Forging a political path for women

It was that stark reality that motivated philanthropist Carol Schwartz to kickstart a groundbreaking program in 2015 designed to equip women with the skills and experience needed to successfully enter the political fray.

As Australia gears up for a federal election this year, the important work pioneered by Pathways to Politics for Women is more relevant than ever.

The program, which has helped equip more than 600 diverse women across the nation with the confidence and skills to embark on political careers, recently celebrated its 10^th anniversary at a special event at Victoria’s Government House.

The gathering was attended by more than 150 of the program’s Victorian alumni, many of whom are now parliamentarians or local government councillors.

Four graduates of the program took part in a panel discussion moderated by the program’s director and national co-convenor, Melbourne University’s Dr Meredith Martin.

Panel members councillor Elisha Lee from the City of Monash, Victorian Greens deputy leader Dr Sarah Mansfield, Liberal candidate for the federal seat of Chisolm Dr Katie Allen, and former Kingston mayor Jenna Davey-Burns reflected on how the program had shaped their political journeys.

“I'm incredibly grateful to Pathways to Politics because it really gave me a great start in my political career," said Allen, a graduate of the 2017 program and a former member for the federal seat of Higgins.

"It gave me the skills and tools that I needed to face what is a difficult thing to do. It's the hardest thing I've ever had to do in my entire life, but personally, I think standing for your community and for your country or state is the greatest privilege. It's the greatest honour.”

Member for the state seat of Western Victoria Dr Sarah Mansfield participated in the inaugural Pathways to Politics for Women program in 2016.

“I look back on the experience as being pivotal in shaping my political journey," she said.

"One of the incredible ongoing benefits has been the network of extraordinary women it has created, many of whom I now work alongside in state parliament. It has opened connections between us across party lines, opening the door for greater collaboration – which can ultimately drive better outcomes for our community.”

The Government House event served as a celebration of both the graduation of the 2024 cohort and the program’s significant achievements over the past decade.

Of the program’s more than 600 alumni nationally, more than a third have run for pre-selection or political office – 84 of them successfully.

Two of the program’s graduates are currently serving in the federal Parliament and seven sit in the Victorian Parliament across five political parties.

Program founder Carol Schwartz said anger was a motivating factor when she established Pathways to Politics for Women in partnership with the University of Melbourne a decade ago.

“I felt a sense of outrage that our parliaments and councils had such gender imbalance,” she said.

In the years following the first successful program in 2016, founding partners the University of Melbourne, the Trawalla Foundation and Women’s Leadership Institute Australia worked with leading universities to expand the program’s reach to diverse women across the country.

The program became fully national in 2024.

“I am so proud of the successes of our alum community and the sustained impact of the program over the past decade – it is literally changing the face of Australian politics,” said Schwartz.

Dr Meredith Martin said the program had helped significantly strengthen female representation in Australian politics by equipping women from diverse political, cultural, and professional backgrounds with skills and opportunities to take their place at decision-making tables.

“While there’s more work to do to achieve true gender equality, we remain committed to strengthening the now national program and empowering more diverse women to step into political leadership.”

Women account for 45 per cent of overall positions in Australian federal, state and territory parliaments. In Victoria, 43 per cent of local councillors are female.

Federally, 39% of MPs in the House of Representatives are women.

Dr Martin said the upcoming federal election presented an opportunity to boost these numbers, with 10 Pathways to Politics alumni having already announced their candidacies across the political spectrum, with more to follow.

“It’s also inspiring to see six participants from our inaugural WA program last year running in next month’s WA state election – fittingly, on International Women’s Day.”

Applications for the 2025 program open nationally on March 6, 2025.