The Albanese Labor Government has taken a significant step to strengthen Australia’s literary landscape with the launch of Writing Australia, effective from 1 July 2025. This new national hub aims to support writers, publishers and industry professionals, while also appointing a National Poet Laureate to champion Australian literature both at home and abroad.
Writing Australia forms a key part of the government’s National Cultural Policy, Revive, and operates under the expanded umbrella of Creative Australia alongside First Nations Arts, Music Australia and Creative Workplaces. The government has also consolidated Creative Partnerships into Creative Australia, creating one unified body to support government-funded, philanthropic and commercial sectors.
Award-winning author Prof. Larissa Behrendt chairs Writing Australia and its Council, which includes eight new members representing diverse voices from authors and playwrights to publishers and poets. The council’s role is to highlight and boost Australian literature for local and international audiences.
With over $26 million committed over three years and ongoing funding of around $8.6 million annually, Writing Australia aims to address long-standing gaps in support for writers, illustrators and publishers.
The Writing Australia Council members are Rachel Bin Salleh OAM, Professor Sarah Holland-Batt, Sally Rippin, Dr Tim Jarvis, Tommy Murphy, Julie Pinkham, Claire Pullen, and Christos Tsiolkas.
Alongside Writing Australia, the government has also launched the Creative Futures Fund, investing $7.8 million this year to support 20 ambitious large-scale creative projects across every state and territory. These projects connect literature with sectors including education, sport, science, agriculture, tourism and fashion through innovative partnerships.
Executive Director of Arts Investment Alice Nash described the fund as “an investment in imagination” that will bring unique Australian stories to diverse audiences. Wendy Martin, Director of the Creative Futures Fund, said the projects will take audiences on journeys ranging from under the sea with sharks, onto football fields, to explorations of Antarctica and the Murray Darling River system.
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