About Helen
Helen J Shardey MP
Politics is not a job for Helen Shardey, Member for Caulfield – it is a way of life.
“I studied politics at school and had the most exciting and challenging teacher who created that spark of interest about Australian politics,” she says of her Methodist Ladies College teacher. “I went on to study and teach Australian politics and economics after graduating from The University of Melbourne with a Bachelor of Commerce Degree.
“I was always interested in the practical side of politics and economics. I come from a family with a small business background and worked as a child. We used to have big political discussions and debates around the kitchen table when I was studying; so politics was a way of life.
“In the 80s I became involved in a political women’s group – The Canterbury Discussion Group – and it was through this group that I became more involved in the Liberal party. In fact five members of the group went on to become MPs. This group was interested in politics and gave each other such support and encouragement.
“As a first time candidate I didn’t win my seat, but went on to work for Dr Michael Wooldridge as a policy advisor. What was supposed to be a part time job became very much a full time position and I stayed there for six years,” says Helen.
“I had to do a lot of juggling with family life and work and my husband became very good at doing things around the house and with the children. I have been incredibly lucky that I’ve had a lot of family support. My family are very proud of my achievements and it got to a stage that whenever I came home from a meeting, my three children used to ask: “Did you win?”
Helen left Wooldridge’s office to work as a consultant to Western Mining Corporation, but the pull of politics proved too strong. She was elected to the Parliament of Victoria in 1996 and has successfully maintained her seat.
“I find working with the Caulfield electorate so incredibly rewarding,” says Helen. “It is a wonderful, comfortable feeling being part of such an amazing and diverse community. I love the fact that I can be walking my dog down the road and I’ll bump into one or two constituents and that they feel able to stop and have a chat with me. I also like the idea that being a Member for Caulfield means that instead of having one or two neighbours, I have about 50 000 – most of whom know me.
“It is because of this bond with the community that I will continue of fight for Caulfield residents rights and challenge the government every step of the way to enure that my electorate’s voice is heard and that our school, hospitals and community services are maintained and upgraded.”
