Cassandra Fernando facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cassandra Fernando
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| Member of the Australian Parliament for Holt |
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| Assumed office 21 May 2022 |
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| Preceded by | Anthony Byrne |
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| Born | 2 February 1987 Colombo, Sri Lanka |
| Political party | Labor |
| Occupation | Pastry cook Trade unionist |
Cassandra Fernando was born on February 2, 1987, in Sri Lanka. She is an Australian politician and a member of the Australian Labor Party. Since the 2022 federal election, she has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for the area called Holt.
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About Cassandra Fernando
Her Early Life in Australia
Cassandra Fernando was born in Sri Lanka. When she was 11 years old, in 1999, she moved to Australia with her parents. She grew up in a place called Dandenong North, Victoria.
She studied hospitality and also has a certificate in education support. Before becoming a politician, Cassandra worked at Woolworths for nearly 15 years. Part of that time, she was a pastry chef.
Helping Workers
While working, Cassandra became involved with the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association (SDA). This is a group that helps workers. She became a delegate, which means she represented other workers. Later, she worked for the SDA as an organiser for five years. Her job was to help workers with their rights and conditions.
Her Journey to Parliament
In March 2022, Cassandra Fernando was chosen by the Australian Labor Party to run for parliament. This process is called preselection. She ran for the seat of Holt. The previous MP, Anthony Byrne, was retiring.
Cassandra belongs to a group within the Labor Party called the SDA faction. She won the election and became the MP for Holt. This was a special moment because she is the first woman born in Sri Lanka to become a Member of Parliament in Australia.
Life Outside Politics
Cassandra Fernando lives in Narre Warren South. She is still a member of the SDA. She also takes part in local community groups. These include the Cranbourne Chamber of Commerce and the Cranbourne Historical Society.
