally faced many of the issues familiar to rural and remote families—including limited access to childcare and allied health services, distance education challenges, technology barriers, boarding school transitions, and extensive travel requirements—Paula brings valuable lived experience to her advocacy work.
She joins State Council with a strong desire to give back to the organisation that has supported her family throughout every stage of their educational journey. Passionate about improving educational outcomes for rural and remote children, Paula is committed to ensuring that all families have equitable access to quality education, regardless of where they live.
