Media release

Welcoming the inaugural members of the Writing Australia Council

Creative Australia welcomes today’s announcement by the Hon Tony Burke MP, Minister for the Arts, of the appointment of the Chair and inaugural members of the Writing Australia Council.

Chaired by award-winning author, Distinguished Professor Larissa Behrendt AO, Writing Australia will play a critical role in supporting and promoting the Australian literature sector, growing audiences for Australian books locally and internationally, and providing strategic advice to government. 

Writing Australia was established under the Australian Government’s National Cultural Policy Revive – a place for every story, a story for every place.

The Writing Australia Council members are:

Ms Rachel Bin Salleh OAM
Prof. Sarah Holland-Batt
Dr Tim Jarvis
Mr Tommy Murphy
Ms Julie Pinkham
Ms Claire Pullen
Ms Sally Rippin
Mr Christos Tsiolkas

We are currently recruiting for the Director of Writing Australia. In the interim, Wenona Byrne, Creative Australia’s Head of Literature, Artform Development, will be acting in the role. 

Media contacts:

Brianna Roberts, Media Manager
Creative Australia
Mobile: 0498 123 541
Email: brianna.roberts@creative.gov.au

We acknowledge the many Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and honour their Elders past and present.

We respect their deep enduring connection to their lands, waterways, and surrounding clan groups since time immemorial. We cherish the richness of First Nations peoples’ artistic and cultural expressions. We are privileged to gather on this Country and to share knowledge, culture and art, now and with future generations.

Art by Jordan Lovegrove