Cassandra is a proud migrant, a pastry chef, an advocate for essential workers and the Federal Labor Member for Holt.

She came to Australia with her family when she was 11, and she has called Melbourne’s South-East home ever since.

Having made this journey, her parents taught her to never take anything for granted and instilled three values that she has upholds to this day: hard work, commitment, and gratitude.

Her parents taught her that she was entitled to a fair day’s wage for a fair day’s work as well as the importance of being committed to the community. 

She began working at Woolies Dandenong Plaza as a teenager, and spent almost 15 years baking, stacking shelves, and making lifelong friends.

She then represented workers in the retail and fast-food industries as an Organiser for the Shop, Distributive & Allied Employees’ Association and fought to improve the pay and conditions of her former colleagues.

She has also volunteered to tutor migrants and refugees from non-English speaking backgrounds so they can make the best of every opportunity.

Her parents also taught her to be grateful—to her community and to Australia—and never miss an opportunity to repay the gratitude.

She decided to run for Holt because it was an opportunity to help deliver a better future for every Australian—a future in which families like hers are not held back or left behind.

In addition to her electorate and the House of Representatives, she contributes to policymaking through the Joint Standing Committee on Migration, and the House Committee on Employment, Education and Training.