Pathways to Politics for Women at QUT is increasing the number of women in Australian politics by equipping diverse women to boldly embrace their political ambitions, thrive as leaders and make a profound contribution to society.

Through comprehensive practical training, workshops, and mentoring, we provide unparalleled expertise for women who are serious about driving change through political leadership.

Our proudly non-partisan program is uniquely designed in collaboration between QUT and seven other leading universities across Australia, tailored to the Queensland context.

Pathways to Politics is an initiative of the Trawalla Foundation, Women’s Leadership Institute Australia and the University of Melbourne. We’re proud to be working collaboratively with partners across the national Pathways to Politics network who share our mission to change the face of politics in Australia.

Register your interest

Applications have closed for 2024. Follow this year's cohort on LinkedIn.

Register your interest to be advised when applications open for 2025.

National program

See the national program and network of universities, plus the online Knowledge Hub for practical tools, information and inspiration to help you in your run for public office.

Explore the program

Support the program

Thanks to the support of our generous donors, the costs to attend the program are waived to ensure there are no financial barriers to participation in our program. Your donation to support emerging female politicians to attend the program would be greatly appreciated.

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What you'll learn

The program aims to provide women the opportunity to gain the skills and networks to reach elected office at local, state and national levels. These skills include:

  • understanding politics
  • articulating your personal leadership vision
  • developing resilience
  • building your base
  • speech writing
  • media training
  • understanding policy making
  • campaigning.

Set the agenda, lead the conversation

The QUT Pathways to Politics for Women program is delivered over three months and is comprised of three 2-day workshops, held at the Executive Education Centre Gardens Point campus in Brisbane, with access to an online learning platform, virtual classrooms, networking functions and coaching sessions.

Each workshop is structured around hands-on training and networking, including panels and conversation sessions with women elected to office in local, state, and federal government. Participants gain first-hand insights from prominent politicians, advisors, speechwriters and media trainers to give them confidence and clarity about their future in politics in a safe, supportive environment.

Over the course of the program, you will work towards understanding your motivations to run, build your political vision develop key skills in media, campaigning and fundraising, and have a ‘real world’ experience delivering your stump speech in parliament.

Program outline

Module 1: Building your political career

  • Making the decision to run.
  • Creating your own story and political vision.
  • Party machines and building your base.
  • Pre-selection.

Module 2: Becoming the strongest candidate

  • Campaigning.
  • Fundraising.
  • Understanding the role of economics in policy.
  • Resilience and wellbeing.
  • Political speeches.
  • Media training.

Module 3: Being a political leader

  • Ethical dilemmas and decision making.
  • Making a difference as a political leader.
  • Speeches in parliament.

Is this program right for me?

This program has been designed to benefit women who aspire to elected office and have started their journey. The program provides a safe space for women of diverse backgrounds, professions, cultures, and ideologies to fulfil their shared aspiration to pursue public office.

QUT's Pathways to Politics for Women is open to female Queensland residents and aims to inspire and empower participants to lead our country into the future.

If you are not eligible for this program because you are not resident in QLD, you may be eligible for our partner programs in the other states. Visit Changing the face of politics - Pathways to Politics.

Eligibility guidelines

To be eligible for the program you must be an Australian citizen/Australian permanent resident/holder of a permanent Humanitarian Visa, identify as a woman, and be a Queensland resident. Pathways to Politics embraces an inclusive definition of 'women', acknowledging the diversity of women we work with and aim to support, including cisgender and transgender women, and non-binary people.

Participants will be selected on a competitive basis against the following criteria:

  • commitment to seeking elected office
  • leadership experience
  • professional and life experience
  • political engagement
  • ability to tell your story in a compelling way

Equity criteria

Pathways to Politics for Women is committed to minimising barriers for all women entering politics. We recognise that some applicants experience disadvantages that may impact their political opportunities. To assist us in helping to increase diverse female representation in all levels of government, we ask that you identify if any of the equity criteria apply to you:

  • identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
  • identify as LGBTQIA+
  • previous status as a refugee or current holder of a humanitarian visa
  • regional, rural, or isolated background
  • disadvantaged socio-economic circumstances
  • person with a disability and/or chronic medical condition
  • person from a culturally and linguistically diverse background.

Register your interest

2024 program

The 2024 program is now underway. Register your interest to hear about future application dates.

