At the age of twelve, Martin was made a ward of the state. After her parents divorced she followed her mother, Rose Pilkington, to Broome. Here she worked as a social worker, after completing a business management course, although she had not completed her schooling. Martin moved north to Derby, where she met and married Brian Martin.
In 1992 she won a scholarship to study social work at Curtin University. Her husband and two children moved to Perth to be with her.
Before entering parliament Martin worked as a consultant providing support and counselling services for a number of community and interest groups.
Her interests include: fishing, camping, reading and spending time with her large extended family.

Sources: www.wa.alp.org.au/people/kimberley.html accessed 31/10/01;
www.federation.vic.gov.au/honour.html p. 134 accessed 31/10/01

Sources used to compile this entry: Herd, Margaret (ed.), Who's who in Australia 2002, 38 edn, Crown Content, Melbourne, 2002, 2020 pp.