Residents

Writers Victoria

The Writers Victoria — formerly the Victorian Writers' Centre — is the leading provider of resources, information and skills development for Victorian writers, providing support and promoting writers, writers’ networks and the diverse writing cultures of Victoria.

Writers Victoria runs more than 200 workshops, courses and seminars on all aspects of writing and publishing, engaging writers at all levels of development – from emerging and developing to established. The organisation runs year-long courses, master classes, short courses and information-based seminars and forums.

A not-for-profit membership-based organisation, Writers Victoria has a dynamic website, regularly updated to report activities in the writing community, and provides its members with a regular magazine and a weekly enews. Its manuscript assessment service is one of the most respected in Australia. It also provides significant discounts on its activities for Writers Victoria members.

As a resource centre for writers, Writers Victoria has a reference library; sells a range of books on the craft of writing; offers writers studios at Glenfern (St Kilda East) at economical rates and residencies at Rosebank Retreat (Macedon Ranges).

A highly-skilled staff assists writers with specific questions, and when it can’t help, refer to someone who can provide the expertise.

Emerging Writers' Festival

The Emerging Writers' Festival (EWF) exists to promote the interests of emerging writers, to improve their opportunities for professional development and their engagement with the broader public. The Festival mixes emerging literary professionals with more established writers to forge a better understanding between the past and future of Australian writing, and to bring a high level of intellectual endeavour to all the Festival’s activities.

Each year the EWF works with a small group of writers and industry professionals with strong local and national networks to ensure that festival programming remains relevant to the needs of emerging writers, and that appropriate writers are invited to the festival.

The Small Press Network

The Small Press Network (SPN) is a representative body for small and independent Australian publishers. It was formed in 2006 as the Small Press Underground Networking Community (SPUNC) to promote independent publishing and support the principle of diversity within the publishing industry as a vital component of Australian literary culture.

SPN is a not-for-profit incorporation based in Melbourne; its activities are overseen by a board of directors. Since February 2009 Zoe Dattner has been General Manager thanks to funding support from CAL and the Australia Council.

SPN is committed to working to ensure the continued viability of the independent publishing sector in Australia by facilitating collaborative initiatives, networking opportunities, and general communication between small and independent publishers.

Express Media

Express Media provides support and development opportunities for young Australians in writing and media, recognised as the peak organisation for young writers in Australia, it presents an annual artistic program that aims to develop creative skills and build capacity among young people.

It is a national, not-for-profit, incorporated association founded in 1985, the UN International Youth Year.

Australian Poetry

Australian Poetry is a not-for-profit association established to promote reading, writing and publishing activities associated with Australian poetry in all of its forms.

Australian Poetry aims to strengthen the presence and profile of Australian poetry within Australia and abroad, as well as promoting the writing, reading, and appreciation of poetry as an integral part of personal and community life.

Melbourne Writers Festival

Melbourne Writers Festival (MWF) is an internationally acclaimed festival that takes place yearly at Federation Square and selected venues around Melbourne.

Featuring over 300 writers from around the world, MWF celebrates some of the world’s finest writers of fiction, non-fiction and poetry. This year’s festival will explore the future of media in a digital world; celebrate the growing popularity of graphic novels; and focus on performance, from music to storytelling. Special events include a series of masterclasses, workshops and seminars for emerging and experienced writers, as well as the popular Big Ideas series at BMW Edge.

100 Story Building

100 Story Building is a centre for young writers, opening in Melbourne’s inner-west in 2013. Here, children from disadvantaged communities are given the opportunity to foster their creative voice and to have their ideas shared and respected. We bring together young writers and members of Melbourne’s creative community, and encourage them to share in their skills and understandings through creative writing excursions, publishing programs and after-school activities.

Our mission is to provide opportunities for the most marginalised children and young people in our community to build the literacy skills, confidence and sense of belonging that are fundamental to future success.

To support our work with children and young people, we operate as a social enterprise. We offer writing workshops for adults interested in writing for children, and school holiday workshops for creative-minded kids aged 8-12 years.

Melbourne PEN

The Melbourne PEN Centre is one of 145 centres worldwide. Members are united in a common concern for the art of writing and freedom of expression. The Melbourne PEN Centre focuses on writers in prison, reconciliation, women writers and international work especially in the Asia and Pacific region.