Background
However, influenced by her mother’s chosen career of Nursing, at the age of 19, Trish became a nurse
However, influenced by her mother’s chosen career of Nursing, at the age of 19, Trish became a nurse
She joined the Navy and completed her training as a Medic specialising in Surgical and Theatre Nursing.
She was elected to the Makin seat, representing the Liberal Party, for four consecutive elections. Her early ambition was to become a High School Teacher, to teach Economics and History. After leaving the Navy, she moved into the area of Aged Care Nursing, while completing her Bachelor of Arts Degree at the University of South Australia.
In 1993 and 1994 Trish was elected as a Student Representative for the Salisbury Campus and Coordinator of the Save Salisbury Campus Campaign.
Trish Draper joined the Liberal Party in 1992 and subsequently stood for pre-selection for the Makin in November 1994. In 2000, Draper campaigned against continuing high petrol prices, calling on the Federal Government to freeze the proposed GST component of petrol excise indexation.
The Prime Minister and Cabinet subsequently changed the policy to permanently abolish the GST component of petrol excise indexation. However the bill lapsed, and did not become law.
House of Representatives Standing Committees
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs 8.12.98 to 31.8.04.
Family and Community Services 20.3.02 to 31.8.04. Library 20.3.02 to 31.8.04. Privileges 1.12.04 to 07.
Procedures 1.12.04 to 07.
Chairman of Publications 1.12.04 to 07. Joint Standing Committee
Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade 1.12.04 to 07.
Coalition Policy Committees
Education, Science and Training 1996 to 2007. Health and Ageing 1996 to 2007.
Small Business and Tourism 1998 to 2007.
Secretary Health and Ageing 1998 to 2001. Chairman Health and Ageing 2001 to 2004. Although Prime Minister John Howard encouraged her to stay, Draper announced her intention to retire at the 2007 election.
In the lead up to South Australian state election, 2010, Trish Draper stood for pre-selection for the state seat of Newland.
During her early teens she was a member of the Girl Guides and the RSPCA. Currently, Trish Draper continues to be a member of the Liberal Party, supporting the volunteers in the Newland and Makin branches, and working and mentoring in the community.