Twenty-two women from across Western Australia finished the 2026 Pathways to Politics for Women program at the University of Western Australia, completing an intensive week of practical training, workshops and mentoring designed to prepare participants for political life.
Program growth emphasizes regional reach
Delivered locally by the UWA Public Policy Institute, the initiative is part of a national, nonpartisan effort led by the Trawalla Foundation, the Women’s Leadership Institute Australia and the University of Melbourne and run across eight partner universities. The UWA offering is now in its third year, and organizers say the program has helped hundreds of women consider and pursue elected office.
This year’s cohort included eight graduates from regional communities, stretching from Albany to Broome. Travel and accommodation support for regional participants was provided by Rural and Regional Access Partner Minderoo Foundation, enabling organizers to expand recruitment beyond the metropolitan base that shaped earlier cohorts.
Practical training across the political spectrum
Over the week, participants attended panels, hands-on sessions and workshops led by figures from across Western Australia’s political landscape. Sessions covered campaign strategy, media training, policy development, resilience and community engagement. The program concluded at the state’s Parliament House, where graduates delivered stump speeches on the floor of the Legislative Assembly Chamber before guest judges that included the Hon. Mia Davies, the Hon. Liza Harvey OAM and Kate Chaney.
“Three years in, this program is standing on solid ground, and it shows in the calibre of women coming through each cohort,”
The remark came from Ana Mendigutxia Balil, the program manager, who described the expansion into regional Western Australia as a particularly important achievement. “We’re not just training candidates. We’re changing the face of politics, one cohort at a time,” she said.
Track record and implications for representation
Organizers note the broader Pathways to Politics initiative has contributed to 97 electoral successes at local, state and federal levels over the past decade. While the UWA program is still in early years, its backers argue that the concentrated training, mentorship and networking help reduce barriers that have historically discouraged women from standing for office.
The emphasis on regional access may have particular significance for representation. Participants who come from nonmetropolitan areas often face additional logistical, financial and social obstacles when seeking candidacy or building public profiles. Program leaders framed the support provided this year as a corrective to those imbalances.
- 22 graduates from the 2026 UWA cohort
- 8 graduates from regional WA communities
- 97 electoral successes attributed to the national program over the past decade
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| 2026 UWA graduates | 22 |
| Regional participants (2026) | 8 |
| Program electoral successes (10 years) | 97 |
Program officials and supporters say outcomes such as candidate diversity, successful campaigning and increased female representation in elected bodies are long-term measures that require sustained investment. The UWA Public Policy Institute’s effort to recruit beyond Perth and provide travel support reflects that longer-term strategy.
Critics of such targeted leadership programs sometimes argue they provide limited value absent broader structural reforms in party selection processes and campaign finance. Supporters counter that tailored training and mentoring reduce practical barriers and equip prospective candidates to compete effectively within existing systems.
For now, the immediate result is an expanded cohort of women trained in the mechanics of campaigning and public communication, with ties to mentors and peers across the political spectrum. Whether those ties translate into candidacies and electoral success will be measurable in the months and years ahead.
The weeklong program ended with public presentations in the Legislative Assembly Chamber, where graduates practiced delivering the kinds of speeches and responses they would need if they pursue elected office.
Organizers said they will continue to monitor alumni activity and outcomes as a way to assess the program’s contribution to political representation in Western Australia and nationally.
