In the aftermath of the 2026 South Australian election, Adelaide University’s Dr Peta Spyrou says the political landscape has shifted as more women step forward to run for office.
As Program Director of the Pathways to Politics for Women program in South Australia at Adelaide Law School, Dr Spyrou has seen how this program is helping to broaden access to political leadership.
The program, one of Australia’s most comprehensive political training initiatives, has run nationally since 2015 and at Adelaide University since 2023. Founded at the University of Melbourne, in partnership with the Trawalla Foundation and the Women’s Leadership Institute Australia, it now operates in every state and territory through university agreements.
Over the past decade, the program has recorded 92 electoral successes across local, state and federal levels. In 2024 alone, 120 alumni ran in elections across Australia, with 49 elected.
“No single initiative can transform representation,” Dr Spyrou said.
“But these figures point to something important — a growing pipeline of women entering political life with greater preparation, stronger networks and the confidence to put themselves forward.”
South Australia has made progress in recent years. Last year, around 40 per cent of members of the 55th state Parliament were women with 28 members of the 69.
“But headline numbers can obscure deeper inequalities, including representation in senior leadership and key portfolios,” Dr Spyrou said.
In South Australia, the impact is already becoming visible. After only three years of the program in Adelaide, seven alum from recent Pathways to Politics for Women cohorts ran in the state election this year.
Independent councillor Lou Nicholson contested the seat of Finniss again after narrowly missing the seat in 2022, while Mayor Simone Bailey was Labor’s candidate in Hammond - both of these seats are yet to be called.
In metropolitan Adelaide, candidates such as Merlindie Fardone and Bec Sutton contested key Liberal seats, while Sarah Luscombe, Melanie Searle and Jenn Tranter nominated for the Greens in competitive electorates.
“They represent different parties and political perspectives and come from diverse professional and community leadership backgrounds, including local government, health, education and community advocacy,” Dr Spyrou said.
“These are not traditional career politicians, they are mayors, councillors, educators, health professionals and community advocates.
“Some are regional leaders. They understand the pressures facing families, schools, small businesses and health services because they live them.”
Dr Spyrou said she has watched this shift unfold in real time where Australia has struggled to bring more women into politics for decades.
“Despite strong public support for gender equality, progress has been slow and uneven. The barriers are not about a lack of talent or ambition. They are structural,” she said.
“Political institutions were not designed with women’s lives in mind. Research on political recruitment has long shown that pathways into office are rarely neutral. They tend to favour those with existing networks, resources and confidence, reproducing inequality over time.”
Dr Spyrou said improving representation is not only a matter of fairness but of democratic strength.
“When parliaments do not reflect the communities they serve, the range of perspectives shaping public policy narrows and trust in institutions can weaken,” she said.
“When more women see people like themselves on the ballot paper, the question shifts from ‘Could I do that?’ to ‘Why not me?’.”
Photo: Pathways to Politics for Women program in South Australia
Media contacts:
Dr Peta Spyrou, Program Director of the Pathways to Politics for Women program in South Australia, Adelaide Law School, Adelaide University Mobile: +61 438 843 882. Email: peta.spyrou@adelaide.edu.au
Lara Pacillo, Media Officer, Adelaide University. Mobile: +61 403 659 154. Email: lara.pacillo@adelaide.edu.au