Malcolm Sandon was born at Chelsea, Victoria on 16 September 1945 and was educated at Chelsea, Simon Fraser University, British Columbia, Canada where he graduated with a BA (Hons) in sociology and political science in 1975. Sandon returned to Australia to undertake PhD studies and work as a tutor with the Sociology department at La Trobe University 1973-1976; and lectured in the department of Liberal Studies, Swinburne Institute of Technology 1974-1975. He then went on holding the position of Federal Industrial Officer with the Municipal Officers Association in 1976-1982. Sandon joined the Australian Labor Party in 1972 and was president of the Aspendale Branch. In June 1982 he was elected to the Victorian State Parliament as a Labour MP representing Chelsea until 1988; and then represented Carrum from 1988-1996.