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About Pathways to Politics Program for Women
The Pathways to Politics Program for Women is a national, proudly non-partisan initiative that aims to change the face of politics by equipping women with the skills, knowledge, confidence, and networks they need to run for elected office and thrive as political leaders.
This initiative of the Trawalla Foundation, Women’s Leadership Institute Australia and University of Melbourne seeks to address the underrepresentation of women in Australian politics, and is delivered in partnership with state-based university partners University of Melbourne (UoM), Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and University of New South Wales (UNSW).
Pathways has realised significant impact in advancing female political participation since it launched in 2016, with 20 electoral successes achieved nationally across the political spectrum at local, state and federal levels of government. The majority of alums intend to run for elected office in the next ten years, and at least 20 alums are poised to run in the forthcoming 2022 federal and Victorian state elections.
Pathways brings together significant expertise and experience from across Australia’s political spectrum to provide participants with networking opportunities and practical training that emphasises good governance, ethics and leadership. The program supports a strong and inclusive cohort culture.
The program curriculum is delivered in a practical, experiential format, with modules covering topics such as political vision, campaign planning, media training, speech-writing and leadership skills.
Thank you for your interest in the Pathways to Politics Program for Women. Participants will be selected on a competitive basis. The selection criteria are as follows:
- Commitment to seeking elected office
- Leadership experience
- Professional and life experience
- Political engagement
- Ability to tell your story in a compelling way.
All applications will be reviewed by a Selection Committee, which place a strong emphasis on multi-partisanship and equity in selection and seeks a cohort of women with diverse life and professional experiences.
The program provides a safe space for women of diverse backgrounds, professions, cultures, and ideologies to fulfil their shared aspiration to pursue public office.
Current Rounds
QUT Pathways to Politics for Women 2022
- Submissions are now open.
Submissions close midnight 26 April 2022 (AEST).Find out more about QUT Pathways to Politics for Women 2022…
UNSW Pathways to Politics for Women 2022
- Submissions are now open.
- Submissions close midnight 26 April 2022 (AEST). Find out more about UNSW Pathways to Politics for Women 2022…
UoM Pathways to Politics for Women 2022
- Submissions are now open.
Submissions close midnight 26 April 2022 (AEST). Find out more about UoM Pathways to Politics for Women 2022…
Associate Professor Magdalena Simonis AM is the Immediate Past President of the AFMW (2020-2023), former President of VMWS (2013 & 2017-2020) and current AFMW National Coordinator (2024-2026). She is a full time clinician who also holds positions on several not for profit organisations, driven by her passion for bridging gaps across the health sector. She is a leading women’s health expert, keynote speaker, climate change and gender equity advocate and government advisor. Magda is member of The Australian Health Team contributing monthly articles.
Magdalena was awarded a lifetime membership of the RACGP for her contributions which include past chair of Women in General Practice, longstanding contribution to the RACGP Expert Committee Quality Care, the RACGP eHealth Expert Committee. She is regularly invited to comment on primary care research though mainstream and medical media and contributes articles on various health issues through newsGP and other publications.
Magdalena has represented the RACGP at senate enquiries and has worked on several National Health Framework reviews. She is author of the RACGP Guide on Female Genital Cosmetic Surgery and co-reviewer of the RACGP Red Book Women’s Health Chapter, and reviewer of the RACGP White book
Both an RACGP examiner and University examiner, she undertakes general practice research and is a GP Educator with the Safer Families Centre of Research Excellence, which develops education tools to assist the primary care sector identify, respond to and manage family violence . Roles outside of RACGP include the Strategy and Policy Committee for Breast Cancer Network Australia, Board Director of the Melbourne University Teaching Health Clinics and the elected GP representative to the AMA Federal Council. In 2022. she was award the AMA (Vic) Patrick Pritzwald-Steggman Award 2022, which celebrates a doctor who has made an exceptional contribution to the wellbeing of their colleagues and the community and was listed as Women’s Agenda 2022 finalist for Emerging Leader in Health.
Magdalena has presented at the United Nations as part of the Australian Assembly and was appointed the Australian representative to the World Health Organisation, World Assembly on COVID 19, by the Medical Women’s International Association (MWIA) in 2021. In 2023, A/Professor Simonis was included on the King’s COVID-19 Champion’s list and was also awarded a Member (AM) in the General Division for significant service to medicine through a range of roles and to women’s health.
