Fellowships
Varuna offers a range of prestigious Fellowships designed to support writers across different genres and at all stages of their writing careers. Fellowships are all competitively awarded and include between one and four weeks’ residency at Varuna.
You may also wish to apply for a residency outside of a fellowship program via our residencies program.
Ann Moyal Non-Fiction Fellowship
Applications close 20 May
The Ann Moyal Non-Fiction Fellowship encourages excellence in non-fiction writing and aims to support writers developing an original work drawn from the broad fields of the humanities and social sciences.
Varuna First Nations Fellowships
Applications close 14 May 2024
Each year, five fellowships, including accommodation, all meals, travel expenses and manuscript consultations, are awarded to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander writers from anywhere in Australia.
Shanghai Western Sydney Writing Exchange
Expressions of Interest close 7 June 2024
A prestigious two-month international residency in Shanghai, China that will run from September to October 2024. Alumni from Western Sydney University and Alumni from Varuna, the National Writers’ House, are invited to apply.
Roderick Centre Fellowship for Regional and Remote Writers
Applications close 14 June 2024
This program is presented in partnership with the Roderick Centre for Australian Literature and Creative Writing (RCALC). Open to emerging or established writers, living in regional and remote parts of Australia.
WestWords-Varuna Emerging Writers’ Residency
Applications open 10 May 2024
The WestWords Varuna Western Sydney Residential Program offers four emerging writers from diverse backgrounds from Western Sydney the opportunity of a six-day residency.
Varuna Residential Fellowships
Applications for 2025 will open 17 June 2024
Varuna’s most prestigious award, running since 1991. Awards up to 30 fellowships to emerging and established writers across Australia, including several flagship three-week fellowships.
The Writer's Space Fellowships 2024
Applications are closed for 2024
Twelve fellowships offered to writers with disability or who are D/deaf from NSW.
Ray Koppe ASA Young Writers Fellowship
Applications open 17 June 2024 (as part of Varuna Residential Fellowship)
Offered in partnership with the Australian Society of Authors, and generously supported by the Ray Koppe bequest, this is one of the Varuna flagship fellowships and is offered to a writer under the age of 35 who is as yet unpublished.
Henry Handel Richardson Fellowship - Short Story Writings
Applications open 17 June 2024 (as part of Varuna Residential Fellowship)
Offered in partnership with the Henry Handel Richardson Society, this award promotes the life and legacy of Henry Handel Richardson.
Writing NSW Fellowships
Applications open 29 July 2024
Writing NSW awards a single one-week Varuna residency to members of Writing NSW for manuscripts, plays or poem collections ready for the next stage of development.
Arts NT Fellowships
Applications open 5 August 2024
This program is presented in partnership with the Northern Territory Government through Arts NT. Submissions are welcomed from eligible NT-based writers.
Writers SA Fellowships
Applications open 9 September 2024
The SA First Nations Writers Fellowship and SA Emerging Writers Fellowship offers a one-week residency, including travel subsidy and manuscript consultation, and is open to emerging writers and poets who live in South Australia.
New England Writers' Centre Fellowship
Applications open 17 September 2024
New England Writers’ Centre welcome manuscripts at any stage of development from writers living in the Federal Electorate of New England.
Varuna International Residency Program: New Zealand
Applications now closed.
Varuna is delighted to offer this four-week international residency to Varuna alumni, held in collaboration with the Michael King Writers Centre in New Zealand and the Verb Readers and Writers Festival in Wellington.
Varuna Climate Fellowship
In March 2024, Varuna welcomed 7 residents for our inaugural Climate Fellowship, supported by The Bridge Awards, a philanthropic organisation that provides funding for arts, community, healthcare and environmental projects.
Queensland Writers Centre Fellowships
Applications are now closed
The Queensland Writers Centre will be offering their two Varuna fellowships this year: Established Writers Fellowship and the Underrepresented Writers Fellowship, both include a two-week residency at Varuna, travel subsidy and manuscript consultation, and are open to members of the Queensland Writers Centre.
Scribe Varuna Fellowship 2024
Applications are now closed.
In partnership with independent press Scribe Publications, three fellowships are awarded annually, with writers invited to participate in an intensive residency with Scribe editors.
Red Room Poetry Fellowship 2024
Applications are now closed.
In partnership with Red Room Poetry, this brand new fellowship for six poets includes a residency at Varuna, one-on-one mentorship, and a poetic commission as part of the national Poetry Month in August 2024.
Cove Park International Fellowship 2024
Applications are now closed.
The amazing four-week residency at Cove Park, Scotland returns, this time with an opportunity to be involved with Wigtown Book Festival. Applications are open to Varuna alumni.