Jodie Harrison confirmed as NSW Shadow Minister for ECEC

Jodie Harrison, member for Charleston, has been appointed as the New South Wales Minister for Early Childhood Education in recently elected New South Wales Labor leader Jodi McKay’s new Shadow Cabinet. 

This will be the second stint in the role for Ms Harrison, who served as Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Education under previous Labor Leader Luke Foley, holding the position from April 2015 to January 2016.

At that time Ms Harrison was also the Shadow Minister for Women, the Hunter region and the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, as well as concurrently serving as the Mayor of Lake Macquarie, a role which commenced in 2012. 

Prior to her election as Mayor, Ms Harrison was an active union member, having worked as a recruitment officer of the United Services Union and then as an organiser at United Voice where she was involved in the Big Steps campaign which continues to this day to work towards better recognition and pay for educators. 

Upon Ms Harrison’s resignation in January 2015, three of her portfolios, including Early Childhood Education, were transferred to fellow Hunter Region MP, Kate Washington, Member for Port Stevens. 

Ms Washington had retained the Early Childhood Education brief up to the reshuffle announced yesterday, in which Ms Washington was confirmed as the NSW Opposition Shadow Minister for Environment and Heritage and Shadow Minister for Rural Health and Ms Harrison as the new Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Education. 

Commenting on her appointment, Ms Harrison said she was “very honoured” to have been offered a place in the new look Shadow cabinet and acknowledged the importance of the early years as being the foundations of future success. 

To read Ms Harrison’s appointment statement please click here.