Andrea Mason
 |
Andrea Mason |
Andrea Mason (born
1968) is an
Australian politician and an
Australian Aborigine. In the
Federal Election of
2004, she led the
Family First Party, a
political party with close (though unofficial) links with the Australian
Assemblies of God Church.
Ms Andrea Mason was born in
Subiaco,
Western Australia. She grew up in
Western Australia before her family moved to
Adelaide,
South Australia in
1979. After completing her secondary education she was awarded a
Netball Scholarship at the
Australian Institute of Sport and moved to
Canberra for two years.
On her return to
Adelaide, Mason studied for a
Bachelor of Arts degree in Aboriginal Affairs and Public Administration. She graduated in
1988, and from
1989 onwards she worked on housing and employment programs with the
South Australian Public Service.
In
1999 Mason commenced a
Bachelor of Laws Degree at the
University of Adelaide. Graduating in
2002, she began working for
Andrew Evans, a member of the
South Australian Legislative Council and leader of the South Australian branch of the Family First Party, as a personal assistant.
On the
8th of August 2004, Mason became the first-ever aboriginal woman to lead an
Australian political party, when the Family First Party chose her as its national leader. She unsuccessfully contested the
2004 Australian Federal Election as the party's South Australian lead
Senate candidate.
*
Bio on Family First Party website
