[2] He attended Maddington Senior High School and Curtin University, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts in English, Journalism and Politics in 1989.
From 1991 to 1992, he worked as publications officer for the ACT Council of Social Service, and then from 1992 to 1994 as adviser to the Federal Labor member for Chifley, Roger Price.
After leaving the Fremantle Herald in 2007, he moved to Tasmania and worked as chief of staff for Tasmanian Labor member for Denison Duncan Kerr.
Before election to parliament, he served as a member of Tasmanian Labor's Administrative Committee and secretary of the Southern Central Policy Branch.
[6] In November 2024, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that former Tasmanian Labor Leader Rebecca White will be contesting the seat of Lyons at the upcoming Federal Election, with Mitchell standing aside.