Twenty-one women from across Western Australia last week graduated from the 2025 Pathways to Politics for Women program at The University of Western Australia, completing an intensive week of training to equip them with the tools, knowledge and networks to step into political life.

Delivered by the UWA Public Policy Institute, the national, non-partisan initiative is led by the Trawalla Foundation, Women’s Leadership Institute Australia and the University of Melbourne, in partnership with eight universities across Australia.

Now in its second year at UWA, the program marks a decade since it was first established at the University of Melbourne.

To date, Pathways to Politics for Women has supported hundreds of women to run in elections, achieving 90 electoral successes across the political spectrum at local, state and federal levels.

Among those successes is UWA’s own 2024 participant, the Hon Amanda Dorn MLC, who made history this year as the first representative of the Animal Justice Party elected to the WA Legislative Council.

Over the week-long intensive, participants engaged in a series of panels, workshops and interactive sessions with guest speakers spanning the political spectrum, who shared their own experiences in public office and provided practical insights into campaigning, policymaking, media engagement, resilience, integrity and community engagement.

Program Manager Clare Feenan said the program was defined as much by the participants as by the curriculum.

“These women came from across the political spectrum, with ambitions at every level of government, and were united by a hunger for change and a willingness to show up,” Ms Feenan said.

“They’ve forged bonds, lifted one another up, and created a network that will carry them forward long after the program has ended.”

The week concluded at the Parliament of Western Australia, where participants delivered stump speeches in the Legislative Assembly before guest judges the Hon Mia Davies, the Hon Liza Harvey OAM and the Hon Dr Katrina Stratton MLC.

Rural and Regional Access Partner Minderoo Foundation provides travel and accommodation bursaries for all rural and regional participants, ensuring women from around the country can access the program.

Expressions of interest for the 2026 program are now open.