The Pathways Alum Mentoring (PAM) program is designed to empower and support alums of the Pathways to Politics for Women program who plan to run for office in the next five years.

This unique opportunity provides selected alums with one-to-one guidance from an experienced political mentor, helping you boost your readiness to run for office.

The 2026 Pathways Alum Mentoring program will run for approximately eight months, beginning in early 2026. Selected participants will engage in at least four one-hour mentoring sessions (or equivalent), with flexible scheduling to suit both mentors and mentees.

Selected participants will be carefully matched with mentors from across the political spectrum to support your political aspirations by:

• Understanding your political journey and goals
• Offering practical advice on strategies for running and getting elected
• Providing a safe space for discussion without judgement
• Challenging assumptions and preconceptions about how to succeed
• Encouraging self-directed reflection, analysis and problem solving
• Acting as a trusted mentor who maintains your confidence, motivation and resilience as you pursue public office.

Note: Pathways to Politics embraces an inclusive definition of ‘women’, acknowledging the diversity of women we work with and aim to support, including cisgender and transgender women, and non-binary people

For further information about Pathways Alum Mentoring in your state/territory, please email:

• University of Melbourne
• QUT
• UNSW
• Charles Darwin University
• University of Adelaide
• University of Canberra
• The University of Western Australia
• University of Tasmania

Pathways to Politics for Women programs are open to women across Australia. We embrace an inclusive definition of 'women', acknowledging the diversity of women we work with and aim to support, including cisgender and transgender women, and non-binary people.

To be eligible to apply, you do not need to be enrolled at the participating university, be a graduate of that university, or hold any tertiary or higher education qualifications.

To be eligible, you will need to meet the following criteria:

1. Be over 18 years of age.
2. Be an Australian citizen/Australian permanent resident/holder of a New Zealand Special Category Visa or permanent Humanitarian Visa.
3. Currently reside in the same region as the program to which you are applying.
4. Identify as a woman (noting we embrace an inclusive definition of 'women', including cisgender and transgender women, and non-binary people).

• Website: https://pathwaystopolitics.org.au/contact/