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.
Applications for the 2026 program are closed.
To be notified about our 2027 intake, register your interest.
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
Pathways to Politics for Women is celebrating a decade of empowering diverse women to pursue political leadership. Watch our short anniversary video or read our publication.
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:
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.
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.
To be eligible for the program you must be aged over 18 years, an Australian citizen/Australian permanent resident/holder of a New Zealand Special Category Visa or permanent Humanitarian Visa, be a Queensland resident, and identify as a woman (noting we embrace an inclusive definition of 'women', including cisgender and transgender women, and non-binary people).
Participants will be selected on a competitive basis against the following 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:
Applications 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.
Applications for the 2026 program open 5 March and close 30 April.
To allow for varied timezones all national sessions will be held 7.30pm-8.45pm Melbourne time (note: AEST in September/AEDT from 4 October):
Review the Pathways to Politics FAQs
Program participants are expected to attend all three of the two-day workshops held in Brisbane and the virtual classrooms.
Program participation is funded through the generous support of the Trawalla Foundation and QUT.
Travel and accommodation bursaries are available for all rural and regional participants thanks to our Rural and Regional Access Partner Minderoo Foundation – ensuring equal access for women nationwide.
If you have any questions contact the pathways team.
Dr Linda Lavarch is a former Australian politician and solicitor. She was a Labor Party member of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland from 1997-2009. She was appointed Queensland's first woman Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, in 2005. She also held the position of parliamentary secretary to the Minister for Energy and Aboriginal and Minister for Torres Strait Islander Policy during her time.
Dr Mary Crawford was elected to the House of Representatives as the MP for Forde from 1987-1996. During her time in the Australian Parliament, she led the Crawford Committee which developed and implemented a National Policy on Child Care and established the Child Care Accreditation Council. In recognition of significant service to women, and to the people and Parliament of Australia, she was awarded the Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in January 2020.
Professor Xavier has more than 25 years’ experience in the tertiary sector including serving as Executive Dean, QUT Business School. Robina has sat on a number of government advisory groups, is a former National President of the peak industry body, the Public Relations Institute of Australia, and is a former chair of the industry’s National Education Committee which oversees accreditation of Australian university programs.
Professor Vicky Browning is currently the program lead for the QUT Pathways to Politics for Women Program. She has extensive teaching experience in leadership, organisational behaviour and human resource management and has published in the areas of leadership, pedagogy, evaluation and service excellence in national and international journals.
Sarah is a strategic leader with over seventeen years’ business leadership experience in social innovation, gender equity, ESG integration and responsible investing. Sarah is currently chief of staff for Carol Schwartz AO and CEO of the Trawalla Foundation, and she co-leads Pathways to Politics Program for Women nationally. Sarah has been a sought-after sustainability consultant to major Australian companies, led PwC's award-winning Corporate Responsibility team, and held senior roles creating innovative new businesses including PwC’s Indigenous Consulting.
A graduate of QUT's Pathways to Politics Program for Women in 2021, Michaela Sargent was a local government candidate for the Brisbane ward of Walter Taylor. A well recognised senior leader in the international development sector, Michaela brings to the committee three decades of experience in community development, gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI), child protection and advocacy, as well as extensive local grassroots networks and deep sector expertise in delivering impactful advocacy and community outreach.
Ufficiale The Honourable Dr Teresa Gambaro has an extensive career as Federal Member of Parliament and experience across both the private and public sectors. She's worked with governments across Europe, Asia and the Pacific and brings senior level network and business relationships within both federal and state governments, the International and Australian business community and key industry associations.
Ufficiale The Honourable Dr Teresa Gambaro – Parliament of Australia
Margaret de Wit was elected as Councillor with Brisbane City Council in 1997. In her, close to 20-year term, Margaret held the portfolios of Chair of Infrastructure, Chair of Public and Active Transport and Chair of Council. In 2012 she was elected President of the Local Government Association of Queensland, the first woman in its then 126-year history. In 2017 Margaret was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for services to local government and the people of Brisbane.
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.
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 2020, 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.
'Not a lot of people go into this realm of life so to have a program like this to support women from across the state has been invaluable.'
'The course gives you time to plan, step things out and test them with great facilitators and mentors at QUT.'
QUT Pathways to Politics Graduate Prepares for the Federal Election - QUTeX Blog
'One of the things I thoroughly enjoyed was you had people from all walks of life, all parties there. It didn’t matter which party you were aligned with; we were all there for the same purpose. The networking is phenomenal.'
'After I finished the program, I knew I was going to do this. I had confidence in myself and saw so many other young women like me who wanted to pursue politics as well and I thought If they can do it, I can too.'
You can access a range of QUT and national alum profiles on the Pathways to Politics Knowledge Hub and with more than 450 alum nationally, there are many interesting stories to share.
For more information about course offerings, registration or payment enquiries, please submit an online enquiry.