I was born and raised in Adelaide, attending Woodville Primary School and Findon High School.
I moved to Mildura 35 years ago and have had an extensive career in dental nursing, practice management, medical and more recently NDIS in disability support as a support co-ordinator.
I began and managed a dental surgery for 10 years from July 2000. After selling the practice I worked in dental and medical services for Murray Valley Aboriginal Co-Op in Robinvale; dental for Far West Local Health in Dareton and medical for MDAS.
My current role involves responding to constituent enquiries and requests for assistance as well as supporting constituents whose matters require longer term case management. I also provide administrative support to Ali and the other members of the team.
I was treasurer and race secretary for the Mildura District Water Ski club for three years and have recently retired from water-skiing.
I have two daughters and three grandchildren and away from work enjoy time with family and friends.
I was born and raised in Adelaide, where I completed a Bachelor of Journalism and International Relations at the University of South Australia. Shortly after graduating I moved regionally to pursue a journalism career.
I spent a year as a video journalist in Port Augusta, South Australia. In this role I researched, filmed and edited two TV news stories a day.
From there I moved to Albury, New South Wales, where I became a radio journalist for over four and a half years.
This job saw me covering 14 different regional and metropolitan radio news markets, including Mildura. I also dabbled in reading national news bulletins for HitFM and Triple M, which broadcasted to over 55 areas around Australia.
My partner is originally from Irymple, and when she moved back to Sunraysia at the end of 2018 I quickly followed her, becoming Mildura’s Hit and Triple M Newsreader.
I continued my career in radio for another two and a half years before making the jump into the world of politics.
My current role builds upon my knowledge of media, where I now work with various media groups in the electorate to showcase the work Ali and her team are doing.
Outside of work I’m an avid squash player, a cat owner, and love footy, board games and movies.
I was born in Mildura and attended St Joseph's College, where I completed my VCE, and shortly after, relocated to Sydney and Melbourne where I worked for a number of years for Museums Victoria and The Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI).
My family have a long connection to the Mildura electorate, with Dad being born in Hopetoun, my grandmother born and raised in Ouyen and Mum's family settling in Merbein after their family home on the Murray River at Mildura was destroyed by floods in the 1970s.
Prior to my return to Mildura in 2012, I completed a Bachelor of Human Services and Master of Social Work at La Trobe University in Melbourne. In mid 2012 I was involved in community engagement work with Mildura Rural City Council in the Localities Enhancing Arts Participation Program (LEAP) and Mildura Arts Centre.
Prior to Ali's election, I worked as a social work case manager, most recently with Anglicare Victoria, supporting victims of violent crime.
My role involves supporting Ali's work in the Victorian Parliament; briefing her on legislation, frequent communication with Government Advisers, Ministers and other MPs to progress Ali's priorities. I also coordinate Ali's busy schedule during Parliament sitting weeks and working with Ali's team to connect Parliament with the people of the Mildura electorate.
I am Mildura born and bred, as is my Mum. Her parents moved here from Bourke in Far West NSW in the 1930s. This probably explains my love of open spaces. My Dad migrated here from England in the 60s. I’m pretty sure this explains my love of cold weather and probably a good cup of tea.
After schooling in Mildura, I graduated from Flinders University with a Bachelor of International Studies with a major in Politics in 2002. Ali and I lived on campus and studied together, although we didn’t really know each other well at the time. We have bonded over shared memories of living on campus at Flinders, like so many Mildura Kids before and after us.
In 2006, I was accepted into the Graduate Development Program for the Australian Department of Health in Canberra. This golden opportunity sparked my interest in and passion for the Australian health care system – how decisions are made, how it’s funded, and how government policies are turned into reality on the ground. I learnt a lot - knowledge I have been able to bring back to Mildura and put into practice working with a number of different health service providers and agencies since 2008.
I have always had a passion for politics and in my early years was an active member of the Australian Democrats, even working for a Senator while I was living in Adelaide.
My politics and my work have intersected on a number of fronts, in particular my strong belief that access to health care is a human right and that the Government is best placed to deliver fair and equitable health services based on need. It is this core belief that found me involved in the campaign to bring Mildura Base Hospital back into public hands, where Ali and I connected in 2012. That fight was won in 2020 under Ali’s leadership and I still have to pinch myself from time to time when I think of what has been achieved.
Working with Ali and the team to fight for Mildura is such a privilege and I’m loving every second of it.
I was born in Mildura and attended Our Lady of the Sacred Heart primary school before joining St Joseph’s College, and finally Mildura Senior College where I'm currently in Year 11.
It’s fair to say sport and community service are high priorities for me.
I play football for Cardross in the Sunraysia Women's Football League and received a leadership in sports award for football at St Joseph’s.
Other school awards I have received include the Sister Gertrude Enright all rounder award in 2019; the Principal’s Award; two Academic excellence in English awards; was in the top 10 percent of my year level twice and have been a member of the SRC for two years.
I was nominated for the Mildura Rural City Council Volunteer Youth Award this year and was also accepted to participate in the YMCA Youth Parliament Program, with our Bill being mandatory airconditioning for public housing.
My community service includes being St Joseph’s student representative on Anzac Day, being a volunteer tour guide, participating in the 24-hour MS Mega Swim and being on the board of youth drop-in and activity hub Home Base.
