I found no references providing evidence of long-distance dispersal by mammals, birds or domestic animals. It appears that most Senecio species are fairly similar in seed / caryopsis structure (elongate and ribbed, with no long hairs or barbs; Lawrence, 1985). The lack of these structures suggests that they are not dispersed by animals.

I could not find any documentation on this species' dispersal via wind and water, but it produces achenes that have a pappus of fine bristles, like many other Senecio. These would appear to be easily carried by wind, and there is no evidence that the pappus is deciduous, as it is for some composites with an affinity for highly ruderal habitats (see Schmida 1985). Note that Lawrence (1985), in a study of several other native- and non-native Senecio in Australia noted that the pappus on most Senecio is deciduous and that seeds disperse more by being blown along ground. Similarly, McEvoy and Cox (1987) in a study of seed dispersal of Senecio jacobea, found no dispersal distances greater than 14m. Although both these references suggest no longer distance dispersal by wind, neither specifically studied Senecio elegans. Experimental studies do tend to underestimate dispersal distance. Water may move seed, but saline conditions that occur around coastal dune habitat were found by de Villiers et al. (2001) to lead to poor germination.

No documentation of Senecio elegans dispersal via contaminated seed or equipment could be found. Because this species appears as yet to be restricted to coastal dune habitat, there may not be too much opportunity for this kind of dispersal.