SARAH MANSFIELD: FROM GP TO PARLIAMENT | BRIDGED BY WORDS
How does an everyday person step into politics and make a real difference in their community? In this episode of Bridged By Words, Ethan Urch sits down with Dr. Sarah Mansfield, Member of the Victorian Parliament for Western Victoria and Deputy Leader of the Victorian Greens, to explore her journey from medicine and public health into local government and state politics.
Sarah shares the formative experiences that shaped her political values, from growing up in a family deeply conscious of fairness and service, to witnessing the failures of Australia’s asylum seeker policies, to working as a GP and seeing firsthand how housing insecurity, poverty, and inequality drive poor health outcomes. She explains how those experiences pushed her beyond individual care and into policy, advocacy, and elected office.
Together, they unpack the realities of political life: what it means to run for office, how mentors and encouragement matter, why local government is often overlooked as a place where real change can happen, and why aspiring leaders need to stay connected to the issue that puts the “fire in their belly.” This is a grounded conversation about purpose, representation, compromise, public service, and finding your place in political life.
Bridged By Words is the podcast where aspiring leaders connect with experienced politicians, gaining the lessons and inspiration they need for their own political journeys. Watch full interviews on YouTube or listen on Spotify.
What You’ll Learn:
Why values alignment matters when deciding whether to enter politics
How Sarah’s experience as a doctor revealed the policy failures behind many social problems
Why local government can be one of the most powerful places to create meaningful change
How community pressure and persistence can shift political outcomes
Why mentors and “a tap on the shoulder” often matter more than people realise
How to work with people you disagree with in order to deliver outcomes
Why representation matters and why more diverse voices need to step forward
The advice Sarah would give any aspiring leader: follow the issue that puts the fire in your belly
