A Mernda local and community organiser who works in the public sector and is a member of the Community and Public Sector Union.
Victorian state election · Legislative Assembly
Yan Yean
A Legislative Assembly district in the Northern Victoria region. Election day is Saturday 28 November 2026.
Current member
Lauren Kathage, Australian Labor Party
Candidates
Who's running
7 candidates have been announced or preselected for Yan Yean, listed by surname. The VEC draws ballot order and publishes the official list after nominations close at 12 noon on 9 November.
Candidate list: Tally Room 2026 seat guide, checked 5 Nov 2026. 5 of 7 candidates have a profile so far, written by this site from the sources listed with it.
Troy Cheers
Libertarian
Announced, not yet nominated
We couldn't find a published biography as of 5 November 2026.
Draft profile, not yet reviewed · sources (1)
A teacher at one of Yan Yean's largest schools and a community volunteer, who lives in Doreen.
Draft profile, not yet reviewed · sources (1)
Labor member for Yan Yean, who won the seat in 2022. Describes a career delivering health and education projects, and grew up in a family that ran a small business.
Draft profile, not yet reviewed · sources (2)
Moved to Melbourne in 2017 and worked as a business manager at a school, after years working in large firms.
Draft profile, not yet reviewed · sources (1)
Voting
How to vote in Yan Yean
Two ballot papers
Lower house (Legislative Assembly): you choose the member for Yan Yean, from the candidates above.
Upper house (Legislative Council): you help elect the five members for the Northern Victoria Region.
When and where
- Early voting: Wednesday 18 to Friday 27 November
- Election day: Saturday 28 November
How-to-vote cards
Parties and candidates hand out cards showing the order they suggest. They're only suggestions: you can number the boxes in any order you choose. The VEC publishes every registered card on its website.
Filling in your ballot papers
Lower house: On the smaller lower house ballot paper, you need to number every box in the order of your choice.
Upper house: On the larger upper house ballot paper, you can choose to vote above the line or below the line. Whether you choose to vote above the line or below the line, you need to number at least one to five in your order of choice for your vote to count.
Use numbers only, no ticks or crosses. (Source: VEC)
Group voting tickets have been abolished for the upper house, so its ballot paper works differently from 2022. Check the VEC's guide even if you've voted before. (Source: Proportional Representation Society)
Instructions are quoted from the Victorian Electoral Commission, checked 5 Nov 2026.
Your state member
Contact Lauren Kathage
- Electorate office
- T27, , 14 Alliance Avenue, Mernda, VIC, 3754
- Phone
- 03 9432 9782
- lauren.kathage@parliament.vic.gov.au
- Online
- FacebookWebsite
Source: Parliament of Victoria, updated 28 Aug 2026.