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Bronwyn Pike (born 25 January 1956)^[1] is an Australian politician and current Minister for Education in Victoria in the Brumby Government, and is the State Member of Parliament for Melbourne.

Early life

Prior to entering Parliament, Pike worked as a teacher, a community services manager and as the Director of the Unit of Justice and Social Responsibility in the Uniting Church. She is also a former Board Director of Greenpeace Australia. Pike has a long history of advocating for social change, equality and the disadvantaged.

Pike has stated that a child's learning starts in early childhood and that we must establish the foundations for life long learning, so that people have the capacity to participate in and contribute to society throughout their lives.

Pike has a son, Paul Coats, who is the current University of Melbourne Graduate Student Assocition President and a socialist activist.^[2][3]

Early Political Career

Pike entered politics in 1999, at age 43, where she was the Minister for Housing and Aged Care and Minister Assisting the Health Minister. In 2002 she was appointed as Minister for Community Services and Minister Assisting the Premier on Community Building.

Minister for Health

Following the re-election of the Bracks Government in late 2002, Pike was promoted to Minister for Health.

As Minister for Health, Pike has overseen the rebuilding of Victoria's public health system, delivering an 0.96% funding increase for public hospitals, as well as the employment of more than 72 additional nurses and 15 additional doctors in the public health system.

Minister for Education

On 2 August 2007, newly appointed Premier John Brumby announced a cabinet reshuffle, as a result of this Pike was moved from the health portfolio and took on Education.

As Minister for Education since 3 August 2007, Pike is spearheading the $1.9 billion Victorian Schools Plan to rebuild and modernise 500 Victorian schools over the four year term of government. This includes upgrades to technology wings; re-equipping science class rooms; building new schools in growth corridors. A key focus of this rebuilding program is encouraging joint-use of school and community facilities in areas ranging from libraries to sports fields. By 2011 more than 900 schools will have been rebuilt or modernised. The program has been tarnished by use of tactics to force school councils to vote for closure or merger of small schools by threatening to limit funds to the minimum amount as well as other tactics^[4].

Longest Serving Victoria Female Minister

In May 2007, Pike became the longest serving female minister in Victoria's history, along with Lynne Kosky.

Notes

References

External links

• Personal Website
• Official profile