Name: Tara Bayly
Current town: Gleno, Ermera, Timor-Leste
Year you finished St Paul’s: 2014
Current occupation: Qualitative Researcher and Community Development Specialist.
What age/year were you when you joined St Paul’s?: I joined St Paul’s in Year 7.
What are your fondest memories of St Paul’s?: Trying to find places to “play” at lunchtimes in Year 7 with my friend Caitlin. The Art room and the people it contained throughout Year 12.
Did you have a favourite teacher/teachers and why?: This one’s easy. Mrs Day-Henning was a brilliant teacher. The thought of disappointing such a teacher and person provided a lot of homework motivation.
Were you involved in any co-curricular activities at the School?: Mostly sports – gymnastics, swimming, netball and athletics. Plus few ski trips.
What do you see as your greatest achievements at the School?: Finding out that jokes causing myself and/or my friend Sam to be sent out of class were recounted to students by that same teacher the following year.
What has your pathway been since graduating?: Very confused. I have moved between music industry work, the disability sector, codesign, water governance and two-way researching and learning with First Nations. I’m now living in Timor-Leste volunteering in a community development role within local government.
What training/course was required to get into that field?: Most people in the community development/social research field arrive through super diverse pathways. I started with a broad arts degree, then completed a Graduate Certificate in Sociology and a Master of Social Policy.
Why did you choose this field?: I have always been fascinated by intercultural settings, especially relating to knowledge making and policy processes. It is a super exciting space to work and learn in.
What or who influenced you to take this path?: My nan is an extraordinary woman. My first visit to Timor was largely about trying to understand her work and relationship with Timor. Letting me tag along with her ten years ago certainly made it possible for me to begin conceiving of jobs like the one I currently have.
What do you enjoy most about your current occupation?: Timor-Leste is so different from Australia, yet it is one of our closest neighbours. It is pretty special getting to constantly learn and share from vastly different perspectives.
What do you find most challenging about what you do now?: Gender relations and politics are significant (and often opaque) in Timor. Speaking to power or simply going for a walk requires different considerations for women than in Australia.
What do you think is different about St Paul’s from other schools?: St Paul’s has strong arts and co-curricular programs, offering varied opportunities for confused generalists like me. The Elite Sports Performer’s program was supportive in my final years of school.
Are there specific areas where you think St Paul’s contributed to your current career and/or interests?: Joining a big school in not such a big town developed my early curiosities about different cultures and the ways communities connect. There were always interesting things happening and new things to try, watch or ask about – often encouraging me to consider how I might understand or participate in change beyond my immediate environment.
What are your interests out of work?: My spare time these days is largely spent struggling to learn Tetun (the main language of Timor-Leste).
Are there any other comments that you might like to add?: Volunteering is a great way to learn quickly, and the work and relationships that emerge have a very different quality to them. Past and present members of the St Paul’s community – Marilyn Davidson, Andrea Heard, Kirsten Enders and members of ‘Team Timor’ have contributed an extraordinary amount of care and effort to friendships with Timor over the years. If you come across them, they are great people to chat with about Timor. Friends of Ermera are also welcoming new members – especially young thinkers!
Please take a moment to find out more about Friends of Ermera here.