Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s partner has stepped into a new role as an ambassador for a leading children’s charity.
In a sign she is taking on greater responsibilities, the ‘first lady’ of Australian politics Jodie Haydon has stepped into a new role as Ambassador for Redkite, a charity providing support for families impacted by childhood cancer.
Redkite offers emotional, financial and practical help for families who have a child under the age of 18 living with cancer.
Mr Albanese, 60, has been dating Ms Haydon, 44, since early 2020.
Ms Haydon, who was born in Bankstown, Western Sydney, to parents who were school teachers, now reportedly works as a women’s officer at the NSW Public Service Association.
Jodie Haydon, partner of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, has landed a new role as Ambassador for Redkit
In April, the Prime Minister shut down questions about wedding plans for the couple.
During his pre-Anzac Day radio appearance, the PM was asked by prominent radio host Kyle Sandilands whether he planned to ask Ms Haydon to marry him.
‘When will you propose to Jodi? Is that on the agenda?’ Sandilands asked.
‘I don’t think that’s a matter for KIIS FM to determine,’ Mr Albanese responded.
‘Is she your twin flame?’ Sandilands then asked, referring to the spiritual idea of two individuals, usually lovers, who share the same soul.
‘She is certainly a very dear partner, and I regard myself as being incredibly lucky. We have a great relationship,’ Mr Albanese said.
Mr Albanese has been dating Ms Haydon since early 2020.
Ms Haydon began dating Mr Albanese in early 2020 after meeting at a conference in Melbourne where he was speaking.
Mr Albanese was previously married to NSW deputy premier Carmel Tebbutt for 19 years and with whom he shares a 21-year-old son, Nathan.
In July last year, Ms Haydon said she knew she was in love with the Prime Minister when she got the terrifying news he’d been in a serious car crash.
The financial advisor had been dating the then Opposition Leader for barely a year when his car was wiped out by a Range Rover driven by a P-plater metres away from his home in Sydney’s inner-west in January 2021.
Mr Albanese was rushed to hospital with extensive injuries.
Mr Albanese has previously shut down questions about marrying his partner. Pictured from left to right: Jodie Haydon, Alan Joyce and Anthony Albanese
‘When I got to the accident, and I saw the car before I saw Anthony, and I remember thinking at the time, “This can’t end well,”‘ Ms Haydon told 7News at the time.
‘And that overwhelming sense of, “What if I lose him?” And I knew then that, yeah, I love him. And I love him deeply.’
Mr Albanese and Ms Haydon bonded over both following the same rugby league team, the South Sydney Rabbitohs, and having lived near each other in Sydney’s Inner West.
Ms Haydon, the daughter of two teachers, was born in 1978 in Bankstown and grew up on the Central Coast of New South Wales.
She dropped out of university and began a career in superannuation, spending 20 years in banking and finance companies.
In February last year, Ms Haydon was hired as women’s officer, following her role as a union delegate for the NSW Public Service Association.
She accompanied Mr Albanese during the 2022 Australian federal election campaign.