Melinda Chisholm

Melinda has dedicated her life to fighting for fairness and improving the lives of working people.

Born in Tasmania, she spent her early years in Innisfail in Far North Queensland before settling in Brisbane in 1977, where she has lived and worked ever since. 

Melinda raised a daughter while balancing work, advocacy, and community service. She understands the challenges that working families face and is passionate about improving conditions for those who are struggling.

Melinda knows firsthand the importance of a strong public healthcare system. A four-time cancer survivor, she has experienced the best of Medicare and is committed to strengthening it so that every Australian can access the care they need.

Her working life has been shaped by a deep commitment to supporting workers and vulnerable communities. Melinda began her union career with the Hospital Employees’ Federation in 1985 before moving to the Australian Workers’ Union, advocating for better conditions and fair pay. That’s 40 years of dedication to improving working conditions for Queenslanders. 

For more than 14 years, Melinda volunteered weekly with St Vincent de Paul, serving as secretary of her local northside conference for eight of those years. Through this work, she has seen the growing challenges of housing insecurity and the rising cost of living, strengthening her passion for social housing, mental health support and public healthcare.

A dedicated and tireless Labor volunteer, Melinda has worked on every ALP campaign for the past two decades, ensuring the movement is strong and connected to the community.

Now, she is fighting to expand social housing, improve mental health services, and protect Medicare – so every Australian has the security and support they deserve.