Writers Victoria

With the generous support of the Grace Marion Wilson Fund, Writers Victoria is proud to announce that submissions are now open for our Digital Professional Development in Residence Program for Regional Writers. 

This residency aims to provide a positive and productive pathway for publication for emerging writers who live in regional Victoria. 

Key dates

• Applications open: 25 February 2026 at 9am
• Applications close: 16 March at 11.59pm
• Dates of residency: May to September 2026

The successful applicants will receive:  

• A one-year membership to Writers Victoria 
• Access to two workshops (valued up to $175 each) 
• Ongoing mentorship and editorial support from the Writers Victoria staff 
• A $1,000 stipend to assist with expenses 

Resident commitments 

As part of the residency, the selected writer will: 

• Conduct five short interviews with established authors focusing on the craft of writing. The interviews will be published on our website 
• Produce one original piece for publication on the Writers Victoria website (negotiable) 
• Facilitate a minimum of three online writing sessions 

Who should apply? 

This residency is tailored for emerging regional writers looking to develop their skills in community engagement and professional writing. 

While the writer is in residence, they must commit to conducting an interview with five established authors, produce an original piece for publication, facilitate a minimum of three online writing sessions.

Eligibility and selection criteria  

We invite submissions from writers who meet the following criteria: 

• Have a current Writers Victoria membership 
• Have a commitment to extending their practice  
• Are looking for pathways to publication
• Are committed to fostering community engagement
• Be willing to commit to the residency outcomes

Applicants must submit via Submittable: 

• Response to the selection criteria above of no more than 200 words per criterium
• Up to date CV / biography – including any grants, awards, reviews, etc 
• A writing sample of no more than 2,000 words
• Name and contact details of a professional referee

Assessment 

Applications will be assessed by Writers Victoria staff, who are published writers and/or experienced arts management professionals. Shortlisted applicants might be required to attend an interview either online or in person. The successful applicants will be notified in April

Enquiries to info@writersvictoria.org.au or call +61 3 9094 7840

Applicant Terms and Conditions 

1. Applications must be made online. If the online application form isn’t accessible to you, let us know: (03) 9094 7890 or email Gabriella Munoz at gaby@writersvictoria.org.au 
2. Applicants must be Australian citizens or residents currently living in Australia.
3. Applicants must be aged 18 or over.
4. Applicants must be emerging, midcareer or established Australian writers,translators and literary sector workers with a demonstrated publication and/or career history.
5. Applicants can only make one submission per round.
6. Where relevant, activities must comply with the Creative Australia's First Nations Cultural and Intellectual Property in the Arts.
7. Joint applications for collaborative travel projects will be accepted. Collaborative projects are subject to the same $10,000 maximum grant request as individual projects.
8. Late applications will not be accepted. Please note the deadline time of 11:59pm AEST on Sunday 22 March 2026 – you will not be able to apply after this time. Due to high internet traffic, the online form might be slow to load around the cut-off time; Writers Victoria is not responsible for connection issues, and we recommend submitting your application well in advance of the 11:59pm cut-off time to avoid potential delays that may cause you to miss the deadline.
9. The judges’ decision will be final. No correspondence will be entered into.
10. Applicants from former rounds (both successful and unsuccessful) may reapply in this round. However, preference will be given to writers who haven’t previously received a Neilma Sidney Literary Travel Fund grant.
11. Recipients agree to abide by the terms of the Neilma Sidney Literary Travel Fund agreement.
12. All recipients agree to comply with public health restrictions before, during, and following travel.
13. Travel activity must be undertaken within one year following the date of the agreement. For Round 14, this means travel must take place between 1 July 2026 - 1 July 2027 (dates inclusive). If unexpected restrictions impact a recipient’s travel, changes to this timeline may be negotiated with Writers Victoria staff.
14. Recipients will be fully responsible for coordination and delivery of travel activity (including appropriate insurances, etc).
15. Recipients will be required to complete an acquittal within two months of the end of the travel activity.
16. Recipients will be required to write a 500-word article about the travel activity for potential publication on Writers Victoria website and/or The Myer Foundation.
17. Recipients will be required to acknowledge the Neilma Sidney Literary Travel Fund, The Myer Foundation, and Writers Victoria in any promotion or publication resulting from the work supported during the activity.
18. Recipients will be required to reimburse the Neilma Sidney Literary Travel Fund should any of the conditions be breached, or the project not undertaken as outlined (without prior written agreement).
19. Writers Victoria staff or Committee of Management members are not eligible to apply.
20. Uploaded documents must be in either PDF or Word Doc formats. If providing audio support material, you must upload it in .mp3 format. If providing video support material, you must upload it in .mp4 or .avi format.
21. Supporting documentation must be meet the size limits: a maximum of one A4 page for each uploaded file, or a maximum of three minutes for an audio or video file.

 A sample budget template can be found here.