Georgie Burgess
20 April 2026: It’s a rare thing to see all three sides of politics united but the Pathways to Politics for Women program does just that – bringing together women from across the political spectrum in an effort to elevate diverse voices and boost representation in parliaments across the country.
Independent federal candidate Jessie Price was drawn to the program's practical nature, after a growing frustration with the state of politics pushed her to run in the 2025 election for the seat of Bean, in Canberra’s south.
“Getting to speak with women politicians right across the spectrum about the reality of running for office and what that would entail for me and my family helped me make the decision to run with my eyes wide open,” she said.
“You also learn things like media training, speech writing and other really practical and useful skills.”
The Bean candidate fell just a few hundred votes short in her effort to unseat the sitting Labor MP and is already gearing up for another run in 2028. She wants more women to leave imposter syndrome behind and take opportunities to represent their communities.
“I’m ready for women to step into the power that we have. We know so much. We are intelligent, connected, switched on, and we have our eyes open to the realities of how all the issues intersect and play out across the spectrum. We don’t have time for imposter syndrome.
“The problems are huge. Look at some of the people that are in Parliament right now, I promise you that we can do a better job.”
In the decade that the nonpartisan program has run, 95 women have successfully gone on from being participants to parliamentarians.
Swan Ricco, a Liberal Party member who took part in the ACT’s first cohort in 2023, hopes to one day add to that number. For now, she is encouraging more women to take part in the “life-changing” program.
“We should not take our democracy for granted. It’s very precious and we have to fight for it and keep it strong,” Ms Ricco said.
“And we all have a role to play in that, so if you are hesitant to apply, look at it as a duty and as your calling and just do it!”
Since taking part, Ms Ricco has worked as a senior adviser to three shadow ministers, the program giving her the chance to form her own network of friends and personal advisers to help guide her professional journey in politics as she continues to prepare for her own tilt at parliament one day.
“Being in a room with like-minded people changes your perspective about how you can actually work together with others, despite different political backgrounds, to make a real difference together,” she said.
“I have so much love for the program and I hope it keeps growing and getting bigger and better so we can see more women in parliament, no matter where they sit politically, and make our community and country better.”
Heidi Prowse applied for the Pathways to Politics for Women Program after joining the Labor Party and deciding to run in an ACT election.
She was actively looking for ways to increase her knowledge and understanding of how campaigns happen from a lens broader than just a singular party and said the program delivered on that. “I think one of the greatest strengths of the program is how open and honest all of the guest speakers are around sharing their experience and thoughts. I don’t think you could get that feedback elsewhere,” she said.
“For me it really made me more confident and certainly made me more comfortable and aware of the personal sacrifice that you make to go down this line, and it helped me make better decisions about what I was going to do.”
Applications close April 30. Apply now via https://www.canberra.edu.au/future-students/study-at-uc/study-areas/government/pathways-to-politics
