First Nations Elder & Editor Memoir Fellowship is open
Are you an Aboriginal writer, editor or storyteller living in Western Australia wanting to record and celebrate the life experiences of an Aboriginal Elder or senior?
November 20, 2024
Proudly sponsored by Herbert Smith Freehills and in partnership with award-winning Indigenous publisher Magabala Books, Centre for Stories is excited to launch the inaugural First Nations Elder & Editor Memoir Fellowship. This new fellowship will support a First Nations writer or editor from Western Australia to record the life experiences of a First Nations Elder or Senior, and work on transcribing, writing and editing these experiences into a short memoir between 12,000 to 15,000 words.
Two Fellows will be selected to work together: the Elder and Editor. 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.
Over 15 weeks (approximately 4 months), the Elder will be assisted by the Editor to share parts of their life story, while the Editor will have the chance to develop their writing and editing skills and connect with an Elder through the sharing of culture and story.
The Fellowship will begin in February 2025 and end in approximately May 2025. However, Centre for Stories is committed to flexibility according to the participants’ availabilities.
The Fellows will receive:
- A stipend of $2000 each (plus super);
- Online publication of the final written piece in the international journal Portside Review and Magabala Books’ website;
- If based in Perth, access to Centre for Stories’ building in Northbridge as a writing and recording space (equipment and support provided);
- If based rurally/regionally, support from a mentor to record oral stories remotely;
- An online or in-person meeting with leading Indigenous publishing house Magabala Books and their acclaimed publisher Rachel Bin Salleh, upon commencement of the Fellowship (please note: this does not include a manuscript assessment);
- Access to Centre for Stories’ partner organisations and other networks in the publishing industry;
- Opportunity to be promoted and profiled on Centre for Stories social media, newsletter and webpage;
- Opportunity for participants to share their stories at upcoming storytelling events in 2025.
The Editor will also receive up to 10 hours of mentoring from Ballardong Noongar editor and author Casey Mulder to assist them with their final written piece. More information on the mentor can be found at the bottom of the page.
Please note if the applicants are living regionally outside of Boorloo/Perth that the program will be run virtually via Zoom and travel/accommodation expenses are not necessarily included. We will support you to participate in this program if you live regionally and encourage you to apply and inform us of your needs.
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 the publishing and writing industry;
c. Demonstrated relationship of trust, equity and integrity between the Elder and Editor Fellows – preference will be given to family relationships over peers/colleagues.
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.
Please read the guidelines to ensure you are eligible before submitting your application.
Submissions open 27 November at 6:30 PM and close 20 January 2025 at 11:59 PM AWST.
If you have questions, please contact Writing Program Coordinator Camila Egusquiza Santa Cruz from Centre for Stories for more information at camila@centreforstories.com. If you wish to speak to a First Nations staff member, please call Luisa Mitchell through Centre for Stories at (08) 9328 1443.
CLICK TO APPLY
Note: If you are having difficulty submitting with the above form, you can submit using Google Forms here instead.
Who is your Mentor?
Casey Mulder is a Ballardong Noongar yorga with Dutch and English heritage. She works in a variety of education roles, and is a freelance editor and writer. She facilitates the First Nations Write Night at the Centre for Stories with Luisa Mitchell, and is currently working on a creative non-fiction manuscript. Casey is also the First Nations editor for Westerly Magazine.
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