Stella Schools Story Sessions Sydney
Description
Join Stella for a FREE one-day literary educational event, where secondary school students can hear directly from critically acclaimed women and non-binary authors as they discuss their books, writing processes, inspirations and careers.
These sessions offer a unique opportunity for students to deepen their literary understanding, explore future possibilities, and connect with the ideas at the forefront of contemporary Australian literature.
Each talk includes:
· Author in conversation with moderator, and book readings
· Insights into writing and related careers and pathways
· Open forums for students to ask questions and engage in discussion
· Critical conversations about the themes, characters and stories in Stella-listed titles.
This event will be suitable for highschoolers of all age groups, with a particular focus on years 9-10. Story Sessions is a FREE, high-value excursion that encourages analytical reading and critical thinking, supporting English assessment work at many year levels, for students of all backgrounds.
This event includes FREE book packs for teachers to take back to their school libraries. Each pack contains a showbag of books from the featured Stellalisted authors, plus additional resources and material.
Bookings must be made on behalf of students by a teacher. Students must be accompanied and supervised by their teacher, who will be asked to show school photo ID upon arrival.
This event is supported by James N. Kirby Foundation, and The University of Sydney.
Stella Schools is proudly supported by the Hansen Little Foundation, and Krystyna Campbell-Pretty and Family.
Speakers
Mandy Ord
Mandy Ord is a Naarm/Melbourne based cartoonist whose illustrated book Chalk Boy (A&U) written by Margaret Wild was shortlisted in 2019 by the CBCA for Picture Book of the Year. Her book When One Person Dies The Whole World is Over (Brow Books) was longlisted for The Stella Prize in 2020. She is also the author of Rooftops, Sensitive Creatures, Bulk Nuts and Sassy.
Sophie Gee
Sophie Gee is Professor of English at Princeton University, and co-host of the Secret Life of Books, a much-loved and internationally acclaimed podcast about classic literature. Her most recent book is The Barbarous Feast: Eating and Writing in the Eighteenth-Century World, about how eating rituals across the eighteenth-century globe reveal an untold story about the rise of the novel She lives between New York and Sydney. From 2024-25 she was the inaugural Vice Chancellor’s Fellow at the University of Sydney, and now co-leads the Eleos Collaboration in the Humanities. This program focuses on the arts and humanities as foundational to the purpose and value of universities. Sophie speaks worldwide at arts and literary festivals about why books and humanities matter.
Santilla Chingaipe
Santilla Chingaipe is a historian and filmmaker.
Michaela Kalowski
Michaela Kalowski is an interviewer, moderator & curator for writers and ideas festivals. Highlight interviews include Margaret Atwood, Tim Winton, Zadie Smith, Mieko Kawakami & Stan Grant. For five years she curated Big Weekend of Books, ABC RN’s annual on-air writers festival. She’s presented programs and conducted interviews across ABC Radio & TV.
Jumaana Abdu
Jumaana Abdu is the author of Translations (Vintage) which was shortlisted for the Stella Prize, the MUD Literary Prize, and a NSW Premier’s Literary Award. She was named SMH Best Young Novelist in 2025 and her widely published fiction and essays have been awarded internationally. During the day, she is a medical doctor.
Rawah Arja
Rawah Arja is an acclaimed writer and teacher from Western Sydney. Her first YA book, The F Team, was published by Giramondo and has been shortlisted for many awards including the Ethel Turner Prize for Young Adult Literature as well as for the Prime Minister’s Literary Award. Her writing has featured in Second City: Essays From Western Sydney, Arab, Australian, Other, SBS Voices and at the Sydney and Melbourne Writer’s Festival. She currently teaches creative writing workshops around Australia.
Agenda
- 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Session 1
Mandy Ord in conversation with Sophie Gee
- 11:30 am - 12:30 pm
Session 2
Santilla Chingaipe in conversation with Michaela Kalowski
- 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Session 3
Jumaana Abdu in conversation with Rawah Arja
FAQs
- What time does doors open?
Doors open at 9:50am for a prompt 10:00am start
- What room on campus is this event located in?
This event is located at The University of Sydney, Camperdown campus.
Upon registration, your confirmation email will contain the exact lecture theatre location.
- What if an attendee has access requirements?
If yourself, or your students have access requirements, please email education@stella.org.au to arrange.
- Will the event be documented?
Stella uses a professional photographer to record events for archival and marketing purposes. When booking, you will be asked to confirm that photographs and footage of you and all students under your supervision may be used for these purposes. Please email education@stella.org.au to discuss.
- Can students attend without teacher supervision?
Students must be accompanied by a teacher who will be responsible for supervising their conduct and ensuring their wellbeing.
- What are your policies regarding child safety?
All Stella staff and speakers who have direct contact with students have a current Working With Children's Check. Teachers must be on hand to supervise students’ interactions with Stella staff and presenters.
- Will the content be age appropriate?
Stella will select authors and moderators who are appropriate for senior secondary students, with age-appropriate themes and language, based on current community standards and expectations.
- Is there public transport available to the venue?
Train
Redfern is a 10-minute walk to the campus. Many students walk this route, and a free shuttle bus runs between Fisher Library and Redfern Station in the evening during semester. Students walking from South Eveleigh and Darlington campus, and vice versa, can use the Southern Concourse at Redfern Station to do so.
Central is a 15-minute walk along City Rd and George St. There are frequent buses from Railway Square to Parramatta Rd and City Rd.
Bus
If you are arriving by bus, there are stops at our main entrances on Parramatta Rd and City Rd.
Parking
There is limited parking on the Camperdown/Darlington Campus. The availability of parking at the University varies and in the interests of sustainability we encourage people to use public transport, walk or cycle in by using bicycle parking, safe pedestrian routes, and the campus bus.
Parking is available on the Camperdown/Darlington Campus for staff, students and visitors. There are several carpark buildings, outdoor parking areas, and off-street parking.
The University is a paid parking area at all times
Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity
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