Application process

Applications open on 6 March 2024 and are submitted via an online platform, accessible via the QUT and national program websites. Applicants will be asked to complete a set of eligibility questions, scenario-based questions, submit a current CV and a 90-second pitch video.

All applicants will be reviewed by a selection committee, which places a strong emphasis on multi-partisanship and equity in selection and seeks a cohort of women with diverse life and professional experiences.

All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application at the end of the selection process.

Application dates

  • Applications open: 6 March 2024
  • Applications close: 24 April 2024
  • Selection process: May 2024
  • Applicants notified of outcome: June 2024

Review the Pathways to Politics FAQs

2024 program dates

QUT’s 2024 Pathways to Politics for Women will be held:

  • Workshop 1: Friday 19 and Saturday 20 July 2024
  • Workshop 2: Friday 16 and Saturday 17 August 2024
  • Workshop 3: Friday 13 and Saturday 14 September 2024

Your commitment: Program participants are expected to attend all three 2-day workshops held in Brisbane and the virtual classrooms.

Cost: Program participation is partially funded through the generous support of the Trawalla Foundation and QUT. This includes reasonable travel and accommodation expenses for participants not located in and around Brisbane.

Contact us: If you have any questions contact the pathways team.

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Advisory committee

Advisory committee

Hon Mary Crawford

From 1994-1996 Mary was the Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister with responsibility for Local Government.

Ufficiale Hon Teresa Gambaro

Teresa Gambaro has an extensive career portfolio across both the private and public sectors. Her consulting services are sought after by corporate boards, private corporations, non-Government organisations, entrepreneur start-ups and community groups.

Mrs Linda Lavarch

Linda Lavarch is a former Australian politician and solicitor. She was a Labor Party member of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland from 1997-2009.

Ms Sarah Buckley, Executive Officer, Trawalla Foundation

Sarah brings fifteen years of leadership experience in the corporate and not-for-profit sectors, focused on social innovation and investment.

Professor Robina Xavier, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Education), QUT

Professor Xavier has more than 25 years’ experience in the tertiary sector including serving as Executive Dean, QUT Business School.

Professor Vicky Browning, School of Management, Faculty of Business and Law, QUT

Professor Vicky Browning is a qualified organisational psychologist and executive coach specialising in leadership and human resource development.

Ms Sally Dillon, Corporate Communication Officer, QUT

A graduate of QUT’s inaugural Pathways to Politics for Women in 2020, Sally Dillon ran for election in the Brisbane ward of Coorparoo in the local government elections the same year.

Support the program

In a state as large as Queensland, it can often be difficult for those not living in the southeast corner to attain the same training and resources as their city counter parts, due to the costs to travel.

As part of QUT’s commitment to helping increase diverse female representation in all levels of government, across our wonderful state, all costs to participants on the QUT Pathways to Politics for Women are waived. This is achieved by our wonderful donors who help cover costs like flights, accommodation, catering and in person workshops.

Your donation can help Queensland women to access training and the skills to equip them to succeed in being elected to public office to lead our country in the future.

Donate

Program history

Pathways to Politics for Women is an initiative of the Trawalla Foundation, Women’s Leadership Institute Australia and the University of Melbourne.

Inspired by the Harvard Kennedy School’s “From Harvard Square to the Oval Office” practicum, Pathways to Politics was initiated through the vision of Carol Schwartz AO, Chair of the Trawalla Foundation, who fundamentally believes in the value of more female leaders. For Carol this is about optimising outcomes for our country by ensuring that men and women together share power, leadership and decision making.

The foundational Pathways to Politics program launched at the University of Melbourne in 2016, followed by programs at QUT in 2019, UNSW in 2021, Charles Darwin University in 2022, the University of Adelaide and University of Canberra in 2023, and the University of Western Australia and University of Tasmania in 2024.

This network is led by the National Co-Convenors Sarah Buckley, CEO of the Trawalla Foundation, and Dr Meredith Martin, Director of the University of Melbourne’s Pathways to Politics program. Each state/territory program also receives strategic support and guidance from a local steering or advisory committee, drawing on the expertise of senior university representatives, politicians and Pathways alums.

Find out more information about the Pathways to Politics national network and current electoral successes at pathwaystopolitics.org.au.

Founding partners

University partners

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