Applications close Tuesday 4 February 2025

In partnership with Red Room Poetry, thisfellowship 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 2025.

Applications now closed

First Nations writers are invited to apply for the opportunity to connect with Adivasi writers from India, first in residence at Varuna, then at a four-week residency at Sangam House in Bangalore.

Applications now closed.

This program is presented in partnership with the Whitlam Institute with support from Western Sydney Creative, Western Sydney University’s arts and culture decadal strategy.

Applications now closed.

Six fellowships offered to writers with disability or who are D/deaf from NSW.

Applications have now closed.

The Affirm Press Mentorship Award provides a unique opportunity for writers to develop new work through a Varuna residency and editorial feedback.

Applications have now closed.

This program is presented in partnership with the Northern Territory Government through Arts NT. Submissions are welcomed from eligible NT-based writers.

Applications have now closed.

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.

Applications have now closed.

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.

Applications have now closed.

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bequest, this is one of the Varuna flagship fellowships and is offered to a writer under the age of 35 who is as yet unpublished.

Applications have now closed.

Offered in partnership with the Henry Handel Richardson Society, this award promotes the life and legacy of Henry Handel Richardson.

Applications have now closed.

Varuna’s most prestigious award, running since 1991. Awards up to 33 fellowships to emerging and established writers across Australia, including several flagship three-week fellowships.

Applications have now closed.

The WestWords Varuna Western Sydney Residential Program offers four emerging writers from diverse backgrounds from Western Sydney the opportunity of a six-day residency.

Applications have now closed.

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.

Applications have now closed.

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.

Applications now closed for 2024.

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.

Applications now closed for 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.

Applications are closed for 2024

Twelve fellowships offered to writers with disability or who are D/deaf from NSW.

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.

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.

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.