18 Facts About Jana Stewart

Jana Naretha Anne Stewart was born on 27 August 1987 and is an Australian politician and former public servant.

Jana Stewart is a member of the Australian Labor Party and was appointed as a Senator for Victoria in April 2022, filling the vacancy caused by the death of Kimberley Kitching.

Jana Stewart's great-grandmother Alice Kelly was a custodian of Lake Mungo in New South Wales and was involved in negotiations over the Lake Mungo remains.

Jana Stewart was born in 1987 and grew up in Melbourne and Swan Hill, Victoria.

Jana Stewart is the oldest of six children and experienced family violence as a child.

Jana Stewart attended "at least a dozen" primary schools, and was the only Indigenous student at her high school to finish year 12.

Jana Stewart completed a master's degree in clinical family therapy at La Trobe University.

Jana Stewart worked for Victorian state Aboriginal affairs minister Natalie Hutchins on treaty negotiations.

Jana Stewart was a later a deputy secretary of the Victorian Department of Justice focusing on Stolen Generations reparations.

Jana Stewart is a member of the Labor Unity faction and is associated with the Transport Workers' Union.

Jana Stewart placed third, with 17 percent of the vote on a negative swing of four points, behind incumbent federal treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Greens candidate Julian Burnside.

In late 2021, Jana Stewart won ALP preselection for the seat of Pascoe Vale at the 2022 Victorian state election.

Jana Stewart withdrew following her nomination to the Senate in March 2022.

In March 2022, Jana Stewart was nominated to fill a casual vacancy in the Senate caused by the death of Victorian senator Kimberley Kitching.

Jana Stewart won ALP preselection for the Senate ticket at the 2022 federal election.

Jana Stewart was officially appointed to the Senate at a joint sitting of the Victorian Parliament on 6 April 2022.

Jana Stewart is the youngest Aboriginal woman to serve in the federal parliament.

On 28 February 2024, Jana Stewart was elected chair of the federal parliament Joint Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, a position previously held by Pat Dodson.