Michelle Spence is friendly, capable and approachable.

President of the ICPA, she takes the time to explain the stance of the Hay Branch on issues, and to provide a friendly reminder ICPA is an organisation which fights for all children, not just children living on farms or attending boarding schools.

“Anyone who has had or has a child growing up in Hay has already benefited from the work ICPA does, without realising it,” she said.

“Implementations and changes such as Sky Muster Plus, seat belts on buses, detection systems on buses, the Tertiary Access Payment, and the school fee waivers for VISA holders are just a few examples.”

The 3G closure and reported significant disparities between the level of service which was promised and the level of service which eventuated after the closure has been one of Michelle’s biggest fights.

“I have members who have family members who are struggling with fear and anxiety relating to health issues which might become emergencies fast, and with no or highly reduced service.”

Michelle decided she would bring positivity and a solution of sorts with her to conference in regards to the ongoing 3G issues.

“The week before conference I attended the pop-up meeting Telstra held in Hay,” she said. “I asked them what they can realistically do for me, as they are never going to turn 3G back on.

“They changed the bandwidth on my Cel-Fi and updated it. “So, at the conference I asked the Telstra professionals, who were the same ones as at the pop up, if they would come to the CWA Market Day to be held on May 10, soothers can benefit from these adjustments and updates.

“I am not having the same service as before the 3G shutdown but it has been better than any service I have had since it shut down.

“Many case studies conducted in the region have reflected how sad and frustrated people are with the loss of service and change in experience. “It has taken us back in time.

“Where, in the last five years or so we have been able to enjoy being able to take work calls in the paddock, be connected with our children and at hand if there is an issue, to be able to text the bus driver if we are on our way but running late, we cannot do any of those things anymore.

“If the cattle driver is late, a simple text would let us know without significant impact to the day. Now since the change, we have to go back to the house to check to see if we have messages, or if we have an emergency, this makes it beyond hard.”

Michelle has members who have family members with health issues, and they are rightly angry and scared.

“There have been community sessions happening since 2018 and we have done all the things they told us to do,” she said.

“We were promised equal to better service. This has not happened, and now the solutions offered, and things they want us to do, they wold not ask people in metropolitan areas to do.

“These include sending workers out in pairs - which farms and small business do not have, and if they do it is not viable, buying alternative resources at our own cost, which we did before the closure, and more.”

The change which Michelle, the Hay Branch of ICPA and ICPA on a broader scale advocate for in fact does not just end up impacting the sector of education.

There are many offshoots which can benefit rural areas. One of these such areas was mentioned in the Tertiary portfolio report, delivered at the Euston conference.

Those studying to be a teacher, nurse, midwife or social worker will now be eligible for the Commonwealth Prac Payment to support them undertaking mandatory workplace placement required for university and vocational education and training qualifications.

The Country Universities Centre in Hay has also been fiercely advocated for by the ICPA.

The aim is to encourage more professionals to the area by implementing or advocating for a HECS/Fee Help reduction to people who remain in the area for a specific amount of time.

Michelle is patient, and provides good insight into the way the ICPA works. “Some motions have been presented in different ways, in different wordings and to different areas; we never stop trying.

“Local ICPA branches are the grassroots level, and from there motions go to the State conferences. From there they go to deputations in Canberra and the themes of the motions are presented on behalf of local branches and state.”

“As President of the Hay branch I feel quite energised and excited,” Michelle said.

“There are quite a lot of new young members coming into the ICPA and taking on executive roles, and learning and understanding what has to be done, the effort needed to fight for and achieve change.

“I am also quite liking the complete energy shift which has occurred within ICPA both in the branch and state levels.”

Speaking to Michelle and gaining an insight into ICPA really actually makes you believe you can make a difference - all for a simple $10 annual membership.