How Dominic and Helen Perrottet juggle work and family life

Between NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet and his wife Helen, they have built up an impressive career history, all while raising seven children.

For Dominic Perrottet, one of the biggest challenges he has had to face during his time as NSW Premier has been juggling his work responsibilities with family life.

Mr Perrottet and his wife Helen provided a small insight into their day-to-day life when they sat down with news.com.au ahead of the NSW election.

On a regular day, getting seven kids aged between one and 13 up and ready in the morning sounds like a major feat, but during an election campaign, things become even more tricky.

“It’s a balancing act,” Mr Perrottet said.

“The kids come out one by one with their little personalities and they’re all very cute,” Mr Perrottet said.

“You just make it work.”

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet and wife Helen have seven children.

However, Ms Perrottet said it is the night-time routine that is slightly more chaotic.

“It’s a balance between Dom spending time with the kids and catching up, and getting them into bed.”

Turning to her husband, she said: “You want to speak to them and I say stop talking. It’s either they need to get to bed or they want to talk to you.”

Mr Perrottet, 40, agreed that was “the biggest issue”, noting the couple would try to get them into bed but he would also want to spend time with them, hear about their day or read with them.

“It’s hard to do. It’s better when I get home earlier,” he said.

Helen Perrottet’s impressive career history

The Premier’s large family has been a major point of interest for the public since he took the top job in 2021 following the resignation of Gladys Berejiklian.

However, Ms Perrottet, 40, also has her own impressive career history, being a former Australian Federal Police officer and working in public relations for the Australian Defence Force.

She studied law at night to get her degree, and afterwards she worked for a number of law firms, including four years as a litigator and a stint as an associate to a Federal Circuit Court Judge.

Ms Perrottet joined Bicknell Law and Consulting as a senior associate in 2018 and now works part-time in workplace law, while also providing legal services for the Australian Army.

Helen Perrottet has a very impressive career history. Picture: Damian Shaw

She studied at night while working full-time to get her law degree.

The mum-of-seven also has extensive experience advising government and industry groups including hospitality, retail, cleaning, security, property management, churches and construction.

A “fun fact” about Ms Perrottet on the Bicknell Law and Consulting website reveals she is also a former winner of the Australian Beginner Championships of Ceroc Dancing, “which apparently is a blend of jive, ballroom and swing dancing”.

“Fortunately, the pull of the law was too great, and Helen abandoned her dancing career to direct her creativity into resolving workplace issues with aplomb and flair,” the website states.

Mr Perrottet has always sung his wife’s praises, mentioning her in his maiden speech to parliament in 2011 when the Coalition won a landslide victory.

“My amazing wife, Helen, knows the demands of work and family that we as Australians face in the 21st century,” he said.

“For many years while working full-time in numerous jobs, including the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Defence Force, Helen also worked late into the night completing a law degree at night school.”

Both Mr Perrottet and his wife Helen come from big families. Picture: Toby Zerna/Office of NSW Premier

He told parliament his wife wanted to better herself and her community, and did so while juggling many other responsibilities.

“Late into the night she applied herself to her studies and cared for her family,” he said.

At the time of his speech, the couple were expecting their second child, with Mr Perrottet adding: “I am immensely proud of her as a talented professional, as a soulmate, and above all as a mother who continues to give everything she has to her two children: Charlotte, who is here in the gallery today, and Amelia, who is due to be born in a few months.”

Mr Perrottet said his path to becoming elected into parliament had contained many ups and downs and his wife had been there for all of it.

“She has supported me, advised me and, importantly, been there to listen. Darling, you are my rock, and without you I would not be here today,” he said.

Perrottet’s classy concession speech

Mr Perrottet arrived at the Liberal’s major party function at Sydney Hilton on Saturday night to deliver a sombre but classy speech after Labor’s landslide NSW election victory.

“As leader of the parliamentary Liberal Party, I take full responsibility for the loss this evening ... We need a fresh start for the Liberal Party,” he said.

“I want to thank the community of Epping and recognise they continue support and thank you very much for supporting me at this election.”

He heaped praise on Mr Minns for keeping the election campaign from becoming “ugly”.

“The great people of New South Wales have tonight decided to elect a Labor government into this state, and that is a decision that we respect. I particularly tonight want to acknowledge the Leader of the Opposition. Elections can get ugly, but I believe this election are truly was a race to the top. A genuine battle of ideas, and that is when politics is at its best,” he said amid cheers in the room.

“In many ways, that is due to Chris Minns and of the way that he has carried himself throughout this campaign. And that is why I truly believe and have no doubt that he will make a fine 47th Premier of New South Wales.

“I believe he will lead with the same decency of the same integrity that he has led with so far. And ultimately, I ask everybody across New South Wales, whatever your political persuasion, to get behind him.”

Mr Perrottet said he was proud of what the Liberal government had achieved and it had “made history” as the longest serving government.

Highlights from the governmnent’s time in power include three more metros, a second airport opening soon, five days of free preschool for children and abolishing stamp duty for first home owners as well as tackling gambling, Mr Perrottet added

“We have achieved all of this while navigating some of the most difficult times, droughts, fires, floods and we have pushed through the pandemic and lead our nation out of lockdown,” he added.

Originally published as How Dominic and Helen Perrottet juggle work and family life