Victorian Pathways to Politics cohort on the campaign trail

Image: Tracey Spicer AM delivering media training to the Victorian cohort, August 2023

Participants from the University of Melbourne program hit a major milestone in the Pathways to Politics journey last weekend – an all-day intensive session on “Campaigning and Media Training.”

As they reach the halfway mark of the program, participants had the opportunity to dive deep into the world of political campaigning and media.

Special guests included Tracey Spicer AM, Senator the Hon Jane Hume, Ruth McGowan OAM, Dr James Murphy, Alycia Gawthorne and Tan Safi.

A group of 8 diverse women smiling with their arms around each other.

Campaigning Q&A: practical considerations and cultural implications

This session was presented by political scientist Dr James Murphy and Ruth McGowan OAM, a Pathways alum, experienced political campaigner and author of the campaign handbook Get Elected. Get Elected is Ruth’s step-by-step campaign guide to winning public office – local, state, and federal – which she has made available to download for free from the Pathways to Politics Knowledge Hub.

Ruth McGowan (wearing a colourful t-shirt) Dr Meredith Martin (wearing glasses and all black) and Dr James Murphy (wearing a maroon shirt and glasses)

Three women smiling around a conference style table, laptops and coffee cups in front of them.

Campaigning case study – the Senate

A Q&A with Senator the Hon Jane Hume, enlightening participants on her experience campaigning for the Senate.

Two smiling women wearing black, standing in a large modern space

Media training

An afternoon of intensive, hands-on media training with award-winning journalist & author Tracey Spicer AM, covering everything from messaging to preparing for interviews, presentation skills and journalist’s tricks & traps.

Dr Meredith Martin and Tracey Spicer pose in front of a Pathways to Politics banner

Women in brightly coloured blazers stand with hands on hips as Tracey Spicer demonstrates "power positions"

Group of diverse women sitting in a semi-circle, notepads on laps, gesturing and smiling

Tracey Spicer standing in front of a large screen delivering training to seated women

Social and digital media

A presentation and Q&A on social and digital media with communications, campaigns and digital media experts Alycia Gawthorne and Tan Safi.

A heartfelt thank you to all of our special guests for sharing your immense collective expertise and experience, and for your commitment to fostering a new generation of female political leaders.

Stay tuned for updates from our other programs at QUT, UNSW, Charles Darwin University, the University of Adelaide and University of Canberra as we progress through the 2023 Pathways to Politics journey.

Group of women seated in rows, clapping. There are two women at the podium in front, and another person projected onto a large screen,

Register your interest

If you are interested in applying for one of our 2024 programs, please provide your information via our Expressions of Interest form and we can email to notify you when applications are open in your State or Territory (around late February / early March 2024).