Gavin Jennings was elected as the Member for Melbourne Province in September 1999 and re-elected at the November 2002 State Election. Following the Bracks Labor Government’s reforms to the Legislative Council, Gavin was elected to the South Eastern Metropolitan Region at the 2006 State Election.
Gavin has held a number of Ministerial Portfolios such as Aged Care, Aboriginal Affairs, Community Services, Environment and Climate Change, and Innovation. Gavin is currently the Deputy Leader of the Victorian Labor Party (Legislative Council), Deputy Leader of the Opposition (Legislative Council), Shadow Minister for Health and Shadow Minister for Mental Health.
Gavin was born in Melbourne in April 1957. He moved with his family to country Victoria when he was in primary school and returned to Melbourne to study at University. He has a Bachelor of Arts (1978 – Monash University) and a Bachelor of Social Work (1981- Melbourne University). Gavin has one son – Huw.
Gavin had a wide and varied work history before entering Parliament, including experience as a Factory Worker, Actuarial Clerk, Actor, Social Worker and Policy Analyst. Gavin worked as a social worker at the Aboriginal Health Service in Fitzroy from 1981 to 1984.