2026 First Nations Elder & Editor Memoir Fellowship submissions open

August 7, 2025

Proudly sponsored by Lotterywest and in partnership with award-winning Indigenous publisher Magabala Books, Centre for Stories is excited to offer two First Nations Elder & Editor Memoir Fellowships for First Nations people.

This opportunity is open to people from any Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language groups/Nations currently living in Indigenous Nations within Western Australia.

About the Fellowships

From the success of our previous Fellowships sponsored by Herbert Smith Freehills, we are pleased to be able to continue to offer these intergenerational opportunities and support First Nations writers and editors from Western Australia to record the life experiences of a First Nations Elder or community leader. Over approximately four months, the writer will work on transcribing, writing and editing the Elder’s stories into a short memoir between 12,000 to 15,000 words.

Applicants can take part in two ways:

1. Apply as a pair: Elder & Editor

A pair applies together, having already established the relationship and project they plan to work on.

2. Apply as an Elder only

An Elder applies on their own and asks Centre for Stories to pair them with a First Nations writer or editor. Pairing will take place in consultation with the Elder to ensure cultural safety, trust and alignment.

The ‘Elder’ may be an accepted Elder within their community and/or a senior First Nations person, knowledge-keeper or cultural custodian. Centre for Stories recognises not all senior Aboriginal leaders will call themselves an ‘Elder’ and we will adjust our communications for the Elder Fellow’s title in consultation with the successful applicant. The ‘Editor’ will identify as a First Nations writer and/or editor.

The Elder will be assisted by the Editor to document parts of their life story, while the Editor will have the chance to develop their writing and editing skills and connect with culture through intergenerational cultural story-sharing.

The Fellowship will run for approximately four months. Fellows may choose one of the following start periods: March 2026, June 2026, September 2026. However, Centre for Stories is committed to flexibility according to the participants’ availabilities.

While this opportunity is open to people across WA, preference will be given to rural and regional participants. Centre for Stories staff will be actively working in the Kimberley and Pilbara in 2026 and we strongly encourage mob living in those regions to apply.

What the Fellows will receive:

• A stipend of $2,000 each (plus super), paid in four monthly instalments; 
• Online publication of their final written piece in the international journal Portside Review and Magabala Books’ website, as well as consideration for publication in Centre for Stories upcoming printed anthologies; 
• If based in Boorloo/Perth, access to Centre for Stories’ building in Northbridge as a writing and recording space (with equipment and staff support), if you desire it; 
• An online meeting with leading Indigenous publishing house Magabala Books upon commencement of the Fellowship to share what your memoir is about and discuss your publishing goals (please note: this does not include a manuscript assessment from Magabala Books );
• Access to Centre for Stories’ partner organisations and other networks in the publishing industry, including the opportunity to be promoted and profiled on Centre for Stories social media, newsletter and webpage; 
• Opportunity for participants to share the outcomes of their work and other stories at storytelling events in both locations in 2026. 

The Editors will be paired with a suitable and experienced First Nations storytelling mentor and receive up to 10 hours of mentoring, either remotely or in-person where possible. Mentors will be selected based on the writing goals of the selected Editor Fellows and a custom mentoring plan will be designed around your interests. 

Please note for regional applicants outside of Boorloo and Kinjarling, some mentoring sessions may need to be run virtually, and you will need to be confident using Zoom or Teams and have access to the Internet to apply. We encourage you to inform us of your needs and any accessibility supports you require when you apply. 

Before you apply

Applications will be considered based on three key principles:

a.    The originality and potential impact of their project idea;

b.    A writer and/or editor who can demonstrate existing writing and/or editing experience with intentions to develop their career in publishing and/or writing;

c.    For applicants applying as a pair: Demonstrated relationship of trust, equity and integrity between the Elder and Editor. Preference will be given to family relationships over peers/colleagues, but we welcome all kinds of relationships. For Elders applying solo: your application will focus on your project idea, your goals for the memoir, and your preferences for pairing.

Both participants must be willing to complete a brief interview with Centre for Stories either virtually or in-person before the final decision is made and must be willing to be available for promotional and marketing purposes eg. participate in an interview and supply photos and bios.

All applications will be reviewed and the final applicants selected by Centre for Stories staff.

Centre for Stories welcomes submissions from previous applicants, but we recommend you consider reaching out for advice on updating your application from our Storytelling & Events Coordinator, Savannah Travia-Dann at savannah@centreforstories.com.

Please read all details in the guidelines to ensure you are eligible before submitting your application.

Submissions are open on a rolling basis and will remain open until a closing date is determined by Centre for Stories.

If you wish to speak to a First Nations staff member and receive support with your application or better understand the guidelines, please call Savannah Travia-Dann through Centre for Stories at (08) 9328 1443 or email savannah@centreforstories.com.

APPLY AS A PAIR

APPLY AS AN ELDER ONLY (Please match me with a writer)

Feature image credit: Robyn Jean Photography.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who will my mentor be and who will support me from Centre for Stories?
We will select a First Nations mentor who has experience in writing or other forms of storytelling. You will also be supported by our First Nations Storytelling & Events Coordinator, Savannah Travia-Dann, throughout the entirety of your fellowship.

Savannah’s Bio:
Savannah is a Nyul Nyul woman from Winawaal Burr (near Broome, WA). She is an independent artist who enjoys weaving the spiritual and physical worlds through her artistic practice. She is supporting the First Stories Project through events and storytelling coordination.

Why do you encourage people from the Kimberley and Pilbara to apply and do I need to live in either place to be eligible?

While this opportunity is open to people across WA, Centre for Stories staff believes in offering fellowships in locations where we can meaningfully provide support in-person to the best of our ability. We are running programs in the Kimberley and Pilbara in 2026, so we believe we can provide better experiences for fellows in those places. Applicants in other places may only be supported through online communications.

Can I submit other forms of storytelling materials apart from writing?

Yes! We encourage fellows to submit oral recordings and any other artistic forms you wish to interpret the Elder’s stories in (paintings, videos, designs, etc). However, we are actively looking for people who are interested in developing their writing and editing skills and will select participants for whom that is the focus of their final submission.

I submitted to this fellowship previously and was unsuccessful. Is it worth me submitting again?

Yes, we encourage you to apply again, however only once you have discussed your application with Savannah Travia-Dann (our Storytelling & Events Coordinator) and received feedback on how you might develop it before re-submitting. Contact Savannah at savannah@centreforstories.com.

Can I record stories on country instead of at Centre for Stories or in other buildings?

Absolutely. You are not required to use our venue spaces if you do not wish to. You can record stories at home, on country – wherever you like. 

The Elder or leader I want to apply with and interview has so many stories and I don’t know where to start. Any advice?

We recommend treating this fellowship as an opportunity to focus in on one specific aspect, experience or time in an Elder’s life, rather than trying to capture their whole life story. If you wish to write a longer novel with this Elder one day, consider using the piece you submit with us as an example to later pitch to publishers and other funding bodies to continue writing more stories.

For this application, we encourage you to be specific as possible with what you would like to yarn about with the Elder.