Maria Vamvakinou
Encyclopedia
Maria Vamvakinou is an Australian politician. She has been member of the Australian House of Representatives
since November 2001, representing the Division of Calwell
, Victoria for the Australian Labor Party
. She is a member of its Socialist Left faction.
A high school teacher before entering politics, Vamvakinou is the first Greek-born woman to be elected to parliament in Australia, having emigrated to Australia with her parents when she was four years old. She obtained a BA in Modern Greek and Political Science at the University of Melbourne
.
Vamvakinou was an advisor and electorate officer to several Labor politicians including Joan Kirner
and Kim Carr
, and a member of Northcote City Council
1990–92.
She is married to Dr Michalis S. Michael, and has two children.
Australian House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia; it is the lower house; the upper house is the Senate. Members of Parliament serve for terms of approximately three years....
since November 2001, representing the Division of Calwell
Division of Calwell
The Division of Calwell is an Australian Electoral Division in Victoria. The division was created in 1984 and is named for Arthur Calwell, who was Minister for Immigration 1945-49 and Leader of the Australian Labor Party 1960-67...
, Victoria for the Australian Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
. She is a member of its Socialist Left faction.
A high school teacher before entering politics, Vamvakinou is the first Greek-born woman to be elected to parliament in Australia, having emigrated to Australia with her parents when she was four years old. She obtained a BA in Modern Greek and Political Science at the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
.
Vamvakinou was an advisor and electorate officer to several Labor politicians including Joan Kirner
Joan Kirner
Joan Elizabeth Kirner AM , Australian politician, was the 42nd Premier of Victoria, the first woman to hold the position, which she held for two years prior to a landslide election defeat.-Biography:...
and Kim Carr
Kim Carr
Kim John Carr is an Australian politician. He has been an Australian Labor Party member of the Australian Senate since April 1993, representing the state of Victoria. He was elected to the Senate at the March 1993 election, and was due to take his seat on 1 July...
, and a member of Northcote City Council
City of Northcote
The City of Northcote was a Local Government Area located about northeast of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The city covered an area of , and existed from 1883 until 1994.-History:...
1990–92.
She is married to Dr Michalis S. Michael, and has two children.