Applications open for Copyright Agency-UTS Indigenous Writers’ Fellowship 2026/2027

The program will be tailored to the successful applicants and includes:

• Two one-week writing residencies with support from Creative Writing staff and UTS Indigenous creatives to focus on new creative projects.
• Monthly mentoring sessions with UTS writing academics.
• A leadership development workshop with Indigenous academics.
• Networking opportunities with publishers, editors, and literary journals.
• Participation in the Indigenous Studies Conference at UTS on 28-29 October 2026, providing a national platform for Indigenous academics and creative practitioners.

Director of Indigenous Studies Graham Akhurst says “Leadership training would have been very valuable to my development as an Indigenous creative practitioner. Now I have entered into Board of Director roles in key Australian literary organisations including Varuna and SRB, leadership training would have given me the confidence to make my voice heard from the beginning”. 

“The skills leadership training would have given me would have helped in my decision making and public speaking engagements which is at the core of leadership practices.

“So much is placed on Indigenous creatives in Australia due to its settler colonial past and leadership training and opportunities prepares emerging Indigenous creatives to navigate the complex politics and social dynamics of the Australian artistic landscape.”

Successful fellows will receive a $15,000 stipend each, along with dedicated desk space within the Indigenous Studies discipline area at UTS. Part of the stipend may be used to support accommodation and travel to Sydney for the residency periods.

As part of the fellowship, participants will also promote the Copyright Agency-UTS Indigenous Writers’ Fellowship and the UTS Creative Writing Program, and deliver one writing workshop for Indigenous creative writing students.