Last year, I had the privilege of taking part in the Pathways to Politics for Women program at Queensland University of Technology (QUT). It was an incredible experience where I deepened my understanding of the political landscape, heard from women in politics, made lifelong friends across the political spectrum and had the unforgettable opportunity to deliver a stump speech in Queensland Parliament.

Importantly, the experience solidified my commitment to serving our community as an independent voice.

The great news is – applications are now open for 2025 – and I can’t recommend the program enough!

A decade of impact

For a decade, Pathways to Politics for Women has been transforming Australia’s political landscape by equipping diverse women with the skills, confidence and networks to thrive as leaders and make a profound contribution to society. Last year more than 40% of the QUT program alum ran in the local and state Queensland elections with 17% successfully elected. The program is fully funded, and is now delivered in every state and territory in Australia.

My experience on the program

I would honestly take part in Pathways to Politics every year if I had the opportunity to. We had the most amazing group of women in our cohort, made up of independents and members of The Greens, Labor and the LNP. The first day of the program, the team running the program set the ground rules, which really set the scene for an inclusive, respectful and safe environment for our three months together. While we may have different opinions and beliefs, we all got along amazingly well.

Coming off the back of the March local government election, it was fantastic to meet others who had run, and even a few who were successful and already in their councillor positions. We also had four of our cohort doing the program while campaigning for the October state election.

Of all the workshops, my favourite would have been the many panels we had, where past and present politicians spoke to us on the different themes of politics. From sharing their own ethical dilemmas, to stories on how they’d made a difference for their communities, I took something from every single panelist who spoke with us. Having the ability to have break-out groups for more in-depth conversations was a political nerd’s dream come true.

Then comes graduation – and the opportunity to deliver a three-minute speech in state parliament in front of your cohort, and a panel of judges. With the timing of our program being right before the state election, youth crime was a major issue being discussed. Given how frustrated I had been with the conflicting “evidence” thrown around by both the media and politicians on youth crime, the topic was an obvious choice for my speech.

Program details

The program offers:

• Practical training, workshops, mentoring and alumni support
• First-hand insights from past and present politicians, advisors, speechwriters and media trainers
• A proudly non-partisan program, delivered in a safe and supportive environment
• An understanding of politics, leadership, speech writing, media, policy making, campaigning and much more!

How it’s delivered:

The program is delivered over three months, with three 2-day workshops, held at the QUT Gardens Point campus, as well as some online sessions in between. Each workshop includes hands-on training and networking, panels and conversation sessions with women elected to office in local, state, and federal government.

If you’re passionate about making a difference and considering a foray into politics, I encourage you to apply for the 2025 Pathways to Politics for Women program. Applications are open nationally until 1 May 2025. The program is fully funded, with travel and accommodation bursaries available for rural and regional participants, ensuring accessibility for women across Australia.

For more information and to apply, visit the Pathways to Politics for Women website.