Catryna Bilyk was elected as a Labor Senator for Tasmania in November 2007 taking her seat in the Senate on 1 July 2008. She was born in Hobart and has lived in Tasmania for the majority of her life. She is married to Robert and has two adult children, Alissa and Kieran.
Before being elected to the Senate in November 2007, Catryna worked in a variety of different positions and roles including administration, research and child care. She joined the Australian Services Union Tasmanian Branch, as an Industrial Officer and later became the Branch Training Officer. Catryna was responsible for setting up the first Union Jobskills Program and represented the Union on many Industry Training Advisory Boards. She also held the position of Senior Vice President of Unions Tasmania.
Catryna was employed by the Tasmanian Government as an Advisor with the Office of the Treasurer and also worked as an Advisor/Electorate Officer with the Office of the Deputy Premier, Minister for Health, Primary Industries, Energy, Water and Police and Emergency Services.
Catryna has been active in a variety of Australian Labor Party (ALP) roles at Branch, State and Federal levels including local branch Secretary and President, State Administrative Committee member, Policy Committee member (State and Federal), National and State Convenor of the Labor Womens Network, ALP National Executive Member and ALP National Vice President.. In her capacity as a Senator, Catryna has served on many Senate committees including Parliamentary Library; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations; Environment and Communications; Migration; Senators' Interests and Community Affairs.
She is Chair of the Joint Select Committee on Cyber-Safety and a member of the Joint Select Committee on Gambling Reform.