Andrea Mason
Encyclopedia
Andrea Mason is an Australia
n 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 Assemblies of God in Australia
denomination
.
involved in the founding of the Aboriginal Evangelical Fellowship
, she 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 Australia
n 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.
candidate.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n politician and an Australian Aborigine. In the Federal Election of 2004, she led the Family First Party
Family First Party
The Family First Party is a socially conservative minor political party in Australia. It has two members in the South Australian Legislative Council...
, a political party with close (though unofficial) links with the Assemblies of God in Australia
Assemblies of God in Australia
Australian Christian Churches , also known as Assemblies of God in Australia , is a Pentecostal Christian denomination and the Australian branch of the Assemblies of God, the largest Pentecostal denomination in the world...
denomination
Christian denomination
A Christian denomination is an identifiable religious body under a common name, structure, and doctrine within Christianity. In the Orthodox tradition, Churches are divided often along ethnic and linguistic lines, into separate churches and traditions. Technically, divisions between one group and...
.
Background
Mason is the daughter of Ben Mason, an Aboriginal Christian pastorPastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
involved in the founding of the Aboriginal Evangelical Fellowship
Aboriginal Evangelical Fellowship
The Aboriginal Evangelical Fellowship of Australia is an Indigenous Australian Christian organisation that was formed in January, 1970, in Port Augusta, South Australia....
, she was born in Subiaco
Subiaco, Western Australia
Subiaco is an inner western suburb of Perth, Western Australia, situated to the north west of Kings Park. Its Local Government Area is the City of Subiaco.-History:Prior to European settlement the area was home to the Noongar Indigenous people....
, Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. She grew up in Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
before her family moved to Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
in 1979. After completing her secondary education she was awarded a Netball
Netball
Netball is a ball sport played between two teams of seven players. Its development, derived from early versions of basketball, began in England in the 1890s. By 1960 international playing rules had been standardised for the game, and the International Federation of Netball and Women's Basketball ...
Scholarship at the Australian Institute of Sport
Australian Institute of Sport
The Australian Institute of Sport is a sports training institution in Australia with world class facilities and support services. The Institute's headquarters is situated in Canberra, the capital city of Australia. The 66.0 hectare site campus is in the northern suburb of Bruce, but some of the...
and moved to Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
for two years. On her return to Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, Mason studied for a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
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 Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
n Public Service. In 1999, Mason commenced a Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
Degree at the University of Adelaide
University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia...
. Graduating in 2002, she began working for Andrew Evans
Andrew Evans
Andrew Evans OAM is a Pentecostal Christian pastor in the Assemblies of God and a politician in the South Australian Legislative Council. Evans is most notable for pastoring Paradise Community Church for 30 years and founding the Family First Party.-History:Andrew L. Evans was born to missionary...
, a member of the South Australian Legislative Council
South Australian Legislative Council
The Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of South Australia. Its central purpose is to act as a house of review for legislation passed through the lower house, the House of Assembly...
and leader of the South Australian branch of the Family First Party, as a personal assistant.
Making history
On the 8 August 2004, Mason became the first-ever Indigenous Australian 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 Australian SenateAustralian 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,...
candidate.