13 Facts About Sarah Mitchell

Sarah Mitchell has been a Nationals member of the New South Wales Legislative Council since March 2011.

Sarah Mitchell was born in Gunnedah, and moved to Grafton as a child.

Sarah Mitchell moved back to Gunnedah while in high school, completing her Higher School Certificate at Gunnedah High School in 1999.

Sarah Mitchell moved to Sydney in 2001, and studied politics and international relations at the University of New South Wales, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts in 2016.

Sarah Mitchell later moved back to Gunnedah, where she worked as an electorate officer for former Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson.

Sarah Mitchell continued working for Mark Coulton, Anderson's successor as local MP, upon Anderson's 2007 retirement.

Sarah Mitchell was later elected president of the federal Young Nationals and chairman of the state Young Nationals, positions which she held until her election to parliament.

Sarah Mitchell was preselected for the eleventh position on the Coalition Legislative Council ticket for the 2011 state election in April 2010; while normally unwinnable, the near-record size of the Coalition's victory saw her emerge victorious for the last seat in an extremely close race with right-wing independent Pauline Hanson.

Sarah Mitchell married Anthony Mitchell in April 2011, and took her husband's name; she had been elected two weeks before under her maiden name of Johnston.

Sarah Mitchell has served on several standing and select committees, and currently sits on the General Purpose Standing Committee No 3.

Sarah Mitchell was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Regional and Rural Health and Western NSW on 24 April 2015.

The first Berejiklian ministry was formed with Sarah Mitchell sworn in as the Minister for Early Childhood Education, the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, and the Assistant Minister for Education with effect from 30 January 2017.

Sarah Mitchell became the Deputy Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council.