The normally bubbly and talkative Dubbo resident on Tuesday challenged herself to a pledge of silence to raise funds for students at the Kokoda College in Papua New Guinea (PNG).

The Dubbo-based leaders and entrepreneurs coach did not speak a word from 9am to 4pm to help give a voice to the Kokoda children.

She said by being silent, a spotlight was placed on the importance of listening.

Ms Phipps had 20-minute appointments with community members where she listened to people talk out their achievements and future goals.

She said when she listened completely, her opinions and ideas were stowed away because "I know people are more creative and resilient than they generally give them credit for".

"They hear their own thoughts aloud and realise how important, or not, specific things are," she said.

One participant Kate Moody, said it was a surprise to see Mrs Phipps not speaking.

"She's normally so positive and optimistic," Ms Moody said.

She said Mrs Phipps was there to just listen to her and it was "surprising how much you can blurt out just when someone's there to listen to you".

"It allowed me to hear my plans for my future and hopefully feel empowered to take the necessary steps to get there," she said.

Mrs Phipps hoped to raise $500 to go towards poverty and the lack of education she saw during a visit to PNG last year with her grandfather for the 70th commemoration of the Kokoda Campaign.

"Seeing the poverty so close to home had quite an impact," she said.

"The number of children who do not have an education are 10 times the population of Dubbo.

"I believe that education will transform the lives of these families and break the cycle of poverty," she said.