Chris Breen for NSW Teachers Federation President

By Jane Salmon

Who is Chris Breen?

Priya’s Loving Parent – and a Dedicated Educator

Public schools are stretched to breaking point. Class sizes balloon, workloads rise, and teachers are asked to perform miracles on shrinking budgets.

Into this tough environment steps someone who has spent his life quietly making things better – Chris Breen.

I’ve known Chris for twelve years. He’s ethical, efficient and effective – a steady hand and a warm heart. Now, he’s standing for President of the NSW Teachers Federation. Ballots close 12 November 2025.

If elected, Chris believes the President should be paid no more than a teacher’s wage – a simple but powerful statement of integrity.

From Grief to Law:

Priya’s Law

Chris is the loving father who turned personal tragedy into lasting reform.

When his daughter Priya died, he channelled grief into action – writing a song, leading a petition and helping deliver Priya’s Law, which provides workplace protections for grieving parents.

That ability to transform pain into purpose defines him.

The Educator and the Advocate

Chris teaches science and chemistry in Sydney’s middle west, bringing empathy and creativity to the classroom. Before teaching, he worked at Telstra Sensis and the Land Titles Office, improving wages and conditions for large teams – experience that shaped his belief in fairness and collective action.

As a founding member of Teachers for Refugees, Chris has long championed diversity and belonging. He also helped lead the Children Off Nauru campaign and supported former refugees once detained offshore, many of whom now thrive in Australian communities thanks to his tireless work.

He helped establish Teachers for Palestine, defending educators’ right to discuss current events thoughtfully and supporting students affected by the violence in Gaza.

A Vision for Public Education

Chris and his ACTION Team – Eppy Najjarine, a dynamic western Sydney campaigner, and Matt Meagher, a TAFE teacher who built a branch from scratch – have a clear, achievable platform:

• Workload reduction, including two fewer face-to-face teaching hours per week.
• Full public school funding.
• Permanent jobs and smaller classes.
• Pay rises that beat inflation.
• A strong, strategic Federation that listens to teachers.

They know permanency isn’t a luxury – it’s the foundation of quality education.

Why It Matters

Public schools once taught 77% of Australian students during the Whitlam era. Today that’s down to 56% in NSW, while private schools grow unchecked.

The Albanese Government promises full funding and smaller classes – but not until 2034. Its current budget adds just $25 million a year for NSW, meaning it would take 160 years to reach the target. Meanwhile, the AUKUS pact will cost 26 times more than schooling.

Chris Breen says what many teachers know: our national priorities are wrong — and fixing them starts in the classroom.

The Leader Teachers Deserve

Chris Breen isn’t running for prestige. He’s running because he believes in public education as the heart of democracy – not a fallback, but a pathway to equality and opportunity.

Teachers at the chalkface, he says, deserve a real say in shaping the system they sustain.

Vote Chris Breen and the ACTION Team before 12 November 2025.

For fairness, permanency, and public education that works.