ClosedFellowship2025 Fellowship

black&write! Indigenous Writing Fellowships

Department of Employment, Small Business and Training · Australia

The black&write! Indigenous Writing Fellowships support First Nations writers through an unpublished manuscript competition. Two fellowship winners each receive prize money, editorial development and a publication opportunity with University of Queensland Press.

Official Grant Page

Funding

$15K – $15K

Duration

from May 2025 to at least December 2025

Location

Queensland

Who Can Apply

• Must be an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person residing in Australia. • Must be available for manuscript development from May 2025 to at least December 2025. • Submitted manuscript must be original, new and unpublished. • Only eligible manuscript types are fiction, young adult, poetry and children's books; non-fiction is excluded.
Applicants must be Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people currently residing in Australia and available to complete the manuscript development process with black&write! from May 2025 until at least December 2025. All ages may apply, but entrants under 18 must provide written parent or guardian consent. Previously published authors may apply, but the manuscript submitted for the 2025 Fellowship must be unpublished. Generally only single-authored entries are accepted, although some joint-authored works may be considered and children's books with separate author and illustrator are accepted as joint entries if both entrants meet all eligibility requirements and provide confirmation of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent. Manuscripts must be new, original, unpublished works not under submission, contract or negotiation elsewhere. Eligible manuscripts include fiction of any genre, young adult, poetry and children's books, subject to minimum length requirements where specified. Non-fiction manuscripts are not eligible.

What's Funded

Development of an unpublished fiction, poetry, young adult or children's manuscript by First Nations writers, including participation in editorial development with the black&write! team.

Expected Outcomes

Completion of manuscript development, participation in the fellowship process from May 2025 to at least December 2025, and potential publication with University of Queensland Press.

Key Information

Applicant Types

individual

Stage

any

Funding Purposes

communitytrainingother

Keywords

First NationsIndigenous writerswriting fellowshipmanuscript competitionfictionpoetryyoung adultchildren's books

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the black&write! Indigenous Writing Fellowships?

The black&write! Indigenous Writing Fellowships is a fellowship grant offered by Department of Employment, Small Business and Training in Australia, providing $15K – $15K in funding. The black&write! Indigenous Writing Fellowships support First Nations writers through an unpublished manuscript competition. Two fellowship winners each receive prize money, editorial development and a publication opportunity with University of Queensland Press.

How much funding does the black&write! Indigenous Writing Fellowships provide?

The black&write! Indigenous Writing Fellowships provides $15K – $15K in funding. The typical project duration is from May 2025 to at least December 2025.

Who is eligible for the black&write! Indigenous Writing Fellowships?

• Must be an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person residing in Australia. • Must be available for manuscript development from May 2025 to at least December 2025. • Submitted manuscript must be original, new and unpublished. • Only eligible manuscript types are fiction, young adult, poetry and children's books; non-fiction is excluded.

What activities are funded?

Development of an unpublished fiction, poetry, young adult or children's manuscript by First Nations writers, including participation in editorial development with the black&write! team.

How do I apply for the black&write! Indigenous Writing Fellowships?

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