Year two: women in the Territory embark on their pathways to politics

Image: Northern Territory cohort, September 2023

Last month, we welcomed ten extraordinary and diverse women into the second year of Pathways to Politics in the Northern Territory, where participants immersed themselves in a five-day intensive program.

Our NT program is run in partnership with Charles Darwin University’s Northern Institute and held at their Darwin campus. The NT program runs in an accelerated format designed to assist and cater to participants travelling from all regions of the Territory.

Guest presenters from across the political spectrum were featured throughout the second year of the program, including politicians (both sitting and retired), public speaking professionals, campaign strategists, advisors, public policy experts, and other leading figures in Australian political and public life.

A group of colourfully dressed and culturally diverse women pose smiling, holding white graduation certificates. The Australian flag can be seen in the background. — The graduating Northern Territory cohort with The Hon Vicki O’Halloran and Emeritus Professor Scott Bowman AO, September 2023

Putting it into practice: speeches in Parliament

On their final day, participants were given the opportunity to present the three-minute stump speeches they had worked on during the program. They delivered these in Parliament House, Darwin, where participants benefited from the feedback of experienced parliamentarians Kezia Purick MLA (Member for Goyder), and the Hon Vicki O’Halloran, Patron of our NT program, as well as Director of the University of Melbourne program, Dr Meredith Martin.

Woman wearing a rust coloured satin headscarf speaking into a podium microphone. The Australian flag can be seen in the background.

Woman wearing glasses and a cream coloured blouse speaking into a podium microphone while holding a fair-haired toddler. The Australian flag can be seen in the background.

Other program highlights

Q & A with Deputy Chief Minister the Hon Nicole Manison and Treasurer the Hon Eva Lawler
Lunch & Learn with NT Leader of the Opposition Lia Finocchiaro MLA
One-on-one meets with the Hon Vicki O’Halloran AO and the Hon Sally Thomas AC
Intercultural communication workshop with Emily Armstrong & Dikul Baker
Leadership Panel with Former Chief Minister Clare Martin, Executive Director of Environment Centre NT Kirsty Howey, and Kungarakan Elder and business leader Lenore Dembski
Q & A with Minister Lauren Moss MLA, Member for Casuarina
Policymaking session with policy expert Salli Cohen (The Policy Room)
Pre-selection tips with NT Greens representative Jonathan Parry
Leading Local panel with Mayor of City of Palmerston, Athina Pascoe-Bell, Palmerston Councillor Sarah Henderson, and Milikapiti Ward Tiwi Island Shire Councillor Lynette De Santis
Effective communication workshop with Ruth McGowan OAM
Media training with Access PR
Speechwriting workshops with Nyree Slatter

Two women seated in padded red chairs, talking and smiling. One has long grey hair and a white blouse. The other has shorter grey hair and a patterned red dress.

Group of 16 brightly dressed culturally diverse women posed smiling in a room with blue carpet. There is a banner with the words "Northern Institute" in the background.

A smiling woman in a bold orange and grey floral print dress is speaking to a television camera.

Two women seated in comfortable green armchairs. A small table with a jug of water is in front of them.

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).