Campaigning for change

NCOURAGING WOMEN to consider a

political career is a conversation very familiar to Jane Oakeshott [1979-83]. Anticipating the 2022 federal election, she established SWIMS, a fundraising campaign Supporting Women in Marginal Seats.

Jane is a member of the Women’s College Council. After a career in law she moved into the university sector, where she has held various senior advisory and management roles with a focus on government relations.

Jane spoke with second-year Arts/Law student Keira Sloane about how to kick off a political career.

KEIRA SLOANE: I know the election is coming up but I haven’t put too much thought into it yet. This is my first time voting. JANE OAKESHOTT: You’re in Gilmore, right? KS: Yes, I’m from Ulladulla [on the NSW South Coast]. JO: It’s a marginal seat. The incumbent Fiona Phillips was part of the SWIMS campaign. So your seat is actually one of the seats that will determine the election. KS: That makes me nervous! JO: It’s better to be in a seat that matters. Would you ever think about going into politics yourself? KS: I’m undecided. Right now I’m studying law and political communications – I’m not sure where I want to take that. I want to be part of change and politics is a way to do that for sure. But it’s very intimidating, and I don’t know much about it. JO: It’s great to be honest and to say you don’t know or don’t understand. People are often really willing to help. It’s a matter of being open, asking ‘What do I need to know? How do I do this?’ Everyone – on every side of politics – is always looking for young people with bright ideas, and every person can play an important part. Being able to bring people to the conversation, being able to use the collective to make that change is a key skillset. You don’t have to be the politician in parliament house. KS: How do most people get into parliament in the first place? JO: A lot of people in politics start out as political staffers. That’s the more traditional way. My view is that we also need people with broad experience, people who will work to make a specific difference. Particularly if you’re a woman it can give you a sense of confidence if you have an area of expertise. We need more diversity in parliament. KS: We talk about diversity a lot at College. JO: I think that conversation is really important. One of the beauties of College is that ability to have friends from so many different backgrounds. You get to know people as friends and then they go on to do extraordinary things. That’s one good thing about getting older: people have amazing lives and you get to be a part of it.

JANe oAKeSHoTT Women’s College Council Member

KeIRA SloANe Second year student at College, studying Arts and Law at UTS