Residency FAQ
WHAT DOES A DAY AT VARUNA LOOK LIKE?
As a retreat space, Varuna operates as a place for writers to work quietly without interruption. Staff will be onsite Monday to Friday, moving about the property between 9:00 am and 6:00 pm. On Mondays, when writers leave and new ones arrive, there is more noise and activity than normal due to our housekeepers doing the changeover. A shared dinner is typically served between 6:00 pm and 7.00 pm, providing an occasion for people to meet as the central social event in the house. The dinner is not mandatory for you to attend, but it is encouraged and your portion will be catered for regardless.
WHAT ARE THE ROOMS LIKE?
Being a heritage property built in the 1940s, each of the six rooms at Varuna has its own unique charm. You can find this information on the About the House page. If you’d like to chat further about the rooms or have specific requests regarding your accessibility or creative practice needs, please get in touch with jaala@varuna.com.au.
DOES VARUNA PROVIDE FOOR, AND CAN VARUNA CATER FOR SPECIAL DIETARY REQUIREMENTS?
Yes - and to a certain extent. Breakfast and lunch are simple meals that residents serve themselves from the general supplies in the kitchen, and on Monday - Saturday someone from our team of caterers prepare and serve a communal meal that everyone shares. Sunday night, residents are encouraged to go out for dinner or to eat in with takeaway or leftovers, and Varuna can reimburse up to $40pp, which includes food but not drinks. One resident will need to pay, keep the receipt and send it with their bank details to accounts@varuna.com.au.
Varuna provides a variety of general provisions for breakfast and lunch: fruits and vegetables, bread (sourdough and gluten-free), cereals, gluten-free and non-gluten-free crackers and pasta, nuts, plant milks and plant-based cheeses, canned goods like legumes and tuna - as well as dairy cheeses, eggs and yoghurts. If your dietary requirements for breakfast or lunch are outside the scope of Varuna's general provisions, you're encouraged to purchase and bring your own supplies and/or favourite foods, and make sure to write your name on them when storing them in the fridge. Just like you would in any other share-house!
Catered dinners usually are comprised of a source of protein - chicken/beef/pork products for the meat eaters, fish and seafood for pescatarians, mushrooms, tofu and legumes for the vegetarians and vegans - plus a large serving of vegetables and carbohydrates. The chefs aim to provide a balanced dinner depending on people’s dietary requirements. To be sure about specifics; please ask jaala@varuna.com.au.
WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING WITH ME?
You’ll need your laptop and laptop stand (if you use one) and warm clothes (yes, even in summer!) as the weather can change drastically and often in the Blue Mountains. We supply towels, bedding, a washing machine, indoor and outdoor clotheslines, a hair dryer, a couple of hot water bottles, a yoga mat, and if you’re super keen, an iron and ironing board. All the beds have electric blankets, and the house is on central heating. You will also need to bring headphones or earphones. You can use the resident's printer downstairs to print things when you’re here.
IS THERE TRANSPORT IN KATOOMBA?
Katoomba has a fairly reliable taxi service and several bus routes, and the town centre is within walking distance to Varuna (albeit up a large and fairly steep hill).
WHAT HAPPENS IF I NEED TO CANCEL MY RESIDENCY?
Varuna relies on the residency fees paid by each writer when they come to stay to ensure that all housekeeping, catering and administration services are available to writers for the week that they are here and all year round. If writers need to cancel or reschedule their residency booking, Varuna staff work to fill the vacancy so that we do not operate at a loss. As part of the organisational administration for residency bookings, Varuna rigorously keeps a cancellation list and waitlist to call on when a vacancy arises.
If you cancel your residency with more than a month's notice and we are not able to fill the vacancy, you will forfeit your 50 per cent deposit. If you cancel your residency with less than a month’s notice and we are not able to fill the vacancy, we will require you to pay the full residency amount. We understand there can be extraordinary circumstances, however, and these will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.
If you cancel your residency and we are able to fill the vacancy, we will reimburse the full amount you have paid less a $50 administration fee.
CAN I RESCHEDULE MY RESIDENCY?
If you reschedule your residency with more than a month's notice and we are not able to fill the vacancy for your original dates, we will charge a change fee equivalent to 50 per cent of your residency. If you reschedule your residency with less than a month’s notice and we are not able to fill the vacancy, we will charge a change fee equivalent to 75 per cent of your residency. If we are able to fill your vacancy, no fees will be charged for rescheduling, and any amount you have paid will be kept in credit to be applied to your rescheduled residency dates.
CAN VARUNA ACCOMMODATE FAMILY MEMBERS, VISITORS OR PETS?
