Thérèse Rein facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thérèse Rein
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Rein in 2011
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| Spouse of the Prime Minister of Australia | |
| In role 27 June 2013 – 18 September 2013 |
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| Preceded by | Tim Mathieson |
| Succeeded by | Margie Abbott |
| In role 3 December 2007 – 24 June 2010 |
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| Preceded by | Janette Howard |
| Succeeded by | Tim Mathieson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 17 July 1958 Adelaide, South Australia, Australia |
| Spouse | Kevin Rudd (m. 1981) |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | Australian National University |
| Occupation | Social entrepreneur, Rehabilitation counsellor |
Thérèse Rein (born on 17 July 1958) is an Australian businesswoman. She started a company called Ingeus. This company helps people find jobs and offers business psychology services around the world.
Thérèse Rein is married to Kevin Rudd. He was the Prime Minister of Australia twice. He held the office from 2007 to 2010 and again in 2013. She was the first wife of an Australian prime minister to keep working in a paid job while her husband was in office.
In December 2010, she received the Human Rights Medal. The Australian Human Rights Commission gave her this award. It was for her long-time work helping human rights, especially for people with disabilities.
She has also received special university degrees. In 2012, Griffith University gave her an Honorary Doctor degree for her work in business. In 2014, the University of Western Sydney gave her a Doctor of Letters degree. This was to recognize her service to the Australian community. It also honored her commitment to human rights and helping those in need. In 2018, she was honored by being added to the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame.
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Thérèse Rein's Early Life and Education
Thérèse Rein was born in Adelaide, South Australia, on 17 July 1958. Her father, John Rein, was a navigator in the Royal Australian Air Force. He was in a plane crash that caused a serious spinal cord injury. Despite this, he became an aeronautical engineer.
Her father was also a talented athlete. He represented Australia in sports for people with disabilities. He won gold medals in archery at the 1962 Commonwealth Paraplegic Games. His achievements were a big inspiration for Thérèse. Her mother, Elizabeth, was a head of physiotherapy at a rehabilitation hospital. This is where her parents met.
Thérèse went to St Peter's Collegiate Girls' School in Adelaide. She also attended Firbank Girls' Grammar School in Melbourne. She then studied at the Australian National University in Canberra. She earned degrees in psychology, linguistics, and English.
How Thérèse Met Kevin Rudd
While at university, Thérèse met Kevin Rudd. They both lived at Burgmann College during their first year. They were also part of the Australian Student Christian Movement. Thérèse and Kevin married in 1981, soon after they finished university.
After their marriage, they moved overseas. Kevin Rudd was studying diplomacy in Sweden and China. In 1986, they came back to Australia. Thérèse then started her company, Work Directions, which is now called Ingeus. This company helps people who were injured at work find new jobs. Thérèse and Kevin have three children: Jessica (born 1983), Nicholas (born 1986), and Marcus (born 1993).
Thérèse Rein's Business Career
In 1986, Thérèse Rein worked part-time as a rehabilitation counselor. Her main job was to help people return to work. In 1988, she started her own company, Thérèse Rein and Associates. This company later became known as Ingeus.
Ingeus is an international company that helps people find jobs. It especially focuses on helping people who have been unemployed for a long time get back into the workforce. The chairman of Ingeus is David Gonski, a well-known business leader.
Ingeus in Australia
In May 2007, the Australian part of Ingeus was sold. This was done to avoid any possible conflicts of interest. At that time, her husband, Kevin Rudd, was the Leader of the Opposition. He later became the Prime Minister of Australia. The Australian businesses were fully sold by December 2007.
However, Ingeus returned to the Australian market in October 2011. This happened when the company bought another business called Assure Programs.
Helping Others: Thérèse Rein's Philanthropy
Thérèse Rein is very involved in charity work. She supports many different organizations. She is a patron for groups like the Australian Common Ground Alliance. She also supports UNICEF's Maternal and Infant Health Campaign.
Other charities she helps include the Indigenous Literacy Foundation and OzHarvest, which rescues food. She also supports Ability First Australia and Arts Project Australia. Thérèse is a member of the Honorary Board of the International Paralympic Committee. This shows her dedication to helping people and communities.
