Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the House of Representatives for Kingston, South Australia, 2007. Re-elected 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019 and 2022.

Parliamentary positions

• Member of the Speaker's Panel from 13.3.2012 to 14.5.2013.

Ministerial appointments

• Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and Urban Water from 25.3.2013 to 1.7.2013.
• Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers from 25.3.2013 to 18.9.2013.
• Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment and Urban Water from 1.7.2013 to 18.9.2013.
• Minister for Social Services from 1.6.2022.
• Cabinet Minister from 1.6.2022.
• Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme from 20.1.2025.

Committee service

• House of Representatives Standing: Health and Ageing served from 19.2.2008 to 19.7.2010; Communications served from 19.2.2008 to 19.7.2010; Industry, Science and Innovation served from 19.2.2008 to 19.7.2010; Education and Employment served as Chair from 25.10.2010 to 22.4.2013; Education and Employment served from 23.4.2013 to 14.5.2013; Health served as Deputy Chair from 4.12.2013 to 14.7.2014; Education and Employment served from 14.7.2014 to 9.5.2016
• Joint Select: Cyber-Safety served from 25.10.2010 to 24.6.2013
• Joint Standing: Electoral Matters served from 25.10.2010 to 14.5.2013; National Broadband Network served from 21.11.2011 to 14.8.2012; National Disability Insurance Scheme served from 4.12.2013 to 9.5.2016

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Labor Party. Served: 24.11.2007 to present
• Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Health from 18.10.2013 to 24.6.2014.
• Shadow Assistant Minister for Education from 24.6.2014 to 23.7.2016.
• Shadow Assistant Minister for Higher Education from 24.6.2014 to 23.7.2016.
• Shadow Minister for Veterans' Affairs from 23.7.2016 to 2.6.2019.
• Shadow Minister for Defence Personnel from 23.7.2016 to 2.6.2019.
• Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Education and Development from 24.10.2017 to 2.6.2019.
• Shadow Cabinet Minister from 24.10.2017 to 23.5.2022.
• Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Education from 2.6.2019 to 23.5.2022.
• Shadow Minister for Youth from 2.6.2019 to 23.5.2022.

Party positions

• President of Federal Young Labor, 2000.
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party National Conference, 2002.
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party National Conference, 2004.
• Member of the Australian Labor Party State Executive (SA) from 2005.
• Delegate to the Australian Labor Party National Conference, 2007.

Personal

• Born: 10.7.1978, Adelaide, Australia
• Gender: Female
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• BPsych (Flinders University).
• MPsych(Clin) (University of Adelaide).
• Retail assistant from 1994 to 1999.
• Swimming instructor from 1995 to 1999.
• Research assistant from 1998 to 1999.
• Union representative from 2000 to 2005.
• Psychologist from 2005 to 2007.
• Occupational health and safety trainer from 2006 to 2007.

Electorate

• Name: Kingston
• Location: The Division of Kingston consists of: part of the City of Marion, and part of the City of Onkaparinga.
• Area: 165 Sq km
• Electors enrolled: 118,735 (at 11.6.2019)
• Industries: Construction, clothing, desalination plant, engineering, major retailing, optical lenses and various light industries