No. Varuna is a residency and retreat environment dedicated to focused writing development, so we can’t accommodate family or friends for meals or for overnight stays. Pets are also not permitted, with the exception of assistance animals - see paragraph below for specific requirements. You are welcome to pop out of the house to see family/friends or partake in extra-curricular activities or professional engagements during your time at Varuna.
WHAT ABOUT ASSISTANCE ANIMALS?
Assistance animals are permitted, though please ensure they do not lie/sit/stay on the furniture and lounges, including during the shared dinnertime meal. The owner of the assistance animal is required to clean up and manage any faecal matter or toileting on the grounds. Staff can assist with this if there are accessibility issues, and Varuna has a steady supply of pet poo bags if required.
CAN VARUNA ACCOMMODATE SPECIAL MEDICAL NEEDS OR WRITERS WITH DISABILITY OR WHO ARE D/DEAF?
We now have a wheelchair-accessible studio and a Disability Inclusion Action Plan so we can work on eliminating potential barriers to accessing our programs. We encourage writers living with disability to email Varuna’s Creative Director maeve@varuna.com.au or call us on 02 4782 5674 to discuss specific access requirements that may be required during a residency. We are happy to assist in any way we can and have measures in place to accommodate a variety of needs - specific information can be downloaded here. Note, however, that we do not have medical facilities and out-of-hours staff onsite, and applicants with special medical needs will be forwarded for consideration to Varuna’s Executive Director, Veechi Stuart.
WHAT MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE?
Varuna promotes qualities of self-responsibility and self-awareness. When staying in residence at Varuna, we require people with mental health conditions to have a sufficient level of self-care that allows them to manage their needs and behaviours. If assistance with mental health issues is needed during your stay, residents are required to seek professional support. Local and national contact numbers for mental health support services are provided in the Residents Handbook.
CAN I ARRANGE FOR CONSULTATION DURING MY STAY?
Yes. Varuna offers all writers the opportunity to receive feedback and to talk with a Varuna consultant about their work during their residency. Fees for consultations vary depending on the program and whether you have been awarded a fellowship. Visit this page for more info and contact varuna@varuna.com.au if you are interested in booking a consultation while in residence.
CAN A SUPPORT WORKER STAY WITH ME DURING MY RESIDENCY?
If you notify us in advance of your residency that you would like a support worker to stay with you, we can make arrangements for them to either stay in a nearby holiday house or on-site if space is available. If you receive NDIS funding, we can provide any information required to ensure your NDIS support can be used to assist your stay.
WHAT PRECAUTIONS ARE IN PLACE REGARDING COVID-19?
Please refer to our Covid-19 policy here.
WHEN ARE VARUNA STAFF AVAILABLE?
Staff are in attendance and available during office hours on weekdays (Monday to Friday) only, unless in case of emergency.
WILL I BE REQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE IN PROGRAMS OUTSIDE OF MY RESIDENCY?
Unlike some other residency programs, Varuna does not require writers in residence to participate in readings, workshops or public appearances, although from time to time, these may be an option if writers are interested.
WHAT ABOUT BUSHFIRES?
Varuna is located adjacent to the Blue Mountains National Park and, therefore, may be susceptible to bushfires during the summer months. If you are taking a residency at Varuna at this time, it is recommended that you read Varuna's Bushfire Emergency Information: https://www.varuna.com.au/bushfire-emergency-information
WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG?
Varuna makes every effort to provide a safe environment for residents. If however, you notice anything that may be a risk to yourself or others, please let staff know as soon as possible. You also need to be mindful that you are responsible for loss or damage to Varuna items and the safety of your own possessions during your stay. All bedrooms and workrooms have locks and we ask that all windows and doors are locked before leaving the premises.
When using the grounds around Varuna, you should be aware that the house is located in a natural environment, with informal pathways that may be inhabited by bush creatures such as snakes, lizards and spiders.
VARUNA LIBRARY COLLECTION
The Varuna Library Collection is a substantial library of over 3,000 books dispersed through the house and is available for use by residents during their stay. Volunteer Barbara Palmer and others have been overhauling the Varuna Library Collection for over ten years and a simple card system is in place to ensure that books are returned to their right place. Many of the books in the Living Room represent the outstanding achievements of writers who have stayed or been connected with Varuna during its history as a writers' house. Unique to the collection are books from the personal library of Eleanor and Eric Dark, the original owners of Varuna, as well as books written by them. Electronic access to the part of the collection that has been catalogued is available at the Library Thing website - if you click on 'your library' you will see the full list of books that have been catalogued so far.
ACKNOWLEDING VARUNA
Writers are asked to acknowledge any Varuna support they receive, in any subsequently published or produced works. This is helpful for the expansion of awareness of Varuna's contribution to Australian and international writing. Acknowledgements may identify and celebrate different aspects of this experience.