The Australian Women's Register

Summary

Dorothy Isaksen joined the ALP 1954 and was on the ALP Youth Council Executive from 1957 to 1958. She became the first woman organiser of the NSW ALP and was on the party’s Central Executive 1970-71, and the Administration Committee 1976-79. She was President of the Labor Women’s Committee 1973-79 and was President, then Secretary of the National Labor Women’s Committee 1975-79. She ran for Wakehust in 1968 and was then elected to the New South Wales Legislative Council for the balance of the term of the Hon. Deirdre Grusovin. She was re-elected in 1990. From April 1995 to the end of her term in 1999, she was Government whip in the Legislative Council. She was a member of the Board of the Royal North Shore Hospital 1977-1986 and was Deputy Chairperson of the New South Wales Women’s Advisory Council 1976-78. Isaksen was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 2018 Australia Day Honours, for ‘significant service to the Parliament of New South Wales, as an advocate for gender equality in politics, as a mentor, and to the community’.

Dorothy Isaksen was married to Neville (died 24 June 2002) and they had two daughters.