Applications now open

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.

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.

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.

Applications now open (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.

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.

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.

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bequest, this is one of the Varuna flagship fellowships and is offered to a writer under the age of 35 who is as yet unpublished.

Applications close 24 June 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.