Ms Bird, who was first elected as the Member for Cunningham in 2004, made the announcement yesterday. She said it had been a joy representing her community for two decades but it was time to take a step back and focus on her family.

She thanked her local community for supporting her through six elections and said it was those people at the grass roots that she would miss the most.

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"I'm really going to miss going to multicultural events where everyone is out there either having a lovely celebration or they are packing food packages for people in need," she said.

"For me, the best part of being an elected member is when a person comes up to me at a community function and says 'you got my Grandma's aged care package sorted out because she was in tears and we were all so worried and now it's changed our life'.

"Those are the times that I will remember most fondly - they may not get the attention but they change lives and that's advocacy."

Ms Bird worked under seven different prime ministers during her political career and said the highlight was when her "favourite politician" Julia Gillard rose to power.

While policies and priorities had changed immensely over the years, she said it was the way people communicated with her that had changed the most in that time.

"I think when I started My Space was around but certainly not the mass online platforms that you now engage with as an elected representative," she said.

"A lot of that has been really good because you see the community rallying together on social media platforms to support each other - the bushfires and the pandemic spring to mind.

"The only thing that worries me about it is that we may have lost a bit of that capacity to have a good debate and still be polite in person."

Looking forward, Ms Bird said the pandemic exposed the weaknesses in our society with vulnerable people including the unemployed and those with casual, unreliable work and disadvantaged groups being the hardest hit.

If there was one thing she regretted other than losing elections on her way out, she said it was the demise of integrity she had witnessed under the current Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

"There's a real need for integrity and trust and taking the community with you in leadership roles now and I think we've seen that diminish," she said.

"I'm very conscious people want us to be better and part of that is delivering to them with things like the National Integrity Commission and anti-corruption at the national level.

"I mean, the government made a commitment and it still hasn't delivered.

"I would hope that the current Prime Minister sees that we need to do better by the community and create trust [that] we are actually there for the community good and the national good."

Federal Whitlam MP, Stephen Jones:

"Sharon has been an outstanding representative and a good friend. For almost 18 years Sharon has represented the Illawarra community, and her departure is a significant loss for our community.

"During her time as Member for Cunningham Sharon was passionate about Higher Education, in particular the role of TAFE in providing young people with a chance to gain skills and a decent job and older workers the chance to retrain for a second career. In the area of regional development, Sharon's legacy will be seen in the funds she won for projects that have renovated the city, including the Blue Mile and over $100M in funds for new buildings at the University of Wollongong.

"I'm going to miss the great partnership we have enjoyed and I wish her and Gino all the best for the future."

Labor member for Keira, MP Ryan Park:

"I have been lucky enough to know Sharon for close to 20 years and in that time I have seen firsthand a person who cares deeply about the community she represents and has advocated vigorously to make Governments of all political persuasions sit up and take notice.

"Sharon has achieved so much in her time as the Member for Cunningham, including significant Federal Government investments at the University of Wollongong, upgrades to our major arterial roads including Picton Rd and Mt Ousley, as well as massive enhancements to our foreshore area just to name a few.

"But what people may not see is the time and energy she personally puts in to local residents who are doing it tough or struggling to navigate complex Federal Government bureaucracies. Sharon and her team will often spend hours with people trying to help them access support through Centrelink or get a loved one home from overseas during COVID and all the extra challenges and difficulties that came along with this."

Debra Murphy, CEO - RDA Illawarra:

"I've worked with Sharon for the past 17 years on all types of initiatives from infrastructure to international trade, through steel and mining industry challenges, on skill shortages and community grants.

"Sharon has been a solid advocate for the greater good of the region, and provided bipartisan support on matters of significance. She will be missed."

Labor member for Shellharbour, Anna Watson:

"Sharon is a wonderful friend, mentor and colleague, who has always been on hand to provide advice and support when needed.

"Her departure from politics leaves a huge void in the local political landscape and she will be missed.

"Sharon has amassed a number of important achievements during her tenure as Member for Cunningham, a track record she should be so proud of."

Narelle Clay - Chief Executive Officer Southern Youth & Family Services

"Sharon Bird has been consistent, reliable and stood up for so many community groups, particularly those who are vulnerable and disadvantaged.

"She's been a solid advocate for education and improving employment for young people.

"There's nothing I have asked Sharon to do that she hasn't tried to achieve."

Labor member for Wollongong, Paul Scully:

"Sharon has helped deliver around $1 billion worth of spending commitments to the region during her period in office, including securing the Illawarra as an early roll-out region for the National Broadband Network and helping secure the future of our steel industry, improving university, TAFEs, school, health and community facilities.

"In her first speech she outlined the need to support regional communities through change and to help provide opportunities for regions to share in the future by providing high quality education training and she has maintained that commitment to supporting workers, families, community groups and local businesses every single day since.

"She is passionate and committed to our region and our region has benefitted from her efforts."