Ursula Stephens
Encyclopedia
Ursula Mary Stephens is an Australian politician. She was elected to the Australian Senate
for New South Wales
in November 2001, representing the Australian Labor Party
. She began her term on 1 July 2002.
Stephens was born in Wicklow
, Republic of Ireland. In 1961 she migrated to Australia with her family, settling in Grafton
, New South Wales. She attended school in Grafton, then Goulburn Teachers College where she trained as a teacher. She continued her tertiary education through the University of South Australia
while living in the Northern Territory
, and the University of Canberra
. She completed her doctorate in Public Administration in 2005.
Stephens began teaching in 1974, and after 20 years working in primary and secondary schools and in TAFE, established her own training company in 1988. She co-chaired the NSW Rural Communities Consultative Council in 1996–97, and has served as a member of the NSW Women's Advisory Council, the Rural Assistance Authority and the NSW Board of Vocational Education and Training.
She joined the NSW Premiers' Department in 1997, working in the area of strategic projects and regional development until she stood for the Senate.
Stephens is married with four children, and her interests include motorcycle riding, environmental issues and adult and community education. She is patron of the Goulburn Field Naturalist Society.
Stephens has been an active ALP member since joining after the dismissal of the Whitlam
government in 1975. She has been a member of several NSW and National Policy Committees, and a member of the NSW Administrative Committee since 1987. Stephens was elected to the National Executive Committee in 1997 and is the NSW representative on the ALP's National Labor Women's Network Executive.
In 2007, Senator Stephens was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector and Parliamentary Secretary Assisting the Prime Minister for Social Inclusion in the Rudd Labor Ministry. She was not re-appointed to the Gillard Ministry after the 2010 election.
A practicing Catholic, Stephens has repeatedly stated her opposition to changing Australian legislation to allow homosexual couples to marry.
Australian Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia, the lower house being the House of Representatives. Senators are popularly elected under a system of proportional representation. Senators are elected for a term that is usually six years; after a double dissolution, however,...
for New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
in November 2001, representing 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 began her term on 1 July 2002.
Stephens was born in Wicklow
Wicklow
Wicklow) is the county town of County Wicklow in Ireland. Located south of Dublin on the east coast of the island, it has a population of 10,070 according to the 2006 census. The town is situated to the east of the N11 route between Dublin and Wexford. Wicklow is also connected to the rail...
, Republic of Ireland. In 1961 she migrated to Australia with her family, settling in Grafton
Grafton, New South Wales
The city of Grafton is the commercial hub of the Clarence River Valley. Established in 1851, Grafton features many historic buildings and tree-lined streets. Located approximately 630 kilometres north of Sydney and 340 km south of Brisbane, Grafton and the Clarence Valley can be reached...
, New South Wales. She attended school in Grafton, then Goulburn Teachers College where she trained as a teacher. She continued her tertiary education through the University of South Australia
University of South Australia
The University of South Australia is a public university in the Australian state of South Australia. It was formed in 1991 with the merger of the South Australian Institute of Technology and Colleges of Advanced Education. It is the largest university in South Australia, with more than 36,000...
while living in the Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
, and the University of Canberra
University of Canberra
Over the years the Stone Day program has gradually become larger and larger, taking up a whole week and now Stonefest is one of Australia's most popular music festivals. The first foundation celebrations were held in 1971. In 1973 Stone Day celebrations were held over two days, which was expanded...
. She completed her doctorate in Public Administration in 2005.
Stephens began teaching in 1974, and after 20 years working in primary and secondary schools and in TAFE, established her own training company in 1988. She co-chaired the NSW Rural Communities Consultative Council in 1996–97, and has served as a member of the NSW Women's Advisory Council, the Rural Assistance Authority and the NSW Board of Vocational Education and Training.
She joined the NSW Premiers' Department in 1997, working in the area of strategic projects and regional development until she stood for the Senate.
Stephens is married with four children, and her interests include motorcycle riding, environmental issues and adult and community education. She is patron of the Goulburn Field Naturalist Society.
Stephens has been an active ALP member since joining after the dismissal of the Whitlam
Gough Whitlam
Edward Gough Whitlam, AC, QC , known as Gough Whitlam , served as the 21st Prime Minister of Australia. Whitlam led the Australian Labor Party to power at the 1972 election and retained government at the 1974 election, before being dismissed by Governor-General Sir John Kerr at the climax of the...
government in 1975. She has been a member of several NSW and National Policy Committees, and a member of the NSW Administrative Committee since 1987. Stephens was elected to the National Executive Committee in 1997 and is the NSW representative on the ALP's National Labor Women's Network Executive.
In 2007, Senator Stephens was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector and Parliamentary Secretary Assisting the Prime Minister for Social Inclusion in the Rudd Labor Ministry. She was not re-appointed to the Gillard Ministry after the 2010 election.
A practicing Catholic, Stephens has repeatedly stated her opposition to changing Australian legislation to allow homosexual couples to marry.