Charlotte Walker has made history as Australia's youngest senator at the age of 21, following her election to represent South Australia.

Despite receiving the lowest vote count among the newly elected senators, Walker secured the third Senate seat for the center-left Labor Party.

Her election is part of a broader trend from the recent elections, which saw significant swings leading to increased female representation in Parliament.

This increase in female representation is partly due to a quota introduced by the Labor Party in 1994, which aimed for 35% of candidates in winnable seats to be women.

Political historians note that the Labor Party's efforts over the past 30 years to improve women's representation have contributed to this shift.

Walker has expressed her desire to inspire young Australians, particularly women, to pursue political careers and contribute to society.

Acknowledging the challenges ahead, Walker is aware of the steep learning curve she faces as she begins her new role.

Walker succeeds Jordon Steele-John, the previous youngest senator, who was elected at 23 in 2017.

Her election resulted in the loss of a long-standing seat for Liberal senator David Fawcett, who had served for 20 years.

Before her election, Walker worked with the Australian Services Union and has a background in community engagement.

Raised in Yankalilla and Normanville, Walker believes her youth will provide a valuable perspective in the Senate.

In her role, Walker aims to address pressing issues facing young Australians, including the rising cost of living and challenges in balancing education and caregiving.