Jana Stewart

Jana Naretha Anne Stewart (born 27 August 1987) is an Australian politician and former public servant. She is a member of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and was appointed as a Senator for Victoria in April 2022, filling the vacancy caused by the death of Kimberley Kitching.

Early life and education Stewart is an Aboriginal Australian of the Muthi Muthi and Wamba-Wamba peoples. Her great-grandmother Alice Kelly was a custodian of Lake Mungo in New South Wales and was involved in negotiations over the Lake Mungo remains.

Stewart was born in 1987 and grew up in Melbourne and Swan Hill, Victoria. She is the oldest of six children and experienced family violence as a child. She attended "at least a dozen" primary schools, and was the only Indigenous student at her high school to finish year 12.

Career Prior to entering politics, Stewart worked as a family therapist, university lecturer, and policy adviser on Aboriginal affairs and child protection.

Career prior to Senate Stewart is a member of the Labor Unity faction and is associated with the Transport Workers' Union.

In late 2021, Stewart won ALP preselection for the seat of Pascoe Vale at the 2022 Victorian state election. She withdrew following her nomination to the Senate in March 2022.

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

She was officially appointed to the Senate at a joint sitting of the Victorian Parliament on 6 April 2022. However, the Senate did not sit between her appointment and the imminent election.

Personal life Jana is partnered with Marcus Stewart, former co-chair of the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria.

She and her partner have two children, Jude and Ari.