Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the House of Representatives for Hasluck, Western Australia, 2010, 2013 and 2016.

Ministerial appointments

• Assistant Minister for Health from 30.9.15 to 18.2.16.
• Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care from 18.2.16 to 24.1.17.
• Minister for Aged Care from 24.1.17.
• Minister for Indigenous Health from 24.1.17.

Committee service

• House of Representatives Standing: Health and Ageing from 25.10.10 to 5.8.13; Health from 4.12.13 to 12.10.15; Procedure from 7.9.15 to 12.10.15.
• Joint Statutory: Human Rights from 14.3.12 to 12.10.15; Public Accounts and Audit from 10.2.15 to 12.10.15.
• Joint Select: Constitutional Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples from 30.11.12 to 25.6.15 (Chair from 11.2.14 to 25.6.15.).

Party positions

• Vice-President, Liberal Party Morley Branch 1997.
• Delegate to State Conference and Office Bearer, Cowan Division 1997.
• Delegate to State Conference and Office Bearer, Perth Division 1999.

Personal

• Born 4.8.1952, Bunbury, WA.
• Married.

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• BEd (Churchlands CAE), DipT, DipEd (Mt Lawley CAE).
• Teachers' Higher Certificate.
• Primary school teacher, Dept of Education (WA) 1973-86.
• Manager, Aboriginal Education, Dept of Education (WA) 1996-97.
• Relieving Executive Director, Education Services, Dept of Education (WA) 1997-98.
• Director, Aboriginal Education, Dept of Education (WA) 1998.
• District Director, Swan Education District, Dept of Education (WA) 1998-99.
• Director, Aboriginal Education Policy, Strategic Planning and Operations, Dept of Education (WA) 1999-2002.
• Professional Consultant, Strategic Planning, Policy Development and Coordination 2002-03.
• Director, Aboriginal Health, Dept of Health (NSW) 2003-07.
• Director, Aboriginal Health, Dept of Health (WA) 2007-10.

Electorate

Description: outer metropolitan.
Location: south-eastern outskirts of Perth; it includes the Shires of Mundaring and Kalamunda (part); the Cities of Gosnells (part) and Swan (part); and the suburbs of Bailup, Beckenham, Beechina, Bickley, Caversham, Forrestfield (part), Gidgegannup, Gorrie, Guildford, Hazelmere, Helena Valley, Jane Brook, Kalamunda, Kenwick, Lesmurdie, Maddington, Maida Vale, Malmalling, Middle Swan (part), Midland, Red Hill (part), Reservoir, Sawyers Valley, South Guildford (part), Stratton, The Lakes, Viveash, Walliston, Wattle Grove, and Wooroloo.
Area: 1192 sq. km.
Electors enrolled: 95 334 (at 2.7.16).
Industries: retail, transport and service industries, light industry, medical, construction, manufacturing and agriculture.

Honours

• Appointed Member of the Order of Australia, June 1996.
• Awarded Centenary Medal 2003.
• Indigenous Education Warrior Award, World Indigenous People's Conference 2008.