Sheena Watt is the Victorian Labor Party's first female Aboriginal MP

Can you introduce yourself?

Sheena Watt, Member for Northern Metropolitan Region, Victorian Parliament.

Congratulations! How does it feel? How does it feel to be first Victorian Labor Party female Indigenous MP?

It's a great honour that I represent Victorian people in our Parliament, it's never easy being the first or the only but I have the benefit of following other great Aboriginal women in other State and Federal Parliaments I look to them for advice and counsel and we support each other.

How did you develop an interest in politics? What made you choose politics?

My nan was a long time member of the Labor Party, she lived a life of quiet achievement and profound bravery. Her ideals, ideas and vision for our community burned in me a love of politics and its ability to change the world for the people who most need it to change. She spoke to often about the Labor Party and why there was an alignment with our family story.

So I don't know that I chose politics or it was that nan chose for me and I just didn't see it.

How does your lived experience contribute to your professional life?

I made a conscious decision to have a strong alignment in my professional life with my lived experience, whether that was my experiences in health, employment, trade unions or Aboriginal Affairs. I aligned my commitment and values, to a better life for the most vulnerable in my career choices and I went home at the end of the day knowing that I did my bit to contribute to the lives and livelihoods of other people.

Is there anything in your personal background or history that inspires you in your work?

As a young person I grew up experiencing vulnerability and disadvantage and I lean on my lived experience everyday to inform my work and continue to shape my values.

As a young carer, I saw first hand how the health system failed my family. As an Aboriginal woman, I lived with the racism of low expectations from people who were meant to inspire and guide me and with that I became determined to be a voice for the change that needed to happen.

I spent several years prior to joining Parliament as an elected community representative on the boards of some of the most important community organisations in Victoria. Together we have been part of the many groups working tirelessly to respond to the needs of the most vulnerable Victorians. As we move into a new phase of recovery, we simply cannot build back the same structures which were there before.

One of the greatest privileges of being in this place is to represent the communities of Melbourne's northern suburbs, and I will use my voice here to continue the advocacy for those vulnerable Victorians.

What's important/ special about your work?

I get to sit at the table where important decisions are made and use my voice to advocate for the people in the North Metro region and especially those who are the most vulnerable in the communities I represent.

What are the biggest challenges you face within your work?

With starting a new role during this global pandemic, it has been harder to get out and meet as many of the great people in my electorate. I am hoping that in 2021, I can get out and about and make some new connections.

What does it mean to be a proud Yorta Yorta woman representing your people in Parliament?

I am proud of my Aboriginal culture and heritage and I have so much yet to learn and already I have been very fortunate to receive the gracious and warm support from Aboriginal people across Victoria and the nation and I hope to live up to their expectations.

What does the future of Indigenous women look like to you? What does the future of Indigenous female voices, people and perspectives look like to you within Parliament?

There is no doubt that we have come a long way since Edith Cowan entered the West Australian Parliament.

Today 311 women sit in parliaments across Australia. It is a fact that to achieve equality in our communities our representatives must mirror them.

I want to look around the houses of parliament and see women from all different walks of life. Women of colour, First Nations women, women who grew up speaking a different language, women who come from diverse social and economic backgrounds and women with disabilities.

This is the next step for gender equality in politics and the path to a fairer Australia.

Interview Madddison Chisholm