Mum, dad and daughter are teachers at Ludmilla Primary School

Catherine Packham and John Moulds met as teachers at Ludmilla Primary almost 30 years ago. Now their daughter is following in their footsteps.

Amelia Moulds-Packham with mother, Catherine and father, John - all teachers at Ludmilla Primary. Picture: Zayda Dollie

Amelia Moulds-Packham has been a teacher at Ludmilla Primary School for the past year.

She loves the school for many reasons, not least because the 23-year-old has two very special co-workers – her mum and dad.

Catherine Packham, 54, and John Moulds, 61, are both teachers at Ludmilla Primary too – having started years before their daughter decided to follow in their footsteps.

Ms Packham said she was glad when her daughter told her about her plans to become a teacher and do her placement at Ludmilla Primary.

Amelia Moulds-Packham, Catherine Packham and John Moulds are a family of teachers at Ludmilla Primary School. Picture: Zayda Dollie

“I was really happy – really, really happy,” she said.

“I’m very proud, she does a good job, the kids enjoy her being here,” Mr Moulds said.

Mr Moulds and Ms Packham met at Ludmilla Primary almost 30 years ago – he started at the school in 1991 and she started two years later in 1993.

For the past three decades, the two have taught in schools all over the Territory, including in remote areas.

Mr Moulds taught in Katherine for six years before starting at Ludmilla Primary.

Now, semi-retired, he continues to be a relief teacher at Ludmilla and Ms Packham works at a number of schools in Darwin, including Ludmilla.

23-year-old Amelia Moulds-Packham loves her job and working with kids. Picture: Zayda Dollie

Amelia Moulds-Packham (23) and mother Catherine Packham (54) walk back to her classroom. Picture: Zayda Dollie

“I have taught at 16 schools in the Territory,” Ms Packham said.

There are days when all three teachers are at the school at the same time – much to the delight of the students.

“They love it,” Ms Moulds-Packham said.

“It works well with the connections, like someone will say, ‘Oh my gosh, I know your mum!’”

“It makes it a lot easier to build relationships when that relationship is already there.”

Ms Packham said the reverse is also true and if students meet her daughter first, she is often called “Miss Amelia’s mum”.

“Teaching at Ludmilla is a bit like teaching used to be,” Ms Packham said.

“It’s very holistic here, very family-oriented, very caring, lots of pastoral care, lots of fun – a lot other schools I’ve been at are more about standardised testing.

“Teaching here is like it was twenty years ago.

“Kids here play really well, a lot of Indigenous kids aren’t so aligned with technology, so they’re really into doing things outside and are a lot more creative.”

Ms Moulds-Packham estimated the student population was roughly 30-40 per cent Indigenous.

“We get a lot of students from Bagot community, a lot of students from the Eaton RAAF base and just the general area – it’s great,” Ms Moulds-Packham said.

“The school has got a really good relationship with both the RAAF base and Bagot community.”