Hon Amanda Rishworth MP 

Hon Amanda Rishworth MP (born 10 July 1978) is an Australian politician. She is a member of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and has been Minister for Social Services in the Albanese government since 2022. She has been a member of the House of Representatives since the 2007 federal election, representing the South Australian seat of Kingston.

Rishworth was born on 10 July 1978,at Flinders Medical Centre in Bedford Park, South Australia. She is one of three children born to Judith and Leslie Rishworth

Risworth attended Unley High School.She was a retail worker and swimming instructor while also doing volunteer surf lifesaving duties at Seacliff. She later worked as an organiser and trainer for the Shop Distributive and Allied Employees Association (SDA) and was president of Australian Young Labor in 2000.

Rishworth studied psychology at Flinders University where she was president of the students' union before furthering her studies at the University of Adelaide with a master's degree in clinical psychology. She then became a practising psychologist in 2005 working in the delivery of mental health care to the community.

Parliamentary service

  • Elected to the House of Representatives for Kingston, South Australia, 2007. Re-elected 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019 and 2022.

Parliamentary positions

  • Member of the Speaker's Panel from 13.3.2012 to 14.5.2013.

Ministerial appointments

  • Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and Urban Water from 25.3.2013 to 1.7.2013.

  • Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers from 25.3.2013 to 18.9.2013.

  • Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment and Urban Water from 1.7.2013 to 18.9.2013.

  • Minister for Social Services from 1.6.2022.

  • Cabinet Minister from 1.6.2022.

  • Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme from 20.1.2025.

Committee service

  • House of Representatives Standing: Health and Ageing served from 19.2.2008 to 19.7.2010; Communications served from 19.2.2008 to 19.7.2010; Industry, Science and Innovation served from 19.2.2008 to 19.7.2010; Education and Employment served as Chair from 25.10.2010 to 22.4.2013; Education and Employment served from 23.4.2013 to 14.5.2013; Health served as Deputy Chair from 4.12.2013 to 14.7.2014; Education and Employment served from 14.7.2014 to 9.5.2016

  • Joint Select: Cyber-Safety served from 25.10.2010 to 24.6.2013

  • Joint Standing: Electoral Matters served from 25.10.2010 to 14.5.2013; National Broadband Network served from 21.11.2011 to 14.8.2012; National Disability Insurance Scheme served from 4.12.2013 to 9.5.2016

Parliamentary party positions

  • Australian Labor Party. Served: 24.11.2007 to present

  • Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Health from 18.10.2013 to 24.6.2014.

  • Shadow Assistant Minister for Education from 24.6.2014 to 23.7.2016.

  • Shadow Assistant Minister for Higher Education from 24.6.2014 to 23.7.2016.

  • Shadow Minister for Veterans' Affairs from 23.7.2016 to 2.6.2019.

  • Shadow Minister for Defence Personnel from 23.7.2016 to 2.6.2019.

  • Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Education and Development from 24.10.2017 to 2.6.2019.

  • Shadow Cabinet Minister from 24.10.2017 to 23.5.2022.

  • Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Education from 2.6.2019 to 23.5.2022.

  • Shadow Minister for Youth from 2.6.2019 to 23.5.2022.

Party positions

  • President of Federal Young Labor, 2000.

  • Delegate to the Australian Labor Party National Conference, 2002.

  • Delegate to the Australian Labor Party National Conference, 2004.

  • Member of the Australian Labor Party State Executive (SA) from 2005.

  • Delegate to the Australian Labor Party National Conference, 2007.

Personal

  • Born: 10.7.1978, Adelaide, Australia

  • Gender: Female

  • Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

  • BPsych (Flinders University).

  • MPsych(Clin) (University of Adelaide).

  • Retail assistant from 1994 to 1999.

  • Swimming instructor from 1995 to 1999.

  • Research assistant from 1998 to 1999.

  • Union representative from 2000 to 2005.

  • Psychologist from 2005 to 2007.

  • Occupational health and safety trainer from 2006 to 2007.

Electorate

  • Name: Kingston

  • Location: The Division of Kingston consists of: part of the City of Marion, and part of the City of Onkaparinga.

  • Area: 165 Sq km

  • Electors enrolled: 118,735 (at 11.6.2019)

  • Industries: Construction, clothing, desalination plant, engineering, major retailing, optical lenses and various light industries