Hosted by Varuna’s Creative Producer, First Nations, Jasmin McGaughey, the fellows — Alison Barton, Joyrah Sebasio, Kara Tuck, Liza-Mare Syron, Lorena Allam, and Shahnee Hunter — will each be reading from a work in progress or an existing piece.

The Copyright Agency First Nations Fellowship is an annual program, where six First Nations writers will attend Varuna for a week of writing. The fellowship accepts writing across genres and encourages writers to submit in language.

This year’s fellows have been working on poetry, journalistic non-fiction, and writing for the stage. The afternoon event will be held in Varuna’s new building. Nibbles will be on offer and drinks will be available for purchase.

ABOUT THE FELLOWS

Alison J Barton is a Wiradjuri poet based on Wadawurrung land. Her work appears in Australian and international literary journals and anthologies, and has been recognised in prizes and Best of Australian Poems. She was the inaugural University of Cambridge First Nations Writer-in-Residence and the recipient of several writing fellowships and international residencies. Her first full-length collection of poetry, Not Telling, was published by Puncher and Wattmann. She is currently writing a verse novel about the Indigenous experience of German missions in Australia and completing her PhD at The University of Cambridge. Alison is Editor-in-Chief of The Suburban Review.

Joyrah Sebasio is a Wulgurukaba woman raised in Bamaga, grounded by Injinoo and Tamwoy Town communities of Cape York and Zenadth Kes. Her existence and Creation stories are woven in Kala Lagaw Ya, from Panay and Maydh on Mabuyag and Badu in Zenadth Kes. From a young age, Joyrah was encouraged by Nanu Aka Baraki to write and speak in traditional language with Nanu Aka Marcella. Her poetry and creative work walk alongside the teachings of her cultural parents Awa Brian Whap & Ama Matilda Bani and Nanu Kuthayg Sani Tamwoy. Uncle Kenneth Newman of Wulgurukaba has continued to guide her as a young poet led in the footsteps of renowned poets, songwriters and knowledge holders from Injinoo and Tamwoy Town.

Kara Tuck is a proud Warrimay woman based on Dharawal Country. A newcomer to the writing space, she has created visual poems featuring her mob’s language, Gathang, including Buyima Yuuraayuuraa which was published by Red Room Poetry. Kara is passionate about continuing her poetic development, with aspirations to publish more of her writing. She currently works as an experienced ecologist at an environmental consultancy and likes to spend her spare time learning and speaking Gathang. Kara is proud to contribute to the reawakening of language within her family and draws strength from the awareness that our ancestors are always watching.

Liza-Mare Syron is an Australian Indigenous theatre maker, academic, and arts leader specialising in Indigenous performing arts and theatre studies. She has family connections to the Birribai and Worrimai people from the Mid North Coast of New South Wales. Syron is both a creative practitioner—such as a director, dramaturge, and producer—and a university researcher and lecturer. She has authored numerous works on Indigenous performance and theatre. Her book, Rehearsal Practices of Indigenous Women Theatre Makers: Australia, Aotearoa, and Turtle Island (2021), explores the creative processes of Indigenous women playwrights. Her current writing project is Cape Hawke, a revision of a play written by her Uncle, the late Brian Syron, accompanied by a theatrical case study.

Lorena Allam is a four-time Walkley Award-winning journalist, a Gamilaraay and Yuwaalaraay woman, and an Industry Professor of Indigenous media at the Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research at the University of Technology Sydney. With over four decades of experience across broadcasting, media leadership and investigative journalism – Lorena spent over 30 years as a journalist and broadcaster with the ABC, working across news, Triple J, Radio National, TV and online. At ABC Radio, she managed the station’s long-running Speaking Out and Awaye! programs and produced award-winning history and documentary programming for ABC RN. Lorena has also worked at the BBC, the US ABC and the UK Guardian. In 2018, Lorena became the inaugural Indigenous Affairs Editor for Guardian Australia, where she led a team in significant investigative reporting.

Beyond journalism, she has worked on the landmark Bringing them Home inquiry and managed the Indigenous collection at the National Film and Sound Archive. In 2023, she was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to investigate the relationship between Indigenous truth-telling initiatives and the media.

Shahnee Hunter is a proud Djabuganydji woman from Far North Queensland. An Actor and Deadly Funny winner, she is known for bringing hilarious characters to life on stage.

Shahnee completed her first full length original play ‘She is not Alone’ with the support of Playlab Theatre Company’s Fuel program. She attended a First Nations Emerging Playwrights Retreat with Australian Plays Transform, which is supporting her new work: Location, Location, Location! Shahnee’s work is grounded in family values, strong Black characters, and comedy. She believes in the healing power of storytelling, performance, laughter and spinning yarns.

Contact the host of MEET THE WRITERS: First Nations Fellowship Salon