Cathy O'Toole

Cathy O'Toole
MP
O'Toole in 2017
Member of the Australian Parliament for Herbert
Assumed office
2 July 2016
Preceded by Ewen Jones
Personal details
Born (1956-08-30) 30 August 1956
Townsville, Queensland, Australia
Nationality Australian
Political party Labor Party
Children 3
Residence Townsville, Queensland, Australia
Alma mater Central Queensland University
Occupation CEO
Website http://cathyotoole.org.au

Catherine Elizabeth O'Toole (born 30 August 1956) is an Australian politician. She has been the Labor member for Herbert since the 2016 federal election.

Early life and career

O'Toole was born and raised in Townsville, Queensland.[1]

O'Toole left school in year 11, when she was 16 years old, to become an apprentice hairdresser.[2][1] When she was 18 she and her mother purchased and ran the business. O'Toole and her husband Dennis later bought out her mother's stake in the business,[2] and ran local family-owned small businesses including hairdressers, a news agency, and vocational training organisation.[3][4]

From 1988 to 2002 O'Toole was involved in vocational training organisations: from 1988 to 1991 O'Toole was a teacher at Townsville College of TAFE and Kangaroo College of TAFE, and from 1991 to 1993 was Program Manager of Curriculum Design at Townsville TAFE; O'Toole was an Associate at the Tropical Industry Training Associates from 1994-1995, then from 1996-1997 was Manager; In 1996 she was owner and Director of O'Toole Enterprises; and, from 1997-2000, was Managing Director and owner of Future Skills & Training.[5]

From 2002 to 2016 O'Toole was involved in the community mental health sector: In 2002-2011 O'Toole was CEO of Advance Employment,[5] which provided disability employment services; From 2012-2013 O'Toole was Project Development Manager of Supported Options in Lifestyle and Access Services (SOLAS) before becoming CEO from 2013-2016.[5][6] In 2015 O'Toole was President of the Queensland Alliance for Mental Health.[7][2]

In 2008 O'Toole received a Rotary Sunflower Award for Community Work.[5]

O'Toole has a Bachelor of Education from CQUniversity.

O'Toole is married to Dennis, and they have three adult children.[2]

O'Toole is a member of Amnesty International. In February 2016 she was part of a protest, about the treatment of refugees, outside the office of the sitting Liberal National Party MP Ewen Jones.[8]

Political career

O'Toole was the unsuccessful Labor candidate for Herbert at the 2013 federal election. Last won by Labor at the 1993 federal election, Herbert was won by O'Toole in 2016, appearing to win the seat by eight votes. A recount revealed she won by 37 votes.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 "Herbert - Australia Votes | Federal Election 2016 (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)". ABC News. Retrieved 2017-07-04.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Cathy O'Toole (ALP-Herbert) - Maiden Speech | AustralianPolitics.com". australianpolitics.com. Retrieved 2017-07-04.
  3. ↑ Knott, Matthew (2016-06-02). "Ten seats that will determine the campaign: Once riding high, Herbert is suddenly feeling unloved". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2017-07-04.
  4. ↑ "Seven new female parliamentarians to watch - SmartCompany". SmartCompany. 2016-07-04. Retrieved 2017-07-04.
  5. 1 2 3 4 7111;, corporateName=Commonwealth Parliament; address=Parliament House, Canberra, ACT, 2600; contact=+61 2 6277. "Ms Cathy O'Toole MP". www.aph.gov.au. Retrieved 2017-07-04.
  6. ↑ Green, Antony. "Herbert". Australia Votes. Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
  7. ↑ "2015 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING | Queensland Alliance for Mental Health Inc". Queensland Alliance for Mental Health Inc. Retrieved 2017-07-04.
  8. ↑ Knott, Matthew (2016-05-11). "Election 2016: Labor candidate Cathy O'Toole hit by questions over old protest photo". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2017-07-04.
  9. ↑ "Herbert, Qld". Australian Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 3 August 2016.
Parliament of Australia
Preceded by
Ewen Jones		 Member for Herbert
2016–present		 Incumbent
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