This is what Australia's most senior female politicians would say if they chance to talk to their 21-year-old selves.

To mark International Women's Day on Tuesday, Fairfax Media asked the female members of federal cabinet to reflect on the advice they would give their younger selves*.

According to the powerful group, the key is confidence, but also hard work and an open mind.

Today, Sussan Ley is Health Minister, Minister for Ageing and Minister for Sport. But she started her career in a field far removed from politics.

"Never be afraid to change direction in life," she said.

"As a 21 year old pilot, I never thought it possible I would be in charge of the nation's health, aged care and sport, [doing] everything from children, farming wool and masters degrees in tax law and accounting in between.

"But it wouldn't have happened without taking a leap of faith."

Julie Bishop, deputy Liberal leader and Australia's first female Foreign Minister would tell herself: "back your own judgement and instincts, do not let others define you and there is no substitute for hard work".

Minister for Women and Minister for Employment Michaelia Cash similarly talks about the importance of knuckling down and self-belief.

She would tell her younger self what her parents told her: "to achieve you work hard and to achieve more you simply work harder. Don't fall into the trap of making excuses – be bold, be brave and always back yourself".

Australia's first female deputy leader of the Nationals, Fiona Nash, and Small Business Minister Kelly O'Dwyer both note the importance of listening.

"Listen more, talk less. Don't assume you're always right. Things are often not black and white. Take the time to think things through," Senator Nash says.

"Always have a go and take risks. Listen to the views of others but don't let your view be confined by them," Ms O'Dwyer advises.

When asked about the challenges for Australian women today, some of the ministers spoke about combining work and family.

Ms Ley, who has three children, said that one of the "greatest challenges" she found as a young mother and an MP, was "finding the right balance and overcoming that constant feeling of guilt".

She says that women need to give themselves "permission to be ambitious and to strive for those career goals without the added pressure of thinking you have to be a domestic goddess at home every single minute of the day".

"Only then will others stop doing it and real change occur."

Senator Nash also spoke of the challenge of "for many women" of "balancing work and family" and "ensuring support from other women".

But other challenges remain.

Ms Bishop said in 2016, it was important to continue to tackle "unconscious bias against women that can still exist in sections of our community".

Senator Cash noted that while science, technology, engineering and maths were a growing source of interesting and often flexible jobs, women only make up 34 per cent of graduates in those fields.

"We need to address the gender imbalance in STEM fields," she said.

*Minister for Defence Marise Payne, who is also a cabinet minister, was travelling and not able to respond by deadline.

- SMH