- Bronwyn Pike
Infobox_President | name =Bronwyn Pike
nationality =Australian
order =Victorian Minister for Education
term_start =2007
term_end =
deputy =
predecessor =John Lenders
successor =
birth_date =Birth date and age|1956|1|25|mf=y
birth_place =South Australia ,Australia
death_date =
death_place =
constituency =Melbourne
party =Australian Labor Party
spouse =
profession =Teacher
religion =
footnotes =|Bronwyn Pike (born 25 January 1956) [ [http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/handbook/searchresult.cfm?menuid=2&memberId=145 Parliamentary handbook of the parliament of Victoria] ] is an Australian politician and current
Minister for Education in Victoria in the Brumby Government, and is the StateMember of Parliament for Melbourne.Occupations Before Parliament
Prior to entering Parliament, Bronwyn worked as a teacher, a community services manager and as the Director of the Unit of Justice and Social Responsibility in the
Uniting Church . She is also a former Board Director ofGreenpeace Australia . Bronwyn has a long history of advocating for social change, equality and the disadvantaged.Bronwyn has stated that a child’s learning starts in early childhood and that we must establish the foundations for life long learning, so that people have the capacity to participate in and contribute to society throughout their lives.
Early Political Career
Bronwyn entered politics in 1999, at age 43, where she was the
Minister for Housing and Aged Care and Minister Assisting the Health Minister. In 2002 she was appointed asMinister for Community Services and Minister Assisting the Premier on Community Building.Minister for Health
Following the re-election of the
Bracks Government in late 2002, Bronwyn was promoted toMinister for Health .As Minister for Health, Bronwyn has overseen the rebuilding of Victoria's public health system, delivering an 96% funding increase for public hospitals, as well as the employment of more than 7,200 additional nurses and 1,500 additional doctors in the public health system.
Minister for Education
On
2 August 2007 , newly appointed PremierJohn Brumby announced a cabinet reshuffle, as a result of this Bronwyn was moved from the health portfolio and took on Education.As Minister for Education since 3 August 2007, Ms Pike is spearheading the $1.9 billion
Victorian Schools Plan to rebuild and modernise 500 Victorian schools over the four year term of government. This includes upgrades to technology wings; re-equipping science class rooms; building new schools in growth corridors. A key focus of this rebuilding program is encouraging joint-use of school and community facilities in areas ranging from libraries to sports fields. By 2011 more than 900 schools will have been rebuilt or modernised.Longest Serving Victoria Female Minister
In May 2007, Bronwyn became the longest serving female minister in Victoria's history, a milestone shared with
Lynne Kosky .Notes
External links
* [http://www.bronwynpike.com Personal Website]
* [http://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/ministers/ministereducation.htm Official profile]
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