The 11th APWT program is open to public this year. Tickets can be bought for individual sessions or as part of a day or festival pass. Click here for more information ticketing options.
All sessions (except for a workshop) are held on the Griffith University Gold Coast Campus. For detailed information on and a campus map, click here.
Download printable program or a copy of the printed program.
8:30 - 9:15 Registrations and Ticket Sales
9:15 - 10:00 G40 Lecture Theatre 1. Welcomes and Speeches (open only to registered participants)
10:00 - 11:00 G40 Lecture Theatre 1. Special Session: Rochelle Potkar "Brave or necessary? The battles that choose us."
11:00 - 11:30 Morning Tea (Delegates only at G11 4.28 Sky Lounge)
Morning Sessions (11:30 - 12:45)
G11 3. 56 - S01 Meet the neighbours: What’s going on in our literary neighbourhood? Malachi Edwin, Darryl Whetter, Zafar Anjum in discussion with Jane Camens.
G11 3. 64 - S02 Indigenous Cultures and Literatures - Indigenous Australian poet Samuel Wagan Watson, New Zealand native poet and cultural arts worker Annie Te Whiu, and Indonesian Dayak activist and cultural advocate Emmanuela Shinta, in discussion with Philip McLaren.
G11 3. 60 - S03 Writing as an act of rebellion, confession or reconciliation - Memoirist Anne Connor, writers Sophie MacNeill and Ingrid Woodrow in discussion with Antony Dapiran.
Morning Workshop
11:00-1:30 G40 3.71 Red Zone Conference Room W01 The Versatile Translator – Translation workshop with Tiffany Tsao.
12:45 - 1:45 Lunch (Delegates only at G07 The Link Uni Bar Terrace )
Mid-Afternoon Session (1:45 - 3:00)
G11 3.56 - S04 My favourite novel set in the Asia Pacific - Join Australian writer Sally Breen, world traveller from Finland Piia Mustamaki, and Bangladeshi writer and translator Rebecca Haque, as they discuss some of their favourite novels set in the Asia Pacific region with Hong Kong-based writer Neville Sarony.
G11 3.64 - S05 Meet the local poets - Featuring Anthony Lawrence, Pascale Burton and Jena Woodhouse, moderated by Ravi Shankar.
G11 3.60 - S06 What’s up with Malaysia? Join writer Sreedhevi Iyer and Malachi Edwin as they unpack contemporary Malaysia through a literary lens.
Mid-Afternoon Workshop
1:45 - 3:45 G40 3.71 Red Zone Conference Room W02 Why be just a traveller? Be a travel writer! – Travel writing workshop with Shivaji Das.
3:00 - 3:30 Afternoon Tea (Delegates only at G11 4.28 Sky Lounge)
Afternoon Session (3:30 - 4:45)
G11 3.56 - S07 A mind in synergy or turmoil? Wrangling with creative and academic practice - Academics and creative practitioners Tiffany Tsao, Patrick Allington, Jonathan Morley in discussion with Jose Dalisay.
G11 3.64 - S08 Writerly authenticity – individual and inter/cultural considerations - Multicultural writers Yen-Rong Wong, Sahib Nazari, and Inez Baranay in discussion with Joe Milan.
G11 3.60 - S09 Dystopian dreams: noir and crime fiction - Panelists discuss one of the ‘shadier’ sides of our world, as captured in crime writing. John Dale and Philip McLaren in conversation with Darryl Whetter.
G40 3.71 Red Zone - Book Launches - Join us for the launch of Malachi Edwin's Coitus Interruptus, Julia Prendergast's The Earth Does Not Get Fat, and the launch of TEXT APWT Special issue with Nigel Krauth.
After Dark Session
Surfers Paradise Surf Life Saving Club - Reading after dark - Join us from 8:30 for a night of poetry, prose readings and performances.
Morning Sessions (10:00 - 11:15)
G11 3. 56 - S10 Translation Live - Translators Jennifer MacKenzie, Tiffany Tsao, Vladmeir Gonzales and editor Elizabeth Bryer discuss the tricks and tips of their trade with Rebecca Haque.
G11 3. 64 - S11 On Writing Habits - Writers Nick Earls, Julia Prendergast and poet Yolanda Yu in discussion with editor and writing facilitator Shelley Kenigsberg.
G11 3. 60 - S12 Who is telling the stories in Singapore? Aruna Shahani, Jayanthi Sankar and Anita Thomas in discussion with Darryl Whetter.
Morning Workshop
10:00 - 1:00PM Offsite: Boomerang Gallery Southport W03 Ode To Country: A creative approach to acknowledging country, place, events and people – Writing workshop with Samuel Wagan Watson.
11:15 - 11:345 Morning Tea (Delegates only at G11 4.28 Sky Lounge)
Mid-Morning Session (11:45 -1:00)
G11 3.56 - S13 Publishing and journalism, now and then - Join publishing figures as they discuss the challenges and opportunities. Phillip Edmonds, Ashley Hay, Yen-Rong Wong in discussion with Mary Farrow.
