The Young Writers Program at the South Coast Writers Centre is a thriving program that has been running since 2014, offering creative writing workshops for young people aged 10-18. The program is built on active, workshop-based learning and practice, with the aim to be both a class and community, where young writers can develop their craft and create work they are proud of in a relaxed, inclusive, and supportive space.

LATE ENROLMENTS WELCOME UNTIL WEEK 6
Automatic discounts should apply when purchasing tickets after the start date to reflect number of classes remaining.

PLEASE CONTACT COURSE MENTORS IF YOU HAVE ANY ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE PROGRAM: Helena Fox (co-facilitator) helena.fox@southcoastwriters.org and Rhys Lorenc (co-facilitator) rhys.lorenc24@gmail.com

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YOUNG WRITERS GROUP - Mondays (Shellharbour City Library)
(ages 10-13) with Rebecca Monteleone
Mondays from 19 October, 4.00–5.30pm for 9 weeks

YOUNG WRITERS GROUP - Tuesdays (Wollongong Library, The Lab)
(ages 10-13) with Rebecca Monteleone
Tuesdays from 20 October, 3.45–5.15pm for 9 weeks

INTERMEDIATE YWG - Mondays (Coledale Community Hall)
(ages 12-15) with Helena Fox
Mondays from 19 October, 4.00–6.00pm for 9 weeks

SENIOR YWG - Thursdays (Wollongong Library, Theatrette) ** CURRENTLY CLOSED FOR NEW ENROLMENTS **
(ages 14-18) with Rhys Lorenc
Thursdays from 22 October, 4.00–6.00pm for 9 weeks

SENIOR YWG - Thursdays (UOW, Building 19)
(ages 14-18) with Helena Fox
Thursdays from 22 October, 4.00–6.00pm for 9 weeks

In these workshops, students will delve deeply into the craft of writing through a broad range of writing prompts, and further develop their editorial skills by creating long-form work and revising works in progress. They will also read and critique each other's work and the work of diverse authors and continue to build their unique writer's voice, all in a safe and inclusive space.

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YOUNG WRITERS PROGRAM MENTORS:

Helena Fox founded the YWP in 2014 and has led creative writing workshops for young people for over fifteen years. Helena is the author of two YA novels, and has won the Prime Minister's Literary Award, the Victorian Premier's Literary Award, and the Ethel Turner Prize (NSW Premier's Award) for Writing for Young Adults. Her novels, short stories and poetry have been published in Australia and internationally. She lives on beautiful Dharawal Country.

Rhys Lorenc is a local writer, teacher, graduate of University of Wollongong (with a double major in Creative Writing and English Literatures) and art nerd, with a particular interest in speculative fiction. A long-time member of the Young Writers Program, Rhys co-founded the Young Writers Collective with Helena Fox in 2020 and has been leading workshops for both the Collective and the YWP for over two years. Their writing can be seen in the Young Writers Collective anthologies, Days Since and Uncommon Words, and in Altercation Magazine.

Rebecca Monteleone is an avid reader, aspiring writer, and lifelong grammar nerd. She studied Creative Writing, French, and Linguistics at the University of Wollongong and has worked as a French tutor, freelance editor, and bookseller. Rebecca has loved participating in writing workshops since she was in university; she is a current member of the SCWC Young Writers Collective and was recently published in the YWC anthology Days Since.

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INFORMATION

Please contact us if you have any questions.

Creative Kids Vouchers are applicable to this program; please enter your voucher number during the booking process if using one.

We cannot refund vouchers once used.

Term fees can also be paid in instalments - please contact the SCWC at info@southcoastwriters.org to arrange.

For information on the Emerging Writers Program YOUNG WRITERS COLLECTIVE (for writers aged 18-25), click here.

Contact the host of SCWC Young Writers Groups, Term 4 2026