Anasina Gray-Barberio is a Samoan-Australian community worker and politician. She will serve as the member of the Victorian Legislative Council in the Northern Metropolitan Region from October 2024.[1][2] She has also worked in the community sector.

Anasina Gray-Barberio
Member-Designate of the Victorian Legislative Council for Northern Metropolitan Region
Preceded bySamantha Ratnam
Personal details
BornSamoa
Political partyGreens
Children2
Alma materDeakin University
Occupation
  • Social worker
  • Politician

Early life

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Between 2020 and 2024, Anasina is completing a Bachelor of Social Work from Deakin University.[3]

Anasina has worked extensively within the community sector, focusing on community engagement, development, and project management with diverse cultural groups. She is the founder of Engage Pasefika, a grassroots organisation dedicated to addressing gaps in culturally responsive health services and advancing health equity for Pacific Island communities.[4] She has also served as a Community Advisory Committee member for The Royal Melbourne Hospital.[4]

Political career

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Gray-Barberio will fill the outgoing Legislative Council seat of former Victorian Greens leader Samantha Ratnam, who announced she will be contesting the Wills electorate in the 2025 federal election.[2][5] She will be the first Samoan Member of Parliament in Victorian Parliament.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b Carmody, Broede (5 September 2024). "First Samoan MP in state parliament to fight for climate, affordable housing". The Age. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
  2. ^ a b "GREENS ANNOUNCE NEW MEMBER FOR NORTHERN METRO, MAKING HISTORY AS THE FIRST PASEFIKA MP TO ENTER VICTORIAN PARLIAMENT | Australian Greens Victoria". greens.org.au. 5 September 2024. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
  3. ^ "Anasina Gray-Barberio".
  4. ^ a b "Anasina Gray-Barberio". The Royal Melbourne Hospital. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
  5. ^ Kolovos, Benita (4 April 2024). "Victorian Greens leader Samantha Ratnam announces run for federal politics". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 5 September 2024.