The Australian Women's Register

Victoria Papadakis was born and bred in the inner western suburbs of Sydney. She was educated at Fort Street Girls’ High School and the University of Sydney, from which she graduated MB, BS.

She has worked in local hospitals and as a general practitioner in the electorate, but at the time of her campaign she was employed at State Rail, in charge of the health and safety of employees.

In 1987, Victoria Papadakis contested the Canterbury Mayoral election and was well known as a result. In her 1988 campaign, she spoke critically of the law that allowed street prostitution in commercial areas, which had led to parts of Canterbury Road becoming areas for prostitution. Her campaign slogan was “Send for the Doctor”, and she condemned the long waiting times that casualty patients at Canterbury Hospital had to suffer.

She is married to Dr Peter Papadakis, who practises in the electorate. Victoria Papadakis was supported in her campaign by Kevin Ryan, a former Labor MLA, then running as an independent in the adjoining seat of Bankstown.