16 Facts About Sharon Claydon

Sharon Catherine Claydon was born on 26 April 1964 and is an Australian politician.

Sharon Claydon has been a Labor member of the Australian House of Representatives, representing the Division of Newcastle in New South Wales, since September 2013.

Sharon Claydon's father Kevin was an Australian Army soldier and she first attended school at Holsworthy Barracks.

Sharon Claydon left the army shortly after completing a tour of duty in Vietnam in 1970.

Sharon Claydon left after two years to return to Newcastle, where through a job centre she found work at Helen Springs Station in the Northern Territory.

Sharon Claydon was recruited as a gardener but later worked as a jillaroo and camp cook.

Sharon Claydon later returned to university and completed an honours degree majoring in anthropology.

Sharon Claydon subsequently began a PhD thesis on "contemporary political representation in the Bunuba Aboriginal community", moving to Fitzroy Crossing, Western Australia.

Sharon Claydon worked in remote Aboriginal communities "for the best part of decade" before returning to Newcastle.

Sharon Claydon was a state conference delegate from 2002 and a national conference delegate from 2007.

Sharon Claydon served on the state administrative committee and was a member of the national policy forum.

Sharon Claydon was elected to the House of Representatives at the 2013 federal election.

Sharon Claydon has been deputy chair of the joint select committee into the National Redress Scheme and the House standing committee on social policy and legal affairs.

Sharon Claydon is a member of the Labor Left faction.

In July 2022, following the ALP's victory at the 2022 election, Sharon Claydon was chosen as the party's nominee for Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Sharon Claydon is currently a patron of the Stockton Historical Society and has served as treasurer of the Newcastle Aboriginal Support Group.