Political Candidate Training for Women of Colour (NSW, VIC, QLD)

The mobilisation of women of colour in politics in America has significantly influenced the way women think about politics and leadership across the Antipodes.

Indeed, 2021 was a watershed year for women of colour in Australian politics.  We saw 3 Aboriginal and 1 African woman elected to the Western Australian government, 3 Aboriginal women from Northern Territory announced they would run for Federal seats and the year ended with an unprecedented number of women of colour nominating in the NSW Local Government Elections.

In the spirit of empowering more women of colour to get elected, Politics in Colour are again running Political Candidate Training for Women of Colour (NSW, VIC, QLD). 

Our online workshop offers contextualised training that speaks directly to the experience of women of colour in overcoming many of the structural barriers faced in their political and leadership journey.

Throughout the 3 x 2hr sessions, we cover topics such as Women of Colour in politics, the Australian political system, eligibility and pre-selection, building community support, campaign management, digital defence, running for office and much, much more.

And as an added bonus, this workshop is designed to prepare Women of Colour to apply for the Pathways to Politics Program for Women, a growing national network of independent state-based programs run by Australian universities including University of Melbourne, QUT and UNSW.

Political Candidate Training for Women of Colour (NSW, VIC, QLD)

-- This workshop is online and runs over 3 x 2hr evening sessions --

Dates: Tues 22, Thurs 24 and Mon 28 February 2022 

Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm AEDT

Venue: online (via zoom)

Cost: Free 

Guest Speakers: Some of the country's most inspiring and formidable women of colour leaders will join our sessions to talk about their journey through politics and leadership, including:

• Ms Cynthia Lui MP, Member for Cook (QLD)
• Deputy Mayor Dai Le - City of Fairfield (NSW)
• Cr Ashleigh Vandenberg - City of Melton (VIC)
• Ms Michelle Deshong - Political Scientist and Lead Facilitator, Straight Talk (QLD)
• Former Cr Nadia Saleh (NSW)

Upon completion, attendees will have greater capacity and confidence to understand how to navigate Local, State and Federal elections, with a renewed passion and drive to run for office. Aspirants will be encouraged to apply for Pathways to Politics Program for Women, a growing national network of independent state-based programs run by Australian universities
including University of Melbourne, QUT and UNSW.

Workshop Facilitators

Katja Henaway

Kat is a descendant of the Mer and Mua peoples of the Torres Strait Islands. Over the past 20 years, Kat has worked for some of the world’s largest private sector companies as well as public sector organisations in Australia and the UK.  

From 2009-2014, Kat worked at City of Sydney Council commencing in the Office of Independent Councillors and later moving to Council business.  During her time at council she launched several Indigenous initiatives including NAIDOC in the City and supported the development of Council's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Panel.

Kat is an Indigenous Business Advisor and was the NSW Business Advisor for Prime Minister & Cabinet's $90m Indigenous Entrepreneurs Fund 2018-19.  Today Kat is an entrepreneur, director of several Indigenous enterprises and holds leadership roles with Women & Leadership Australia and Women for Election Australia.

Tharini Rouwette

Tharini is Founder & Director of Allies in Colour and comes with a strong background in media, technology, and progressive grassroots activism/fundraising in Singapore, US and Australia.  She led an army of 500+ Australian volunteers who campaigned hard for the Presidential candidate, Bernie Sanders and although he did not become the President of the United States, they managed to win him enough votes, from abroad, to become one of the most influential figures in the Biden administration.

Through Allies in Colour, Tharini launched the country's first Political Campaign
Management Platform for people of colour and their allies.  The business is based in Melbourne and serves politicians and candidates nationally.

This initiative is proudly supported by the Women’s Leadership Institute Australia and Trawalla Foundation as part of its commitment to the Pathways to Politics Program for Women, a growing national network of independent
state-based programs run by Australian universities including University of Melbourne, QUT and UNSW. The non-partisan program model was founded and launched by the University of Melbourne in 2015 in partnership with the
Women’s Leadership Institute Australia, and Trawalla Foundation to redress the underrepresentation of women in Australian parliaments and councils. The Pathways to Politics Program for Women is committed to minimising
barriers to enter politics and diversity is core to its principles and values.