At just 11 years old, Elise’s first job was scraping fryer fat off the walls of a takeaway shop – all to buy that coveted Bells Carnival ticket for the Christmas school holidays. It was a job that taught her grit, a lesson she’s carried throughout her life.

 

Elise moved to Sydney in the early 2000s, landing her first real job in the fashion industry. But seeking something more, she studied Radio Broadcasting at the Australian Television and Radio School, which led to hosting a morning show in Northern NSW. Still searching for her true calling, she pursued a Bachelor of Photography at Griffith University, where she discovered the power of advocacy through storytelling. It was here she produced a short film about a woman battling Lyme Disease - a story that exposed serious flaws in our health system, flaws that remain unresolved today.

 

After university, Elise worked for Queensland Newspapers before stepping into her most important role: motherhood. While raising two children, she studied journalism and returned to radio, reading the news for various stations. Now, Elise is happily settled in Canberra with her family, spending non-campaigning days swimming laps at the local pool and building her social enterprise, Lady News.

 

“I believe every Australian deserves representation in the Senate, no matter their background or lifestyle. I chose the Heart Party because, like me, they believe politics should be about people – not power. I’ve been calling on the government to address critical issues like housing affordability, cost of living, family court and justice reform, press freedom, and failures in our healthcare system. They haven’t been listening. I’ve seen the devastating impact of that ignorance. So here I am, stepping up and doing the hard work to bring the change you deserve.