G11 3.64 - S14 A sunny place for shady people: Australian flipsides - Join prominent Australian authors Matthew Condon, Julia Prendergast and Philip McLaren in conversation with John Dale.
G11 3.60 - S15 On Playwriting - Dan Evans, Merlynn Tong, Sam Foster and Hayden Jones (of Shock Therapy Productions), discuss their inspiration and craft with Annie Te Whiu.
1:00 - 2:00 Lunch (Delegates only at (Delegates only at G07 The Link Uni Bar Terrace)
2:00 - 3:00 G70 Lecture Theatre 1. Special Session - Mirandi Riwoe: Literary Voyages: Here and there, Past and Present
Afternoon Workshop
1:45 - 3:45 G07 Drama Theatre W04 Devising and Writing for Theatre – Workshop with Shock Therapy Productions
3:00 - 3:30 Afternoon Tea (Delegates only at G11 4.28 Sky Lounge)
Afternoon Sessions (3:30 - 4:45)
G11 3.56 - S16 Myths and intercultural stories - a pathway to global literary citizenship - Multicultural authors and educators, Suzanne Kamata, Jane Houng, Helen Burns and Francine Smith, in discussion with Liz Packer.
G11 3.64 - S17 Adaptions and literary inspirations - Listen to Mirandi Riwoe and Merlynn Tong discuss their ideas and craft with Patrick Allington.
G11 3.60 - Philippines from the inside (and) out - Join Jose Dalisay, Marby Vilaceran and Luna Cleto, moderated by Roland Tolentino.
G40 3.71 Red Zone - Book Launches - Join us for the launch of Jena Woodhouse's Green Dance, Ravi Shankar's Many Uses of Mint, Yolanda Yu's Neighbour's Luck and Philip Edmond's The Soapbox.
Dinner and Music from 7PM - The Island Hotel Rooftop Mingle with the authors and panelists and enjoy music by local musicians. AUD$66 per head. Advanced bookings essential.
9:30 - 10:00 G40 Lecture Theatre 1. Annual General Meeting
Morning Sessions (10:00 - 11:15)
G11 3. 56 - S19 Talking poetry: Our favourite and most inspiring poet - Ravi Shankar, Rochelle Potkar, and Samuel Wagan Watson discuss some of their favourite and most inspiring poets, with Jude Aquilina.
G11 3. 64 - S20 Long Distance and Long Form - Mirandi Riwoe, Lucy Neave, Sally Breen and editor of Griffith Review Ashley Hay explore the art and craft of evoking place in long-form fiction and narrative non-fiction
G11 3. 60 - S22 China, Hong Kong, Macau–literary webs between worlds - Join longterm Macau resident, Kevin Maher, Chinese poet and translator Yolanda Yu, alongside biographer John Holliday as well as scholar of Chinese/India relations, Anurag Viswanath in discussion with Louisa Lim.
11:15 - 11:45 Morning Tea (Delegates Only at G11 Level 3 Foyer)
Mid-Morning Session (11:45 -1:00)
G11 3.56 - S21 Bringing Indonesian writing to the world - Jemma Purdey, Harry Aveling and Emmanuela Shintah discuss with Jennifer MacKenzie.
G11 3.64 - S23 Meet the author: Heather Ellis - Heather will be in conversation about the journey and the craft of writing, with Mary Farrow.
G11 3.60 - S24 Queensland Poetry Festival Showcase - Join a stellar line-up of some of Queensland’s finest poets for a diverse selection of captivating readings and powerful spoken word.
Film Screening
11:45 - 1:00 G40 Lecture Theatre 1. Screening and meet the filmmaker: Saving JoJo
1:00 - 2:00 Lunch (Delegates Only at G07 The Link Uni Bar Terrace)
Afternoon Workshop
1:30 - 3:30 G40 3.71 Red Zone Conference Room. W05 Basho's Guide to Writing Images - A writing workshop with James Shea.
2:00 - 3:00 Special Session - G40 Lecture Theatre 1. Tim Tomlinson - On Being Impolite: Saying the Unsavoury in Poetry and Prose
3:00 - 3:30 Afternoon Tea (Delegates Only at G11 Level 3 Foyer)
Afternoon Sessions (3:30 - 4:45)
G11 3.56 - S25 Meet the Author - Mathew Condon in conversation with Sally Breen.
G11 3.64 - S26 Capturing the conundrum: Gender politics in the contemporary literary climate - Rochelle Potkar, Sreedhevi Iyer, Tim Tomlinson in conversation with Lucy Neave.
G11 3.60 - S27 The Craft of Travel Writing - Heather Ellis, Shivaji Das, Ben Allmon, discuss the craft and process of travel writing with Piia Mustakmai.
G40 3.71 Red Zone - Book Launches - Join us for the launch of John Dale's Sydney Noir, Philip McLaren's Innocent Abroad and Emmanuela Shinta's Me, Modernism and My Indigenous Roots.
Sunset River Cruise (5:45 CANCELLED)!