Alums make their mark in historic federal election

Three alums of the Pathways to Politics for Women program have been elected to Federal Parliament, with many more running impressive election campaigns – some in highly competitive seats and tight races still to be decided.

A huge congratulations to all 25 remarkable alums who stood for election. Representing Labor, the Coalition, the Greens, and standing as Independents, they ran for House of Representatives and Senate seats in electorates around the country. We are proud of every one of them.

Sarah Wittyand Steph Hunt standing in parliament giving speeches — L: Sarah Witty, Pathways to Politics Speeches in Parliament (Victoria) 2022. R: Steph Hunt, Speeches in Parliament (Victoria) 2023.

Sarah Witty, an alum of the University of Melbourne program, has won the seat of Melbourne with a 9.3% swing, unseating incumbent MP and Leader of the Australian Greens, Adam Bandt. This is a landmark result and powerful testament to Sarah’s campaign. In another standout moment for the program, the Liberal candidate for Melbourne and fellow alum Steph Hunt secured a significant share of the vote – a rare instance of two alums contesting the same seat, and a powerful reflection of the program’s reach across political lines.
First elected in 2022, Sally Sitou MP, Labor Member for Reid and alum of the UNSW Pathways to Politics program, has been re-elected for a second term with a swing of 6.8%.
Mary Doyle MP, an alum of the University of Melbourne’s 2021 Pathways program, has been re-elected as the Labor Member for Aston with a swing of 5.7%. Mary’s election made history at the 2023 by-election, when for the first time in over a century the sitting government won a seat from the Opposition at a federal by-election. Mary is also the only woman to ever hold the seat of Aston.
In the ACT, Jessie Price, an alum of our inaugural ACT program delivered in partnership with the University of Canberra, has run an extremely tight race for the seat of Bean as an Independent. Jessie’s strong showing in her first, community-driven campaign is historically significant for this safe Labor seat. The margin between Jessie and the Labor incumbent remains exceptionally close, with the vote count likely to continue for days to come.
In Tasmania, Bailey Falls, an alum of our inaugural program delivered in partnership with University of Tasmania, ran as a Labor Senate candidate. Bailey, who is also President of Tasmanian Young Labor, is currently vying for one of the two remaining Senate seats in her state – a phenomenal achievement for her first political campaign.

*Source: ABC Election Results

Photos of Baley Falls and Jessie Price giving speeches in parliament — L: Bailey Falls, Speeches in Parliament (Tasmania) 2024. R: Jessie Price, Speeches in Parliament (ACT) 2023.

In other seats around the country, our alums have made an enduring impact.

Running for political office requires immense dedication and courage. Our alums have not only helped shape the conversation in their communities but have also challenged the status quo, championed a more respectful and inclusive political culture, increased visibility for diverse women in politics and inspired others to consider a future in political leadership.

A milestone for women’s representation in Federal Parliament

This election marks a pivotal moment for women’s political representation in Australia. A record number of women will represent Australians in the 48th Federal Parliament, with at least 66 female MPs expected to take seats in the House of Representatives – up from the previous record of 58 – and a majority of women in the Senate.

This is a historic step forward which reflects the growing momentum for gender equality in our political leadership.

As Pathways to Politics marks our 10-year anniversary this year, we are proud to be part of this shift.

Since launching in 2016, we have demonstrated real impact in addressing the underrepresentation of women in Australian politics. Our alum successes in the 2025 federal election bring the program’s total electoral successes to 88 nationally – across all levels of government and from all sides of politics.

Over the past decade, we’ve seen extraordinary momentum build, with hundreds of diverse women stepping up to shape the future of our political leadership.