She took inspiration from female models of leadership in her own family from an early age — her mother was a teacher who had worked in naval intelligence with the Women's Royal Australian Naval Service during World War II, while her aunt, Dr Gwen (Lusby) Fleming, had been a Major in the Australian Army Medical Corps, and aunt, Elizabeth Lusby was a school prioress in the Dominican Sisters.

[2] The 1975 dismissal of the Whitlam government inspired Follett to join the Ginninderra branch of the Labor Party, serving as its president between 1983 and 1984.

In the meantime, she returned to university, studying arts and administration at the Canberra College of Advanced Education, and rejoined the public service.

After another motion of no confidence was passed, this time against Kaine, Follett returned to office in 1991 and she led Labor to victory at the 1992 general election.

[citation needed] Since leaving politics, Follett has been Deputy Vice-chancellor at the University of Canberra; Chair of the Vocational Education and Training Authority; a member of the University of Canberra Council; member of the Sentence Administration Board and chair of the board of Senior Secondary School Studies.