Chris Thompson spent 37 years in the corporate world before retiring. He quickly realised he wasn’t ready to stop contributing and, after just two months at home, started looking for a way to give back to the community. He found his way to Emerson School where he began as an Education Support officer before moving 18 months ago to head up the school’s Koorie program.
“Working at Emerson immediately appealed to me because I already had a connection to the school,” Chris says. “My eldest daughter, Jacqui, attended Emerson for around ten years, so I was familiar with the school and many of the wonderful staff.”
Chris says what he enjoys most about Emerson is watching the students grow and develop into young adults.
“It’s rewarding to see them build the skills and confidence they need for life beyond school. I love seeing the happiness students find in the simple things and the strong relationships they build with both staff and friends. Many students arrive early each day because they’re excited to be here, which says a lot about the positive and welcoming culture of our school community.”
As the Indigenous Program Coordinator, Chris supports Koorie students ranging in age from Junior through to Senior School. He says the students have embraced the voluntary program, which gives them a chance to have a yarn, share their experiences, and be proud of their culture and heritage.
“Each student in the program has a totem,” Chris explains. “An Aboriginal totem, connected to The Dreaming, shows a person’s relationship to their nation, clan and family group, and represents both strengths and weaknesses. It defines a person’s responsibility for a particular aspect of nature.”
Chris, who was born in the 1960s on Dja Dja Wurrung Country (covering areas including Bendigo, Ballarat, Castlemaine, Daylesford and Boort), says the crow is his totem. “The crow is respected for wisdom and intelligence, sometimes mischievous, and a protector.”
Emerson School in Dandenong is built on the traditional lands of the Bunurong (Boonwurrung) and Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung peoples of the Kulin Nation.
Chris describes himself as a quiet child who struggled with anxiety. “My first job as a gardener at a local supermarket helped me build confidence and started a career journey that eventually led me to Coles, where I worked for nearly 38 years,” he says.
During his time at Coles, Chris moved from store operations into information technology, teaching himself programming and developing systems that improved and automated processes across hundreds of stores. “My work earned several technology innovation awards and opportunities to represent the company overseas.”
Outside of work, Chris describes his greatest achievement as raising a family with his wife. “Together, we have nine children. After retiring, I realised I still wanted to stay active, connect with people, and contribute to my community. Driving past Emerson School one day reminded me of my daughter’s time here, and when a position was advertised, I decided to apply,” he says.
“Joining Emerson has been one of the best decisions I’ve made. I feel privileged to be part of a school community that cares so deeply for its students, staff, and families.”
[interviewed May-June 2026]
Photo credits: photos supplied by Chris Thompson. Bottom image shows Emerson students hard at work building the yarning circle at Middle School.
