The 2023 Boundless Indigenous Writer’s Mentorship is open for applications.

Applications open Wednesday 5 October 2022.
Applications close midnight (AEST) Monday 12 December 2022.

Text Publishing and Writing NSW are proud to announce the 2023 Boundless Indigenous Writer’s Mentorship, with support from the First Nations Australia Writers Network (FNAWN) and Booktopia. The prize was established in 2019 to discover and nurture a powerful new Indigenous voice in Australian literature.

Two emerging Indigenous writers who were previous winners of the prize have signed deals with Text Publishing: John Morrissey’s collection of short stories, Autoc; and Lenora Thaker’s The Pearl of Shantytown, a historical novel told from a Torres Strait Islander perspective.

This joint initiative will provide a year-long structured mentorship to an unpublished Indigenous writer who has made substantial progress on a manuscript of fiction or non-fiction. The recipient of the mentorship will be paired with a senior Indigenous writer working in the same genre, providing feedback on their manuscript and professional advice. The successful applicant will also receive professional development from Text Publishing and Writing NSW.

John Morrissey, recipient of the 2020 Boundless Indigenous Writer’s Mentorship, says:

The Boundless Mentorship gave me the direction and motivation to produce my first collection of stories, Autoc. It was an enormous benefit and inspiration to feel that my stories might have a home somewhere. Working with Kim Scott has been an immense privilege as a writer. I would encourage any early-career Indigenous writer to apply for the mentorship.

Lenora Thaker, recipient of the 2021 Boundless Indigenous Writer’s Mentorship, says:

Being awarded the 2021 Boundless Indigenous Writer’s Mentorship gave me a confidence boost and enabled me to take my writing to the next level. As an emerging Indigenous writer, having a First Nations mentor the calibre of Julie Janson really helped me develop my writing and understand the business of writing in a way that’s been culturally safe and supportive. Along with the support of Writing NSW and Text Publishing, I feel that I am finally on the road to success.

Judi Morison, recipient of the 2022 Boundless Indigenous Writer’s Mentorship, says:

Winning the Boundless Indigenous Writers Mentorship has refocused my commitment to exploring the ongoing social issues with which my work deals. The prospect of working with, and learning from, the remarkable Larissa Behrendt, with added support from Text Publishing and Writing NSW, has made the writing journey less solitary and inspired me to ask more of myself as a writer.

The Boundless Indigenous Writer’s Mentorship will open for applications on Wednesday 5 October 2022 and close on Monday 12 December 2022. It will be judged by Jane Harrison, an award-winning playwright and author who is descended from the Muruwari people of NSW, alongside representatives from Text Publishing and Writing NSW.

Jane Harrison says:

I am excited to be a part of the Boundless process, to uncover new, exciting fresh talent and to be a part of a program that supports emerging First Nations talent, of which there is a boundless pool.

For more information on the Boundless Indigenous Writer’s Mentorship, visit the Writing NSW website.

Media Enquiries: Keira Baker, kbaker@writingnsw.org.au.