Rebekha Sharkie facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rebekha Sharkie
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Sharkie speaking in the House of Representatives in 2018
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| Member of the Australian Parliament for Mayo | |
| Assumed office 28 July 2018 |
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| In office 2 July 2016 – 11 May 2018 |
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| Preceded by | Jamie Briggs |
| Second Deputy Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives | |
| Assumed office 26 July 2022 Serving with Ian Goodenough
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| Speaker | Milton Dick |
| Preceded by | Sharon Claydon |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Rebekha Carina Che
24 August 1972 Torbay, England |
| Nationality |
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| Political party | Centre Alliance (2013–present) |
| Other political affiliations |
Liberal (2010–2012) |
| Spouses |
Kain Selby-Fullgrabe
(m. 1998; div. 2008)Nathan Sharkie
(m. 2009) |
| Children | 3 |
| Residence | Birdwood, South Australia |
| Alma mater | Flinders University |
| Occupation | Legal researcher (Liberal Party of Australia) Policy adviser (Department for Communities and Social Inclusion) |
| Profession | Paralegal |
| Signature |  |
Rebekha Carina Sharkie (born 24 August 1972) is an Australian politician. She is a member of the Centre Alliance party. She works in the Australian House of Representatives, representing the area of Mayo in South Australia.
In the 2016 federal election, she won against Liberal politician Jamie Briggs. She was the first person from the Nick Xenophon Team to be elected to the Australian House of Representatives. On 11 May 2018, Sharkie had to leave the House of Representatives because of a rule about citizenship. She ran again in the 2018 Mayo by-election on 28 July and was re-elected to parliament.
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About Rebekha Sharkie's Early Life and School
Rebekha Sharkie was born in Torbay, England, on 24 August 1972. Her parents were from Britain and America. When she was two years old, her family moved to Australia.
She went to Eyensbury Senior College for high school. Later, she studied international relations and public policy at Flinders University. Rebekha became an Australian citizen on 19 March 2007. She officially gave up her British citizenship in 2016.
Rebekha Sharkie's Career Path
Rebekha Sharkie worked as a paralegal in Darwin and in South Australia. A paralegal helps lawyers with their work.
Her Journey in Politics
Even as a high school student, Rebekha was interested in politics. She helped out with election campaigns for the Australian Democrats. In 2006, she worked as a researcher for a political leader in South Australia. She also worked for other politicians, helping them in their local offices.
Rebekha joined the Liberal Party in 2010. She left the party in 2012. After that, she worked for a program called Youth Connections, which helped young people. When that program lost its funding, she became a senior manager at Helping Young People Achieve (HYPA). This group helps young people who are facing challenges in South Australia.
Rebekha thought about running for the Liberal Party in 2014. However, she learned she needed approval from senior party members. She was surprised by this rule. This, along with other political events, made her think differently about politics.
When Senator Nick Xenophon started his own political party, Rebekha was very interested. She began as a volunteer for the new Nick Xenophon Team. Eventually, she decided to run for parliament in the Mayo area. Mayo had usually been a very safe seat for the Liberal Party.
In the election on 2 July 2016, Rebekha Sharkie won against her former boss, Jamie Briggs. She became the first person from the Nick Xenophon Team to be elected to the Australian House of Representatives. She was also the first woman and the first non-Liberal member to represent Mayo.
On 9 May 2018, Rebekha Sharkie announced she would leave parliament. This was because of a rule that said politicians could not have dual citizenship when they were elected. Like another politician, Katy Gallagher, Rebekha had not fully given up her British citizenship before the 2016 election. She ran again in a special election for Mayo on 28 July and won her seat back.
Rebekha Sharkie won her Mayo seat again in the May 2019 election. She was also re-elected in the 2022 Australian federal election.
Key Achievements of Rebekha Sharkie
In 2019, Rebekha Sharkie talked to the finance minister about getting money for a special research center. This center would study the important natural areas of the Coorong, Lower Lakes, and Murray Mouth. These places have unique plants and animals.
The Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth (CLLMM) Research Centre is in Goolwa. It is run by the Goyder Institute for Water Research. Rebekha Sharkie officially opened this research center in February 2024.
Rebekha Sharkie's Personal Life
As of 2016, Rebekha is married to Nathan. They live in Birdwood, South Australia. She has three children from a previous marriage.
